Apple Card vs Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Apple Card leads on everyday spending; the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Apple CardGoldman Sachs · No annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWells Fargo · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Apple Card$0Wells Fargo Active Cash Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Apple Card—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card$100 cash back
- Rewards
- Apple CardCash backWells Fargo Active Cash CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Apple CardNoneLowestWells Fargo Active Cash Card3%
- Network
- Apple CardMastercardWells Fargo Active Cash CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Everything else
- Apple Card1%Wells Fargo Active Cash Card2%Highest
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Apple Card
- Extra 2% Booking.com Travel Credits · $2 per transaction
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card— - Rideshare & transit
- Apple Card
- $60 Uber One trial · $60 one-time
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Apple Card—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- 900+ luxury hotel properties with exclusive perks
- Car rental
- Apple Card
- 5%+ off Hertz rentals + perks
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card— - Other perks
- Apple Card
- Share card with family and teens
- Interest-free payments on Apple gear
- Color-coded spending insights
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
- Extra cash back at select merchants with personalized deals
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Rental car
- Apple Card—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- Up to $50,000 rental car coverage when you decline the count
- Purchase & returns
- Apple Card
- Zero Liability on unauthorized transactions
- No fees on international purchases
- Biometric security on every purchase
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card— - Cell phone
- Apple Card—Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
- Up to $600 coverage for damaged or stolen phones
- Other protections
- Apple Card
- No late fees or penalty APR
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- Get emergency cash and card replacement worldwide
- Check your FICO score anytime for free
- 24/7 roadside help with free towing up to 5 miles
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Apple Card
- No annual fee, no late fees, and no penalty APR
- Daily Cash deposited immediately rather than monthly
- 3% back at Apple and select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, Nike, etc.)
- 2% back on all Apple Pay purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase with no category limits
- No annual fee
- $100 welcome bonus after just $500 spend in 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- Cell phone protection up to $600 per claim when paying bill with card
- Cons
- Apple Card
- Only 1% back when using physical card (non-Apple Pay)
- Requires iPhone to apply and manage the card
- No sign-up bonus
- No travel-related benefits or protections
- Limited 3% merchant list compared to category cards
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card- 3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
- No bonus categories - heavy dining/travel spenders earn less than category cards
- Points have no transfer partners (cash back only)
- Requires good to excellent credit
- Penalty APR of 29.99% for late payments
Category-by-Category Winner
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card wins in 1 of 1 categories. The Apple Card leads in 0.
Everyday purchases
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Apple Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $155 Year one: $185 | Rewards: $348 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $348 Year one: $448 | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $35 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $515 Year one: $545 | Rewards: $1,392 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,392 Year one: $1,492 | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card if you:
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 2X on the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Apple Card or Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
- The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- What benefits does the Apple Card have that the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card doesn't?
- The Apple Card offers travel credits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers cell phone protection.
- Should I get the Apple Card or the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.