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Ryan Wilcox is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and savings since 2022. Before joining Motley Fool Money, he was a full-time writer at The Points Guy, where he focused on maximizing credit card rewards and travel strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also spent four years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. With a background in both journalism and consumer finance, he brings a clear and thoughtful voice to money topics. Outside of work, Ryan is likely reading, writing, or updating his Letterboxd account.
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When it comes to cash rewards cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (rates and fees) and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (rates and fees) are two of the best out there.
Both earn strong rewards on everyday purchases, both offer 0% intro APR periods, and both have no annual fee. But depending on your spending habits, you might be better off with one over another.
I actually have (and use) both: the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for dining, and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card for everything else. But if you're trying to decide on one over another, there are a few things you'll want to consider.
Here's how these two cards stack up.
A quick glance at Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Earn $200 cash back
Welcome Offer:
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
Rewards Program:
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Rewards Program:
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Intro APR:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Intro APR:
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR:
18.74% - 28.24% Variable
Regular APR:
18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% Variable APR
Annual Fee:
$0
Annual Fee:
$0
Highlights:
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.74% - 28.24%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Member FDIC
Highlights:
Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
$0 annual fee.
No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
Rewards rate: The biggest differentiator
The biggest difference between these two cards is how you rack up cash rewards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with the following earning rates:
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
3% cash back on drugstores, restaurants, takeout, and eligible food delivery
1.5% cash back on all other purchases
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, on the other hand, keeps it simple: With this card, you'll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases.
I don't spend much on travel or drugstores, but I spend about $800 a month dining out (a lot, I know), which earns me $24 per month -- or $288 a year -- on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
As for everything else, I charge about $2,000 a month to my Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which earns $40 per month -- or $480 a year.
Add it together, and you're looking at more than $750 a year, all on things I would've bought anyway. That's a pretty potent cash rewards combo.
Which of these you'd benefit from the most depends on what you're spending your money on. For me personally, the combination of both cards is incredibly powerful.
0% intro APR: Chase Freedom Unlimited® has the edge
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers (then a 18.74% - 28.24% Variable APR applies). That means you won't pay interest on new purchases or transferred balances for over a year -- very helpful if you want to finance a big expense, consolidate debt, or pay down balances without racking up interest.
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, on the other hand, you'll get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers and 12 months from account opening on purchases (then a 18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% Variable APR applies).
Both are solid offers, but if you want a longer interest-free window, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® wins out.
Welcome bonus: Neck-and-neck
When it comes to welcome bonuses, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® are in a dead heat with two of the easiest bonuses to qualify for that I've seen.
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you'll get a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending just $500 in the first 3 months.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited®, meanwhile, has its own $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
I earned both of these bonuses about halfway through my first month with each card. They've both got some of the lowest spending thresholds around, making them easy to earn for pretty much anyone.
Redeeming rewards: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers more flexibility
Both cards make it easy to redeem your rewards, but Chase's long list of transfer partners give it the edge here, too.
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, your rewards are technically Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. You can redeem them for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.
But where this card really shines is when you pair it with a Chase Sapphire card. If you do, you can convert your cash back to points. Then, you can transfer points to one of Chase's travel partners like United, Southwest, World of Hyatt, or Marriott Bonvoy for even more value.
With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you can also redeem rewards as a statement credit, direct deposit, gift card, and more. If you have a Wells Fargo travel card like the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, you can also transfer your rewards to one of Wells Fargo's travel partners.
The only difference here is that Wells Fargo has many fewer transfer partners than Chase, and transfers are generally less valuable.
Final verdict: Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Ultimately, the question of which card is better depends on your spending habits.
If you want to enjoy a few bonus categories in addition to a 1.5% flat rate, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the stronger pick. It's also better if you want a longer 0% intro APR period, or plan to put your rewards toward travel with a Chase Sapphire card.
But if you prefer simplicity and value on every single purchase, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card wins. Its flat 2% cash rewards rate is valuable and easy to remember, which means it's perfect for anyone who doesn't want to track tons of earning categories.
Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if:
You spend a lot on dining or travel and want to pair it with another Chase card for more flexibility.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has a super simple earning structure, making it a great starting cash rewards card.
It depends on your spending habits. If you spend a lot on dining and travel, Chase Freedom Unlimited® will probably pull ahead. For general spending, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card's 2% cash rewards rate wins.
No, both cards have no annual fee.
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The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
