Wells Fargo Propel Amex card Review: A Standout Rewards and Travel Champ

It's not often you find a credit card that provides a buffet of lucrative perks, but the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card does just that. This single card includes a welcome offer, robust rewards program, and intro APR -- with no annual fee to boot. If you've been looking for a new credit card that won't add to your yearly expenses, take a look at the perks and the very few gripes in this Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card review.

This credit card is a good fit for: Rewards enthusiasts who want a no annual fee card that truly does it all with diverse bonus categories, a great welcome offer, and a 0% intro APR.

Top perks

20,000 bonus points

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card has a higher welcome offer than most no annual fee cards, and you'll get the bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months. Wells Fargo points are worth $0.01 per point, giving this bonus a value of $200.

Earn up to 3 points per $1

This is an excellent rewards rate, and you'll get it for a diverse mix of different expense categories. Streaming services, in particular, is a category where not many other cards earn bonus rewards. This card earns 3 points per $1 on:

• Eating out and ordering in
• Gas stations, rideshares, and transit
• Flights, hotels, homestays, and car rentals
• Streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Spotify Premium, and many more (a full list is available on the Wells Fargo Propel Streaming page)

You'll earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

No annual fee

The card won't add to your out-of-pocket costs, because there's no annual fee.

0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

This 0% intro APR applies for the first 12 months. This makes the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card useful if you're paying off a big expense in installments or want to transfer balances to save on credit card debt.

No foreign transaction fee

Most no annual fee cards will have a foreign transaction fee of 3%, but this is a no foreign transaction fee credit card, making it perfect for travelers.

Cellphone protection

Wells Fargo will provide phone protection up to a maximum of $600 per claim and $1,200 per 12-month period with a deductible of $25. You'll need to pay your cellphone bill using your Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card for the coverage to apply. This excellent perk is rare among credit cards, especially with such a low deductible.

Travel and purchase protections

You'll get the following protections when you use this card to make purchases:

• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Retail purchase protection covering items you buy against damage or theft within the first 90 days
• Extended warranty coverage that doubles warranties of one year or less on eligible products

LEARN MORE: Best American Express Credit Cards

What could be improved

Cash back redemption rules

For most cash back redemptions, you must redeem rewards in increments of 2,500 points for $25. There is a smaller increment of 2,000 points ($20) for redemptions made through a Wells Fargo ATM if you have a Wells Fargo debit card.

Points aren't transferable

Wells Fargo doesn't have any travel partners where you can transfer your points for award bookings, which means there's no way you'll be able to score a higher-value redemption. We'd suggest reviewing other travel credit cards for applicants wanting to stretch the value of their points.

Read more: Best 0% APR Credit Cards

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is intended for people with good to excellent credit, or generally a 670-plus FICO® Score. Approval isn't guaranteed with any credit score since many factors are assessed during the underwriting process. While applicants with good credit will have a better chance of approval, it's not guaranteed with a higher credit score or impossible with a lower credit score.

You'll also have to comply with the Wells Fargo application rules in order to qualify for this credit card.

Read more: Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card is so packed with perks that it can satisfy almost anyone's needs. It's sure to fit you well if you want a rewards credit card that:

• Has no annual fee
• Earns bonus rewards across several different spending categories, including travel, gas stations, and food purchases
• Offers a big welcome offer
• Offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• Protects your cellphone

Want the biggest welcome offer? Check out The Ascent's guide to the best sign-up bonus credit cards.

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.