Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Autograph Journey [2024]

Wells Fargo is among the largest bank card issuers within the nation, and two of its standout choices are the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card(Charges and costs) and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card(Charges and costs). Each journey playing cards have sturdy rewards applications, however they’re very completely different by way of the advantages they provide and their charges.

For those who’re searching for a easy rewards card with a $0 annual price, the Wells Fargo Autograph card is probably going match. However in case you journey usually and need extra complete advantages, the Autograph Journey card will be nicely value it.

On this breakdown of the Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Autograph Journey, study every card’s rewards, advantages, and prices to seek out one of the best match on your wants.

Key takeaways

• Each the Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey playing cards supply helpful advantages like rewards on purchases, cellphone safety, and emergency journey companies.
  
• Whereas the Autograph Journey card has a $95 annual price, the Autograph card has a $0 annual price.
  
• In contrast to the Autograph card, the Autograph Journey card doesn’t supply a 0% intro APR for purchases.
  
• The Autograph card is finest if you would like a rewards card and not using a $0 annual price.
  
• The Autograph Journey card is extra appropriate in case you’re a frequent traveler who would profit from the journey perks.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Autograph Journey comparability

	Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card	Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
FinanceBuzz star scores	4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors rating playing cards based mostly on quite a lot of goal options in addition to our professional editorial evaluation. Our companions don’t affect how we price merchandise.	5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors rating playing cards based mostly on quite a lot of goal options in addition to our professional editorial evaluation. Our companions don’t affect how we price merchandise.
FinanceBuzz valuation1	12 months 1: $945 12 months 2: $745	12 months 1: $1,250 12 months 2: $650
Annual price	$0	$95
Welcome supply	Earn 20,000 bonus factors while you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months (that’s a $200 money redemption worth)	Earn 60,000 bonus factors while you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months – that’s $600 towards your subsequent journey
Incomes price	Earn limitless 3X factors on eating places, journey, fuel stations, transit, common streaming companies, and telephone plans; plus earn 1X factors on different purchases	Earn limitless 5X factors on motels, 4X factors on airways, 3X factors on different journey and eating places, and 1X factors on different purchases
Intro APR	0% APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable	None
Annual credit	None	$50 annual assertion credit score along with your first $50 minimal airline buy
Journey perks	Auto rental collision harm waiver Journey and emergency help companies Roadside dispatch	Auto rental collision harm waiver Journey and emergency help companies Roadside dispatch Journey accident insurance coverage Misplaced baggage reimbursement Journey cancellation/interruption
Different advantages	Mobile phone safety Wells Fargo offers Unique occasion entry Credit score Shut-Up service Visa Signature lodge and concierge applications	Mobile phone safety Wells Fargo offers Unique occasion entry Credit score Shut-Up service Visa Signature lodge and concierge applications
International transaction price	None	None
Credit score wanted	Good to wonderful	Good to wonderful
	Learn full evaluation	Learn full evaluation

Our verdict

For those who’re a frequent traveler, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is the standout alternative. Not solely will you earn a a lot increased rewards price on lodge stays, flights, and eating out, however it’s also possible to qualify for an annual assertion credit score with a $50 minimal airline buy. Plus, the cardboard affords substantial journey advantages, together with journey cancellation or interruption insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement, and journey accident insurance coverage.

The Autograph’s card is extra sparse, and its record of journey advantages is extra restricted. This card principally is smart in case you journey simply often and like a card with out an annual price.

Wells Fargo Autograph advantages and downsides

The Autograph is among the high Wells Fargo bank cards obtainable. It would not have an annual price, and you may benefit from perks like rental automotive protection and cellphone safety. For those who use your card to pay on your cellphone invoice, your telephone is roofed in opposition to damages or theft, as much as a most of $600 per 12 months (topic to a $25 deductible).

The cardboard additionally provides you a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable), supplying you with a full 12 months to repay a significant buy — corresponding to new home equipment or a dream trip — with out curiosity.

Nevertheless, its journey advantages are restricted in comparison with different journey rewards playing cards, and it would not have an intro APR for stability transfers. You’ll be able to earn a better rewards price solely on restricted buy varieties. Until you spend important quantities on journey and fuel, chances are you’ll be higher off with a card that has a greater flat rewards price or classes that higher suit your life-style.

Learn our full Wells Fargo Autograph Card evaluation.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey advantages and downsides

For those who take pleasure in touring usually, the Autograph Journey card could also be extra interesting. Though it has a $95 annual price, its record of journey advantages is in depth. You’ll be able to make the most of perks like journey accident insurance coverage, journey cancellation protection, and misplaced baggage reimbursement, lowering the trouble and value of potential hiccups in your journeys.

Plus, the cardboard has a beneficiant welcome supply that lets you earn 60,000 bonus factors while you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months – that’s $600 towards your subsequent journey. You additionally get cellphone safety that protects you for as much as $1,000 per 12 months (topic to a $25 deductible).

Nevertheless, it would not have an intro APR for purchases or stability transfers, so chances are you’ll owe curiosity rapidly as a brand new cardholder in case you hold a stability. And, in contrast to main journey rewards playing cards, it would not embrace airport lounge entry as one in every of its perks. For those who’re a frequent traveler who craves the peace of an airport lounge, this disadvantage may very well be a dealbreaker.

Learn our full Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card evaluation.

How each playing cards excel

The Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey playing cards each shine within the following areas.

• Journey rewards: Each playing cards supply some journey advantages and protections, together with automotive rental protection and journey and emergency help companies. I like having these options on my playing cards since they will both save me cash or make my journey experiences much less traumatic.
  
• International transaction charges: Neither card prices overseas transaction charges, so there’s no added price to utilizing your card abroad. Different playing cards can cost as much as 3%, which may particularly influence your funds in case you’re making massive purchases.
  
• Mobile phone safety: Mobile phone safety is a comparatively uncommon profit obtainable with each playing cards. You are protected in opposition to damages or theft so long as you employ the cardboard to pay your cellphone invoice. Since I at the moment pay $10 month-to-month for telephone insurance coverage, I discover this card profit particularly interesting for saving some cash.
  
• Redemption choices: With these playing cards, you may select from a number of redemption choices on your rewards, corresponding to present playing cards, assertion credit, or journey. I like this flexibility and have used comparable rewards playing cards to redeem factors to get presents for family members and canopy a part of my month-to-month stability.

4 necessary variations between Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey

Though the 2 playing cards share some similarities, they differ by way of earnings charges, welcome bonuses, different card advantages, and prices. Contemplate these variations when deciding which is smart for you.

1. Earnings charges

With the Wells Fargo Autograph card, you may earn limitless 3X factors on eating places, journey, fuel stations, transit, common streaming companies, and telephone plans; plus earn 1X factors on different purchases.

The Autograph Journey card has a extra tiered rewards construction that provides you:

• 5X factors per $1 spent on motels
  
• 4X factors per $1 spent on airways
  
• 3X factors per $1 spent on different journey and eating places
  
• 1X level per $1 spent on different purchases

Winner: The Autograph Journey card can present a better rewards price in case you’re a frequent traveler who spends cash on motels and flights.

2. Welcome bonuses

Whereas each Wells Fargo playing cards supply welcome bonuses for assembly spending necessities in the course of the first three months, the reward values and spending thresholds fluctuate.

With the Autograph, you earn 20,000 bonus factors while you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months (that’s a $200 money redemption worth).

With the Autograph Journey card, you get considerably extra factors, but it surely additionally has a a lot increased spending threshold. You earn 60,000 bonus factors while you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months – that’s $600 towards your subsequent journey.

Winner: Tie. Whereas the Autograph Journey’s welcome bonus is extra enticing, you’ll want to think about whether or not you may meet the bigger spending threshold to qualify.

3. Different advantages

The Wells Fargo Autograph card supplies some primary journey advantages, together with automotive rental protection and journey emergency companies. It additionally affords some uncommon perks for a card with out an annual price, together with cellphone safety and roadside dispatch.

The Autograph Journey card’s record of advantages is substantial, offering perks like journey accident insurance coverage and journey cancellation or interruption insurance coverage. Plus, it affords a excessive annual restrict for cellphone safety.

Winner: Whereas each playing cards embrace interesting perks, the Autograph Journey card has a way more sturdy choice.

4. Charges and curiosity

You received’t pay an annual price to have the Wells Fargo Autograph card, and it doesn’t have overseas transaction charges. Plus, you may benefit from the 0% introductory APR on purchases.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card doesn’t cost overseas transaction charges both, but it surely does have a $95 annual price.

Winner: While you examine annual charges and rates of interest, the Wells Fargo Autograph card is the clear winner.

Which bank card do you have to select?

The Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey playing cards have many issues in widespread, however their key variations influence which one you must select. That can assist you resolve, have a look at some situations the place every card stands out.

When you must select the Wells Fargo Autograph

• You have got a significant buy deliberate, like a brand new laptop computer or range, and also you wish to use this card to get a 0% intro APR on purchases.
  
• You desire a card with out an annual price and like the concept which you could keep away from curiosity in case you repay your stability in full each month.
  
• You don’t journey usually and might profit from the cardboard’s extra restricted rewards and advantages.

When you must select the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

• You spend a big quantity on flights and lodge stays and wish to earn a better rewards price on these journey purchases.
  
• You journey a number of occasions per 12 months and just like the built-in protections of the cardboard, corresponding to misplaced baggage reimbursement.
  
• You are concerned about your telephone getting broken or misplaced and like the upper protection restrict for cellphone safety.

What components to think about earlier than selecting

Earlier than selecting a card, take into account these components.

• Charges: In case your chief concern is price, the Autograph card is probably going a greater match. It doesn’t have an annual price, so there’s no annual price so as to add it to your pockets.
  
• Perks: For individuals who need premium journey advantages, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card supplies extra perks and protections.
  
• Welcome bonus: The Autograph Journey offers you a bigger welcome bonus in case you can spend 4 occasions what the Autograph card requires.
  
• Rewards: Relying in your spending habits, you would probably earn a better rewards price with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card.

FAQ

Backside line

The Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey playing cards are each stable choices if in case you have good to wonderful credit score. As journey rewards playing cards, they help you earn a better rewards price on sure transactions, and you may qualify for advantages like automotive rental protection.

Nevertheless, the Autograph Journey card is the extra premium of the 2, providing extra sturdy advantages whereas additionally charging an annual price. For frequent vacationers, the Autograph Journey may very well be value paying the $95 price yearly, whereas those that journey yearly (or much less) will probably discover the Autograph card to be a greater match.

For those who’re searching for different advantages, corresponding to airport lounge entry, take a look at our picks for the finest journey rewards playing cards.