The Wells Fargo Autograph offers a range of exclusive benefits, including everyday and travel rewards with no annual fee. On the other hand, Chase Sapphire Preferred is renowned for its premium travel rewards program, offering generous points for dining and travel expenses.
In this comparison, we'll delve into the key features, rewards structures, fees, and other important aspects of these credit cards to help you make an informed decision about which one best suits your financial needs and lifestyle.
General Comparison
As illustrated in the table below, despite the Chase Preferred card having a higher annual fee, it provides a superior rewards rate for both travel and everyday purchases, along with a more enticing sign-up bonus when compared to the Autograph card.
However, the Autograph card offers 0% intro APR, something you can find on Chase's card.
Credit Card Points Battle: A Side-by-Side Analysis
When comparing credit card rewards, the significant advantage of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the high ratio of U.S. Supermarkets and travel purchases.
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| |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 15,000 points | 45,000 points |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| 15,000 points | 15,000 points |
$4,000 – Airline | 12,000 points | 20,000 points |
$3,000 – Hotels | 9,000 points | 15,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 12,000 points | 4,000 points |
Total Points | 63,000 | 99,000 points |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 point ~ 1 cent | 1 point ~ 1 – 1.5 cent |
Estimated Annual Value | $630 | $990 – $1,565 |
Additional Benefits: Comparison
There are some additional types of perks that you will see with both of these cards.
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Cellular Telephone Protection: Receive up to $600 in cell phone protection when paying your monthly cell phone bill with your Wells Fargo card, subject to a $25 deductible.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Coverage for theft, damage, loss-of-use charges, administrative fees, and towing charges when renting a vehicle.
- Travel and Emergency Services Assistance: Access to emergency assistance and referral services while traveling.
- Emergency Cash Disbursement and Card Replacement: Visa credit cardholders can obtain emergency cash advances or card replacements within one to three business days (fees and interest may apply).
- My Wells Fargo Deals: Access personalized deals and earn cashback as an account credit when using your Wells Fargo credit card for shopping, dining, or experiences.
- Zero Liability Protection: Protection against unauthorized transactions when promptly reported.
- Credit Close-Up℠: Provides tools and insights to understand, track, raise, or maintain your FICO® Score.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Anniversary Statement Credit: Every year on your card anniversary, you have the opportunity to earn up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Travel Bonus: When you redeem your reward points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, you'll receive a 25% bonus, enhancing the value of your points.
- Anniversary Bonus: Chase offers a 10% bonus on your total purchases from the previous year as an anniversary gift. For example, if you earned 20,000 points in the first year, you'll receive a 2,000-point bonus in the second year.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: If you use your Sapphire Preferred card to pay for your trip, you'll be covered with up to $10,000 per traveler and $20,000 per trip in case your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered circumstances.
- Baggage Delay Coverage: If your baggage is delayed, you can be reimbursed up to $100 per day for up to five days when you've paid for your common carrier fare with your card. Additionally, you can claim up to $500 per ticket if your common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours.
- Rental Car Coverage: When you charge your car rental to your card, you'll enjoy complimentary auto collision rental damage waiver coverage.
- Purchase Protections: Your card provides coverage for new purchases against damage or theft for up to 120 days. Additionally, eligible items come with extended warranty protection, with claim limits of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- DoorDash Perks: Upon registration, you'll receive a one-year DoorDash subscription, DashPass, which offers reduced service fees and $0 delivery fees for orders over $12.
- Lyft Rides: During the promotional period, you'll earn extra points on Lyft rides, currently available until March 2025.
- Instacart+ Subscription: Linking your card to Instacart grants you a six-month Instacart+ subscription for free. As a member, you can earn up to $15 in statement credits per quarter until July 2024.
- Emergency and Travel Assistance: If you encounter any issues while away from home, a dedicated helpline is available to provide assistance with medical and legal referrals or help with travel and emergency situations.
Main Drawbacks: How They Compare?
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
- Modest Rewards: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers relatively lower rewards rates for supermarket and restaurant spending compared to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This makes it less appealing, especially for individuals who frequently dine out or travel.
- Absence of Premium Travel Benefits: In contrast to the Sapphire Preferred card, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card lacks premium travel perks such as travel credits and comprehensive travel insurance coverage. This can be a drawback for travelers seeking enhanced protection and savings.
- Limited Exclusive Experiences: While the Sapphire Preferred card grants cardholders access to exclusive events, unique experiences, and special offers, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card does not provide similar privileges. This means you may miss out on exclusive opportunities and benefits with the Autograph card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Higher Annual Fee: Generally, the Sapphire Preferred Card carries a higher annual fee in contrast to the Wells Fargo Autograph Card, which has no annual fee. This disparity can be a notable drawback for individuals aiming to keep their credit card expenses to a minimum.
Less Good For Gas: If your priority is to maximize rewards for gas purchases, you may find the Autograph℠ Card to be a more suitable choice.
When You Might Prefer The Chase Sapphire Preferred?
You might prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card over the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card in the following scenarios:
- Travel Enthusiast: If you are a frequent traveler or someone who values travel rewards, the Sapphire Preferred Card is a top choice. It offers generous travel-related benefits, including higher points earnings on travel and dining expenses, and a 25% bonus on point redemptions for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Flexible Points Redemption: The Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to transfer points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs, maximizing the value of your rewards.
- Premium Travel Benefits: The Sapphire Preferred Card provides premium travel perks such as travel credits, comprehensive travel insurance, and access to airport lounges through the Priority Pass program. If you seek enhanced travel protection and luxury travel experiences, this card is the better option.
- Larger Sign-Up Bonus: The Sapphire Preferred Card often comes with a more attractive sign-up bonus, which can provide a significant boost to your rewards balance when you initially open the card account.
When You Might Prefer the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card?
You might prefer the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card over the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in the following situations:
- Get Rewards Without Paying An Annual Fee: If you want to avoid paying an annual fee, the Autograph℠ Card is a better choice since it typically comes with no annual fee compared to the Sapphire Preferred's annual fee.
- You Need 0% Intro APR: If you need a balance transfer card, The Autograph card offers 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, so if you're looking for a large purchase soon, this may be a good idea.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a travel rewards credit card– there are some excellent alternatives you may want to consider:
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|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $550 | $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
|
1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0 | $0
|
Purchase APR | 21.24% – 29.24% APR Variable | 22.24%–29.24% variable APR | 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable) |
