Compare Cards | The Stack

Compare Cards

See which card actually wins for your spend.

This page compares year-one value, ongoing value, welcome-offer difficulty, usable credits, and transfer flexibility under your own assumptions instead of generic rankings.

Build a bonus plan

Card A

Card B

Assumptions

Pressure-test the math

Rewards use your annual spend mix. Credits are discounted by your usage slider. Points and miles use your valuation assumption.

Dining

$/mo

Groceries

$/mo

Travel

$/mo

Gas

$/mo

Online Shopping

$/mo

Streaming

$/mo

General

$/mo

Point Value1.5 cpp

Used for points and miles cards. Cash-back cards stay fixed.

Credit Usage70%

This discounts recurring credits so the page does not assume perfect usage.

Verdict

These cards are closer than they look.

The result depends more on how much of the credits you will use and how much of your spend really lands in the bonus categories.

Year One Winner

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Keeper Winner

Tie

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

• Has about $200 more welcome-offer value in year one.

Apple Card

• Avoids foreign transaction fees.
• Stays usable for international purchases.

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

No-fee keeperPersonal

Year One

$793

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$593

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$593

2.00% effective return

Welcome Offer

$200

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

None

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

$167/mo feels comfortable

Needs Good+ credit

Why it wins

• No standout edge under the current assumptions.

Watch for

• Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

Apple

Apple Card

No-fee keeperPersonal

Year One

$593

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$593

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$593

2.00% effective return

Welcome Offer

None

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

None

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

No listed hurdle

Needs Good+ credit

Why it wins

• Stays usable for international purchases.

Watch for

• There is no meaningful active welcome offer in the current dataset.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

Spend Mix Math

Where the value actually comes from

Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and a discounted view of recurring credits.

CategoryAnnual SpendWells Fargo Active Cash CardApple Card

Dining

$5,400

$108

2.00%

$108

2.00%

Groceries

$7,800

$156

2.00%

$156

2.00%

Travel

$3,000

$60

2.00%

$60

2.00%

Gas

$1,920

$38

2.00%

$38

2.00%

Online Shopping

$2,640

$53

2.00%

$53

2.00%

Streaming

$480

$10

2.00%

$10

2.00%

General

$8,400

$168

2.00%

$168

2.00%

Raw Breakdown

Full side-by-side details

Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.

Annual Fee

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Apple Card

Free

Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Apple Card

Other

—3%

All

2%2%

Welcome Offer

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Apple Card

$200 credit

Spend $500 in 3 mo

—

Benefits

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Apple Card

—

1 benefit

—

4 benefits

Quick Facts

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Apple Card

Foreign Tx Fee

3%None

Credit Needed

goodgood

Network

visamastercard

Reward Type

cashbackcashback