First-year winner
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
$214 Year 1 edge
$783 vs $570
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Cellular Telephone Protection
Cell Phone · No listed cash value
Can provide coverage for eligible cell phone damage or theft when the monthly wireless bill is paid with the card.
Card B
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Preferred Rewards Upside
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Bank of America relationship customers can unlock higher effective earnings through the issuer’s relationship-based rewards boost programs.
Perk
No Annual Fee
Other · No listed cash value
You can keep the card long term without paying a recurring annual fee.
Perk
Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Other · No listed cash value
The card is built around easy day-to-day redemption without needing to manage a complex points program.
Verdict
Wells Fargo Active Cash wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
$214 ongoing edge
$583 vs $370
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Year One
$783
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$583
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$583
2.00% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$500
3 mo window · $167/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Bank of America
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Year One
$570
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$370
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$370
1.27% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$1,000
3 mo window · $333/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
2%
$5,400
Wells Fargo Active Cash
$108
2.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$54
1.00%
Groceries
2%
$7,800
Wells Fargo Active Cash
$156
2.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$156
2.00%
Travel
2%
$3,000
Wells Fargo Active Cash
$60
2.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$30
1.00%
Gas
2%
$1,920
Wells Fargo Active Cash
$38
2.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$19
1.00%
General
2%
$11,040
Wells Fargo Active Cash
$221
2.00%
Bank of America Customized Cash
$110
1.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Wells Fargo Active Cash$583
Bank of America Customized Cash$370
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.
| Metric | Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Groceries rewards | — | 2% |
| Online Shopping rewards | — | 3% 3% cash back in the cardholder's chosen category; online shopping is a common default fit. |
| All rewards | 2% | 1% |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $500 in 3 mo | $200 online cash rewards bonus Spend $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 1 listed | 3 listed |
| Benefit highlights | Cellular Telephone Protection | Preferred Rewards Upside · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | visa | visa |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Free
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
3%
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3%
Rewards
Groceries rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
—
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
2%
Online Shopping rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
—
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3%
3% cash back in the cardholder's chosen category; online shopping is a common default fit.
All rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
2%
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
1%
Offer
Welcome offer
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
$200 credit
Spend $500 in 3 mo
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
$200 online cash rewards bonus
Spend $1,000 in 3 mo
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
1 listed
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
3 listed
Benefit highlights
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Cellular Telephone Protection
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Preferred Rewards Upside · No Annual Fee · Everyday Cashback Simplicity
Profile
Credit needed
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Good
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Good
Network
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
visa
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
visa
Reward type
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Cashback
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Cashback