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Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Wells Fargo Active Cash

Not credit advice. Facts and math from issuer pages and the CFPB, each with its date. Offers change; approval depends on your credit. Verify on the issuer's site.

Rubric: Chase Freedom Unlimited leads by 7.1 pts. Scores: Chase Freedom Unlimited 69.0%, Wells Fargo Active Cash 61.9%.

At a sample $1,920/month (groceries $500, dining $300, gas $150, travel $150, online $200, other $400 …): Chase Freedom Unlimited nets $400/yr, Wells Fargo Active Cash nets $461/yr after annual fees. Use your own numbers →

Criterion scores (0–10)

Annual feeUnlimited: 10.0 · Cash: 10.0
Rewards rateUnlimited: 7.8 · Cash: 8.0
Sign-up bonusUnlimited: 2.7 · Cash: 1.3
Intro 0% APRUnlimited: 7.1 · Cash: 5.7
Regular APRUnlimited: 7.7 · Cash: 7.3
Foreign transaction feeUnlimited: 3.0 · Cash: 3.0
Regulatory record (CFPB)Unlimited: 10.0 · Cash: 8.0

Chase Freedom Unlimited

IssuerChase
Typecash back
Annual fee$0 creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Regular purchase APR18.49%–27.99% variable creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Rewards1.5% on all purchases; 3% dining & drugstores; 5% Chase Travel creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Sign-up bonus (≈$)$200 $200 after $500 in 3 months creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Intro APR15 months 0% intro APR 15 months on purchases and balance transfers creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Foreign transaction fee3% 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars creditcards.chase.com, 2026-10-11
Penalty APRup to 29.99% Chase's CFPB-filed agreements list a penalty APR of 'up to 29.99%'; agreements are not labeled by product, so this is issuer-level consumerfinance.gov, 2026-06-30
Late feeup to $40 up to (first and repeat late fee) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Balance transfer fee5% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance fee5% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Credit needed620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Grace period21 days files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance APR28.49% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
CFPB survey APR (2025-12-31)18.24%–27.74% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31 older; issuer figure above is newer

Wells Fargo Active Cash

IssuerWells Fargo
Typecash back
Annual fee$0 creditcards.wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
Regular purchase APR18.74%–28.74% variable creditcards.wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
RewardsUnlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases creditcards.wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
Sign-up bonus (≈$)$100 $100 after $500 in 3 months creditcards.wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
Intro APR12 months 0% intro APR 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers creditcards.wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
Foreign transaction fee3% 3% of each transaction converted to U.S. dollars wellsfargo.com, 2026-10-11
Penalty APRnone No penalty APR appears in the issuer's CFPB-filed agreement (only penalty fees are listed) consumerfinance.gov, 2026-06-30
Late feenot found files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Balance transfer feenot found files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance feenot found files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Credit needed620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers) files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Grace period25 days files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
Cash advance APR29.49% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31
CFPB survey APR (2025-12-31)18.49%–28.49% files.consumerfinance.gov, 2025-12-31 older; issuer figure above is newer

Downsides

Chase Freedom Unlimited69.0%
Chase · cash back
Annual fee $0APR 18.49%–27.99% variableRewards 1.5% on all purchases; 3% dining & drugstores; 5% Chase TravelCredit 620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers)
⚠ 3% foreign transaction fee · APR up to 27.99% if you carry a balance · Penalty APR up to 29.99%
Wells Fargo Active Cash61.9%
Wells Fargo · cash back
Annual fee $0APR 18.74%–28.74% variableRewards Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchasesCredit 620–719, 720+ (CFPB TCCP targeted tiers)
⚠ 3% foreign transaction fee · APR up to 28.74% if you carry a balance

No paid placement. No issuer pays VaultRubric for inclusion or rank; links go to the issuer's own page. Ranks come only from the published rubric below.

FAQ

Which is better, Chase Freedom Unlimited or Wells Fargo Active Cash?

On VaultRubric's rubric: Chase Freedom Unlimited scores higher. The better card for you depends on where you spend; the calculator shows net value for your spending.

Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.