The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are both excellent cash back credit cards. As far as which is better for your wallet, the choice might come down to this: Do you want to earn slightly more rewards per dollar, or do you want to access your rewards faster? With that in mind, let's compare these cards on some of their principal offerings.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver annual fee
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Neither credit card charges an annual fee. But while the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) doesn't. This lack of a foreign transaction fee puts the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card slightly ahead for those who want a card to travel abroad.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver welcome offer
Winner: Tie
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers $200 cash rewards after you spend $500 within three months of opening your account. Likewise, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers the same bonus: a one-time $200 cash back reward for spending $500 within your card's first 3 months.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver intro APR
Winner: Tie
Both cards come with a long 0% intro APR period of 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers. Capital One charges a balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. Wells Fargo charges up to 5%, min: $5.
At the end of the intro period to go-to rate for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) will be 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable) APR.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card go-to APR range starts just slightly higher at 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR. One of these rates will apply at the end of the card's intro period.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver rewards
Winner: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns a flat 2% cash rewards on all purchases. This makes it one of the best credit cards for everyday spending. Shopping at a secondhand store? You'll earn 2%. Buying video games? You'll earn 2%. Paying for yoga classes? You guessed it -- 2%.
Meanwhile, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5% back on all purchases, plus 5% back on travel booked through the Capital One Travel portal. The fact that its base rate is slightly less than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card makes it a fractionally weaker catch-all credit card. The difference between the two rates means you'll miss out on $5 for every $1,000 you charge to the card.
That said, it's important to note how cash back is credited to each account, as that might sway your opinion. With the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, we've found anecdotally that Capital One will credit cash back almost as soon as your purchases are approved. We believe this lends the card well to an earn-and-burn rewards strategy -- using your cash back as soon as you earn it, which can be a good way to combat inflation. (Hoarding cash back for future spending will make it worth less.)
Wells Fargo doesn't credit cash back nearly as fast. Instead, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card users have to wait a few days after their statement cycle closes, at which point they can use their rewards. If you're expecting a quick turnaround on your cash back, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card might frustrate you.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
