Wells Fargo is a major credit card issuer that often flies under the radar, as many people focus on American Express, Citi and Chase cards — but it has a worthy lineup of rewards credit cards.
And just like the Amex Trifecta, the Citi Trifecta and the Chase Trifecta, Wells Fargo has a trifecta you can add to your wallet to maximize your rewards earning. Even better, this trifecta is cheaper and can be created with no annual fees. Additionally, you don’t need a business card in this setup.
While Wells Fargo’s rewards ecosystem is smaller, with only nine transfer partners, its cards can still be powerful when used strategically. Although Wells Fargo points are worth less than Amex, Citi and Chase points (according to TPG’s November 2025 valuations), the right combination can still lead to impressive returns.
If you’re over Chase’s 5/24 rule, not eligible for Amex or Citi welcome bonuses, or just want a simple, low-cost rewards strategy, the Wells Fargo Trifecta (or even a four-card “quadfecta”) could be worth adding to your wallet.Here’s who should consider the Wells Fargo Trifecta and what you need to know.
What cards are in the Wells Fargo Trifecta?
The Wells Fargo Trifecta consists of the following cards:
The information for the Wells Fargo Attune has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Annual fee: $0.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
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THE POINTS GUY
With the Active Cash, cardholders earn an unlimited 2% in cash rewards on purchases. Card benefits include cellular telephone protection (up to $600 per claim, subject to a $25 deductible up to twice per year for damage, theft or unintended separation) and a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver on rentals when you pay for the entire transaction with your card.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Wells Fargo Attune Card
Annual fee: $0.
Welcome offer: Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
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The highlight of the no-annual-fee Attune is its unique earning structure. The card earns an unlimited 4% in cash rewards in three categories:
- Planet-friendly impactful purchases: Includes antiques shops, bus lines, electric vehicle charging stations, other transportation services, passenger railways, public transportation (including ferries), select secondhand stores and used merchandise
- Select sports, recreation and entertainment: Including categories like amusement parks, live shows and sporting events, movie theaters, pet shops, sporting and recreational camps, sports supplies, tourist attractions and exhibits, among other merchant types
- Self-care: Includes gyms, spas and salons
The Attune earns bonus points on purchases that typically don’t fall into a bonus category. The Attune also has the same cellular telephone protection and secondary rental car protection as the Active Cash.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Attune.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
Annual fee: $95.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG’s November 2025 valuations peg Wells Fargo points as worth 1.6 cents apiece, making this offer worth $960.
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The Autograph Journey is a workhorse for earning bonus points, as you’ll earn in a variety of bonus categories:
- 5 points per dollar spent at hotels
- 4 points per dollar spent on airlines
- 3 points per dollar spent on other travel and restaurant purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
A standout benefit of this card is a $50 annual airline statement credit (with a $50 minimum airline purchase). This credit effectively reduces your annual fee to just $45.
Since this card is more geared toward travel, cardholders receive a suite of protections like worldwide automatic common carrier travel accident insurance, lost baggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation and interruption protection.
Plus, the Autograph Journey also offers more robust cellular telephone protection (up to $1,000 per claim versus $600 per claim on the Active Cash, the Autograph and the Attune; subject to a $25 deductible).
The Autograph Journey is also a Visa Signature card, so you’ll have access to those benefits.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Annual fee: $0.
Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 or more on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This offer is worth $320 based on TPG’s November 2025 valuations.
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The Autograph Card, like its big sibling the Autograph Journey, has solid earning rates in a variety of useful bonus categories. You’ll earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining (includes takeout, catering and food delivery services), eligible streaming services and phone plans
- 3 points per dollar spent on gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations, transit and travel (airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises and more)
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
In addition to these robust earning rates, you receive the same Visa Signature benefits as the Autograph Journey and the same cellular telephone protection, rental car coverage and roadside dispatch found on the Active Cash and the Attune.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Related: Wells Fargo Rewards adds JetBlue TrueBlue as a 1:1 transfer partner
How does a Wells Fargo Trifecta work?
The Wells Fargo Trifecta is simpler than other issuers’ trifectas, as there is only one card set you have to choose from. To complete the trifecta, you must have the Active Cash and the Attune.
The biggest decision boils down to whether you want to pay an annual fee and whether you’d consider a quadfecta.
Should I pick the Autograph or the Autograph Journey?
With the Wells Fargo Trifecta, you only have to decide between two cards.
If you prefer not paying an annual fee, the Autograph Card is a solid option. The Autograph covers bonus categories the Journey lacks, including gas, eligible streaming and phone plans. Both cards earn the same on dining.
However, the Autograph Journey shines for travelers since it earns 3 points per dollar spent on general travel, 4 points per dollar spent on flights and 5 points per dollar spent on hotels.
Plus, once you factor in the $50 annual airline statement credit, the Autograph Journey’s $95 annual fee effectively drops to $45. Based on TPG’s valuations, you’d only need to spend about $553 on hotels or about $703 on flights per year to recoup that cost.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
The Autograph Journey also offers a higher welcome bonus worth over 10 times its annual fee.
If you can’t decide, I’d recommend turning this card lineup into a quadfecta by adding both cards. With this combo, you’ll maximize your rewards-earning potential across a multitude of bonus categories.
Related: Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Autograph Journey: Should you pay an annual fee for more benefits?
How to maximize earnings with this setup
To maximize your earning potential, use each card strategically. Follow these guidelines when making purchases with the Wells Fargo Trifecta:
- Autograph Journey: Use for flights, hotels and dining
- Autograph Card: Use for travel, dining, gas, eligible streaming and phone plans
- Attune: Use for entertainment, EV charging, gym memberships or other one-off purchases in bonus categories
- Active Cash: Use for all other purchases that don’t fall into a bonus category
Having a Wells Fargo Trifecta ensures you’ll earn at least 2 points per dollar spent on purchases. And if you opt for a quadfecta with all four cards, there would be very few times when you wouldn’t earn at least 3 points per dollar spent on purchases.
THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES
An important note: The Active Cash and the Attune earn cash back in the form of cash rewards, while the Autograph and the Autograph Journey earn points. If you hold an Autograph card, you can convert the cash rewards earned on the Active Cash or the Attune into fully transferable points. This effectively allows you to earn at least 2 points per dollar spent on all purchases.
These points can then be transferred to Wells Fargo’s small but growing roster of travel partners for maximum redemption value. Top partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Application restrictions
Wells Fargo is generally lenient about how many cards you can hold, but it has two key restrictions to note:
- You may not be eligible for welcome offers if you’ve opened the same card within the past 48 months.
- You may not qualify for another Wells Fargo-branded consumer card if you’ve opened one in the past six months.
For example, the terms and conditions page of Autograph Journey states:
“You may not be eligible for introductory annual percentage rates, fees and/or rewards bonus offers if you have the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® or opened one within the last 48 months from the date of this application – even if that account is closed and has a $0 balance.”
This language is also found on all the other cards in the trifecta.
ZORICA NASTASIC/GETTY IMAGES
You also find this language across all the cards in the trifecta:
“You may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo-branded consumer credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo-branded consumer credit card in the last 6 months.”
Wells Fargo can also be inquiry-sensitive, so being under 5/24 (meaning you have opened five or fewer new cards in the past 24 months) helps improve approval odds, though it’s not a strict rule. TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak was previously declined for a Wells Fargo card because she had too many recent inquiries on her credit report.
These application rules are just something to be mindful of when considering setting up the trifecta.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Who should consider a Wells Fargo Trifecta?
The Wells Fargo Trifecta is ideal for anyone looking to minimize annual fees while still earning strong everyday rewards.
If you already have a full lineup of Amex, Citi or Chase cards or are no longer eligible for new welcome offers, adding Wells Fargo cards can be a smart way to continue earning welcome offers and diversify your rewards portfolio.
It’s also a great fit if you’re over Chase’s 5/24 rule since Wells Fargo applications aren’t subject to that as a firm requirement.
Who shouldn’t consider a Wells Fargo Trifecta
You should reconsider this setup if you:
- Are under Chase 5/24: Prioritize applying for Chase cards first, as their points are more valuable and transferable to a wider range of travel partners.
- Haven’t yet earned major welcome offers from Amex, Capital One, Citi or Chase: These issuers typically offer higher welcome bonuses, their points are worth more and they have more valuable transfer partners.
These are factors you’ll want to consider before you submit an application for Wells Fargo cards.
Related: The best ways to use your Chase 5/24 slots
Bottom line
The Wells Fargo Trifecta (or the quadfecta iteration) is a strong alternative for those over Chase’s 5/24 rule or looking for low-fee cards. It can be a great setup for those not eligible for other issuers’ cards.
But if you’re eligible for Citi, Chase or Amex cards, their ecosystems still offer more valuable points and better transfer partners.
Related: Better together: The ultimate guide to the best credit card combinations
