Discover it® Miles
vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

When considering the Discover it Miles and Wells Fargo Active Cash card, both stand out for their lack of annual fees and generous introductory APR offers. However, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card edges ahead with its straightforward 2% cash rewards on all purchases and a $200 welcome bonus, making it a compelling choice for straightforward cash back earnings.

On the other hand, the Discover it Miles card is notable for its unique first-year miles match, which could benefit those who travel frequently. While both cards are strong contenders, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card's higher overall cash back rate may provide more immediate value for most users.

You might prefer the Discover it Miles if you value flexibility in redeeming rewards and plan to travel abroad, as it offers no foreign transaction fees. The unique first-year miles match can significantly boost your miles if you're a heavy spender in your first year, making it a compelling choice for maximizing travel rewards.

You might prefer the Wells Fargo Active Cash if you're looking for straightforward cash rewards on every purchase. With an unlimited 2% cash rewards rate and a $200 cash rewards bonus after meeting the initial spending requirement, this card benefits those who value simplicity and high rewards in all spending categories.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features will illuminate which card aligns with your needs. Use this section to weigh the Discover it Miles' first-year mile match against the Wells Fargo Active Cash's higher reward rate, among other differences, to pinpoint the card that best fits your wallet.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash has straightforward 2% cash rewards on all purchases, appealing to those who value simplicity and consistent returns. In contrast, the Discover it Miles card offers 1.5x miles on every purchase, which may initially seem lower.

However, the Discover card's unique first-year matching bonus effectively doubles the miles earned, which can be a significant boon for new card members in the first year. After the first year, the Wells Fargo card's higher reward rate provides better long-term cash rewards for general spending.

The table gives a comparison of the rewards for the Discover it Miles and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards.

Both cards offer distinct redemption options. Discover it Miles allows for travel or cash back redemptions without blackout dates or expiration. Wells Fargo Active Cash provides versatile cash reward redemptions, including direct deposits and statement credits, also without expiration, as long as the account is active.

MoneyGeek's ranking process examines and rates credit cards across various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back rewards. The factors influencing these scores include the introductory purchase APR, regular APR for balance transfers, the effective reward rate and the introductory purchase APR for cash back rewards.