Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Autograph Journey: Should you pay an annual fee for more benefits?
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees), with its $95 annual fee, acts as an upgraded version of the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees). Many of the cards' perks and earning rates overlap, though the Autograph Journey has a leg up in a few areas.
Is the Autograph Journey worth its $95 yearly price tag, or are you better off with the Autograph? Here's what to know.
Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey comparison
| Card | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | Wells Fargo Autograph |
|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
Sign-up bonus | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. | Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. |
Earning rates |
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Other benefits |
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Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey welcome offer
The Autograph card currently offers 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of account opening. This is a step up from its usual welcome offer. These points are worth 1 cent apiece, so this bonus is worth $200.
The Autograph Journey, meanwhile, comes with an introductory offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Thanks to the option to transfer these points to hotel and airline partners, TPG values these points at 1.6 cents each, making this bonus worth $960.
Winner: Autograph Journey. Not only does it offer more points, but its points are worth more than what you earn with the Autograph.
Related: Here are the best credit card welcome offers this month
Wells Fargo Autograph vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey benefits
Because the Autograph card is a Visa Signature card, you'll enjoy a few nice built-in benefits.
First is access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, which gives you elitelike benefits on hotel bookings through its program. You'll get things like room upgrades on arrival (when available), a $25 food and beverage credit at the property, VIP guest status and complimentary breakfast for two each day.
You'll also get access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service, which can help you with travel bookings, restaurant recommendations and reservations, and booking tickets to an event.
Lastly, you'll get perks like cellphone protection, secondary auto rental collision damage waiver on rentals, 24-hour roadside dispatch, travel and emergency services assistance, and free access to your FICO credit score.
The Autograph Journey is also a Visa Signature card and comes with these same benefits. Additionally, it comes with cellphone protection and a $50 annual statement credit for airline purchases with $50 minimum airline purchase. There's also a new benefit called "Autograph Card Exclusives," which offers access to concerts showing "big-name artists in small venues."
Winner: Autograph Journey. It has more perks than the Autograph, and its $50 annual statement credit effectively reduces the card's annual fee to $45.
Earning miles on the Wells Fargo Autograph vs. the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
The Autograph card earns 3 points per dollar spent on a variety of spending categories: dining (including restaurants, takeout, catering and food delivery services), travel, gas stations, transit, eligible streaming services and phone plans. You'll also get 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.
The Autograph Journey earns more points on a narrower range of bonus categories. With it, you'll get 5 points per dollar spent on hotels, 4 points per dollar spent on airlines, 3 points per dollar spent on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases.
Winner: Autograph Journey. While it depends on how much you spend in each category, earning more on large travel purchases definitely gives the Autograph Journey the edge.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
Redeeming miles on the Wells Fargo Autograph vs. the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
With the Autograph card, you can redeem your points at a value of 1 cent apiece as a statement credit, for gift cards (in $25 increments) or to book travel.
You also can redeem points as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage. Additionally, you can pay with points at participating merchants, including PayPal.
Meanwhile, the Autograph Journey also allows cardholders to transfer points to five airline programs:
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub and Iberia Plus (all using Avios)
You can also transfer to one hotel program, Choice Privileges. That's a small list of transfer partners at launch, but Wells Fargo has said that more partners will be added throughout the year.
Winner: Autograph Journey. As the Wells Fargo program continues to expand, look for the Autograph Journey to widen the gap here.
Related: Wells Fargo transfer partners: How to use Go Far Rewards points
Should I get the Wells Fargo Autograph or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
The Autograph card is a compelling option if you want a solid travel card with no annual fee. It has valuable earning rates and travel benefits at a low price tag.
If you want some boosted earning rates and more redemption options, the Autograph Journey is a strong option — especially since its $50 annual travel credit effectively reduces the annual fee to just $45.
Bottom line
While they have some notable differences, the Autograph and the Autograph Journey cards are excellent travel rewards cards that pack great value into their meager annual fees.
The Autograph is an established player in the no-annual-fee field, but the Autograph Journey offers plenty of value, too — especially if its list of benefits and partners continues to grow.
Read our full reviews of the Autograph and the Autograph Journey for additional details.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.