Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Amex Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Wells Fargo Active Cash wins 3-2. No-fee 2% flat — competitive with Citi Double Cash. Amex Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Wells Fargo Active Cash | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (general) | 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Wells Fargo Active Cash
- 2% unlimited cashback on every purchase
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
- Cell phone protection (up to $600/claim)
- Visa Signature concierge
Amex Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Wells Fargo Active Cash vs Amex Business Gold: which is better?
Wells Fargo Active Cash wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Wells Fargo Active Cash for its best categories, Amex Business Gold for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Wells Fargo Active Cash: $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months. Amex Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.