Wells Fargo Autograph vs US Bank Altitude Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 3-2. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Wells Fargo Autograph is still the right call if no-fee 3x on six categories — broader than most no-fee competitors..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Wells Fargo Autograph | US Bank Altitude Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $400 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (travel) | 5% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 1.5% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 20,000 bonus points after $1,000 spend in 3 months | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
Wells Fargo Autograph
- 3x on dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming, cell phone
- 1x on everything else
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
- Cell phone protection up to $600/claim
US Bank Altitude Reserve
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals via US Bank Travel
- 3x on travel + mobile-wallet purchases
- 1.5x redemption rate when used for travel
- $325 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select (4 free visits/year)
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
FAQ
›Wells Fargo Autograph vs US Bank Altitude Reserve: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve 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 Autograph for its best categories, US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Wells Fargo Autograph: 20,000 bonus points after $1,000 spend in 3 months. US Bank Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel).