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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey from Wells Fargo at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardWells Fargo Autograph Journey
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$110-
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressWells Fargo
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • 5x on flights
  • 4x hotels
  • 6 transfer partners (2024)
  • $50 airline credit
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card

The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.

Editorial take: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

5x on flights is class-leading at this price point. Wells Fargo added 6 transfer partners in 2024 (Flying Blue, Avianca, BA Avios, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Choice), making this card meaningfully better than before. Worth considering over Sapphire Preferred for frequent flyers.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has a public bonus (10,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $110), while the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey doesn't advertise one right now.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Wells Fargo) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Schwab Investor Card or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.