Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus comes from Capital One at $150/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.
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,000 more in estimated value) than the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash Plus first; revisit the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | $2,000 cash bonus | 60,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $2,000 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $30,000 in 3 mo | $4,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Wells Fargo |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
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, Capital One Spark Cash Plus or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
- The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has a public bonus ($2,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $2,000), while the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
- At $150/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One 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 Capital One Spark Cash Plus or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash Plus: $30,000 spend in 3 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.
