Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a public bonus (75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500), while the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey doesn't advertise one right now.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

At $95/yr, the Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey first?

Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 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.

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Side-by-side

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

Both are travel travel cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes from Chase at $95/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

For most people the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey after you've earned that bonus.

Feature	Chase Sapphire Preferred	Wells Fargo Autograph Journey
Annual fee	$95	$95
Sign-up bonus	75,000 points	60,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)	$1,500	-
Min spend to unlock bonus	$5,000 in 3 mo	$4,000 in 3 mo
Issuer	Chase	Wells Fargo
Card category	travel	travel
Best earning category (Travel)	5x	5x
Transfer partners	chase-ur	None
Headline benefits	5x on travel booked via Chase 3x on dining & streaming $50 annual hotel credit Transfer to 13 partners (Hyatt 1:1)	5x on flights 4x hotels 6 transfer partners (2024) $50 airline credit

Read the full review

Chase Sapphire Preferred

$95/yr · 75,000 points

Read the full review

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey

$95/yr · 60,000 bonus points

Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game. Note: the 10% anniversary points bonus sunsets October 1, 2026.

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.

The real-world take

TL;DR. Both $95 travel cards with surprisingly comparable feature sets. Autograph Journey earns 5x on flights, 4x on hotels, 3x dining, 1x everything else and includes a $50 airline credit. Sapphire Preferred earns 5x on Chase Travel, 3x dining, 3x streaming, 3x online groceries, and 2x on other travel. CSP has the deeper and better-known transfer partner list (Hyatt, United, Air Canada). Autograph Journey added 6 transfer partners in 2024 (Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, BA Avios, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Choice). Both are excellent at $95.

The three dimensions that actually decide it. First, transfer partners. CSP has Hyatt; Autograph Journey does not. Hyatt is the single most valuable transfer partner in U.S. credit cards. Second, flight earn. Autograph Journey's 5x on flights direct from airlines beats CSP's 5x Chase Travel (which requires booking through the portal). Third, credits. CSP has a $50 Chase Travel hotel credit. Autograph Journey has a $50 airline credit. Both effectively halve the fee.

Real customer scenario for each. If you redeem for Hyatt awards (4k to 15k point cat 1-4 free nights), CSP is correct. If instead you primarily book flights direct from airlines and want 5x on those, Autograph Journey is the better earner. The 5x flights direct is genuinely class-leading at $95.

The trap to avoid. Picking Autograph Journey because the earn rates look slightly better on paper without checking whether Wells Fargo's transfer partner list covers your goal redemptions. No Hyatt, no United, no Delta. Air France/KLM Flying Blue is useful but only for trans-Atlantic.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a public bonus (75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500), while the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey doesn't advertise one right now.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?: At $95/yr, the Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?: Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey first?: Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 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.