Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Wells Fargo Autograph℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points | 20,000 bonus points ($200 value) |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 3x |
| Travel | 2x | 3x |
| Streaming | 3x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $545 | $457 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points | 20,000 bonus points ($200 value) |
| To earn it | $5,000 in 3 months | $1,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,430 | $657 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $680 | $457 |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$230/yr (4 credits) | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® carries the heavier credit stack (about $230 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, which transfers to World of Hyatt, United, Air Canada, Southwest, and British Airways Avios. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ earns Wells Fargo Rewards, reaching Air France-KLM, Avianca, British Airways Avios, and Choice. Most transfers are 1:1 on both, so the partners themselves, not the ratios, are what separate them.
The standout difference is the crown-jewel partner: for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® it is World of Hyatt at 1:1, widely considered the single best hotel transfer in points; for the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ it is the Avios and Flying Blue families for flexible short-haul and promo awards. Pick the program whose best partners match the trips you would actually book.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns about $545 a year in rewards and the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ about $457, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $230 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® delivers more total value, about $108 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred® if your spending leans toward groceries. Pick the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ if your spending leans toward travel.