Vol. I · Issue 01 · The Quarterly of Plastic

Advertiser Disclosure →

SIDE A

A

U.S. Bank · Visa

U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card

VS.

×

SIDE B

B

Wells Fargo · Visa

Wells Fargo Autograph Card


FILING

Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly

Both cards offer no annual fee and solid rewards structures for everyday spending, but they serve different customer profiles. The U.S. Bank Altitude Go excels for dining enthusiasts with its 4x points on restaurants and takeout, plus a generous 15-month 0% intro APR period that saves money on large purchases. The Wells Fargo Autograph casts a wider net with 3x points across six categories including travel, transit, and phone plans, making it more versatile for varied spenders. U.S. Bank requires a lower credit score (670+) and offers better value redemption through Real-Time Rewards, while Wells Fargo adds practical protections like cell phone coverage. The choice depends on whether you prioritize dining rewards or category diversity.

THE VERDICT

Our ruling.

Choose the U.S. Bank Altitude Go if dining is your primary spend category and you value the 0% intro APR benefit. It's the stronger card overall for most people because the 4x dining rate significantly outpaces Autograph's 3x, and the interest-free period provides real financial breathing room. Pick Wells Fargo only if you have balanced spending across multiple categories and value travel redemptions equally.

CHOOSE A

Side A is for you if

  • 01You spend $300+ monthly on restaurants, takeout, and food delivery — the 4x points rate saves you roughly $35-40 annually compared to Autograph's 3x
  • 02You want to leverage a 15-month 0% intro APR period to make a large purchase without interest charges
  • 03You prefer redeeming points for travel at a 50% bonus through Real-Time Rewards, which stretches your earning power further
  • 04You don't need cell phone protection or additional protections — you'd rather maximize earning on your core spending category

CHOOSE B

Side B is for you if

  • 01You split spending evenly between dining (3%), travel (3%), gas (3%), and transit (3%) — the card's broader category coverage works better for diverse budgets
  • 02You take frequent trips and want 3x points on hotels, flights, and transportation booking sites alongside dining rewards
  • 03You value the $600 cell phone protection and want a card with broader lifestyle benefits beyond pure rewards earning
  • 04You use multiple Wells Fargo credit cards and want the flexibility to pool points across accounts

THE LEDGER

Side by side.

ISSUER
U.S. Bank
Wells Fargo
NETWORK
Visa
Visa
ANNUAL FEE
$0
$0
APR RANGE
18.74% – 29.74%
20.24% – 29.99%
INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
0% for 15 billing cycles
None
INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
None
None
REWARDS TYPE
points
points
REWARDS RATE
1x points on all purchases
1x points on all purchases
SIGN-UP BONUS
25,000 points
20,000 points
BONUS VALUE
$250
$200
MIN. CREDIT SCORE
670+
670+
FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
None
None

A HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card

  • 4x points on dining including takeout and delivery
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Redeem points for travel at 50% more value through Real-Time Rewards

B HIGHLIGHTS

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

  • 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans
  • No annual fee
  • Cell phone protection up to $600
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Earn and pool with other Wells Fargo rewards cards

QUESTIONS · ANSWERS

Frequently filed.

U.S. Bank Altitude Go offers 2x on gas and groceries, while Wells Fargo Autograph gives 3x on gas but no bonus on groceries. If you spend equally on both, Autograph edges ahead. However, if groceries represent your larger spend, Altitude Go's 2x still accumulates respectably without sacrificing the superior 4x dining rate.