United℠ Gateway vs Wells Fargo Autograph℠
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Gateway | Wells Fargo Autograph℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 40,000 bonus miles | 20,000 bonus points ($200 value) |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 3x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $320 | $457 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the United℠ Gateway earns about $320 a year in rewards and the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ about $457, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Gateway has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ delivers more total value, about $137 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the United℠ Gateway stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Gateway if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the United℠ Gateway currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ if your spending leans toward dining, gas, travel.