PayPal Cashback Mastercard vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠
Side-by-side comparison
| PayPal Cashback Mastercard | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $95 |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | 60,000 bonus points ($600 value) |
| Dining | 1.5x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1.5x | 1x |
| Gas | 1.5x | 1x |
| Travel | 1.5x | 5x |
| Streaming | 1.5x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $437 | $424 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard earns about $437 a year in rewards and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ about $424, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ charges $95, but carries about $50 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers more total value, about $84 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ if your spending leans toward dining, travel.