The Platinum Card from American Express vs Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the The Platinum Card from American Express ($895/yr) and the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Platinum Card from American Express needs about $3,730 a month in flights, counting that spending alone, to make up its $895 higher annual fee over Wells Fargo Autograph Card. Below that, Wells Fargo Autograph Card comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.

Affiliate Disclosure: PointsCompare may earn a commission when you apply for a card through links on this site. This doesn't affect our rankings. Cards are ordered by rewards value for your spending. Full disclosure policy

Meet the Contenders

The Platinum Card from American Express

Strongest in flights at 5% (up to $500,000/yr). 5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access.

Annual fee: $895 Sign-up bonus: 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You book through the issuer's own site and want premium perks to offset the fee.

Apply Now

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

Strongest in travel at 3%. 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: 20,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature The Platinum Card from American Express Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Annual Fee $895 $0
Sign-Up Bonus 175,000 points after $12,000 spend in 6 months 20,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months
Foreign Transaction Fee 0% 0%
Base Reward Rate 1% 1%
Flights Rewards 5% (up to $500,000/yr) 3%
Hotels Rewards 1% 3%
Other travel Rewards 1% 3%
Dining Rewards 1% 3%
Gas Rewards 1% 3%
Rates with conditions
not counted in the rows above
5% on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel
Earns 5% only on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, Amex's own booking site. Hotels booked direct earn 1%.
None
Key Benefits 5X on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Global Lounge Collection access. 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans.

The Verdict

The Platinum Card from American Express pulls ahead for travel spending.

Wells Fargo Autograph Card wins on dining, gas.

The $895/year fee difference means The Platinum Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.

The Platinum Card from American Express carries $1,174/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.