PayPal Cashback Mastercard vs Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Side-by-side comparison of rewards, fees, and benefits
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Synchrony
Direct link. CardSavvy earns no commission today.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Wells Fargo
Direct link. CardSavvy earns no commission today.
PayPal Cashback Mastercard comes out ahead by $24/yr at a typical $24,000/yr spending profile.
See the assumptions and math
Everyday profile: $24,000/yr across groceries, gas, dining, online shopping, streaming, and everything else. Signup bonuses excluded (first-year only). Statement credits counted at typical usage rates, not face value.
| Card | Rewards | Credits | Fee | Net/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal Cashback Mastercard | $504 | $0 | -$0 | $504 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | $480 | $0 | -$0 | $480 |
Booking through the card issuer's travel site. Point values adjust automatically.
Simple Advanced view shows effective return rates (multiplier × point value) instead of just multipliers. | PayPal Cashback MastercardSynchrony | Wells Fargo Active Cash CardWells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Sign-Up Bonus | - | 20,000 pts |
Point Value How much each point is worth in cents. This varies based on how you redeem (cash back, travel portal, or transfer partners). | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) |
Dining | 2x | 2x |
Grocery | 2x | 2x |
Flights | 2x | 2x |
Hotels | 2x | 2x |
Gas | 2x | 2x |
Online Shopping | 3x | 2x |
Everything Else | 2x | 2x |
Fast Food Quick-service restaurants (MCC 5814). Most "dining" bonuses include fast food. | 2x | 2x |
Streaming Subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc. | 2x | 2x |
Internet Home internet and cable bills. | 2x | 2x |
Cell Phone Cell phone bills (may incur processing fees). | 2x | 2x |
Home Utilities Electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash. | 2x | 2x |
Travel/Airline Credit | - | - |
Est. Perks Value | - | - |
Lounge Access | No | No |
* Est. Perks Value: Requires enrollment; varies by usage. Excludes Travel/Airline Credit (shown separately).
Amex Platinum ($2,884): $600 FHR/THC hotel credit, $400 Resy dining, $300 lululemon, $300 digital entertainment, $320 Uber ($200 cash + $120 Uber One), $209 CLEAR+, $200 Oura, $155 Walmart+, $100 Saks, $300 Equinox.
CSR ($828): $420 DoorDash (DashPass + credits), $288 Apple TV+ and Apple Music, $120 Lyft credits.
Quick Verdict
Both cards earn equally on travel categories.. PayPal Cashback Mastercard excels at everyday spending like online shopping. Your best choice depends on where you spend the most.
Compare Different Cards
Find Your Perfect Card Combination
Our Wallet Optimizer analyzes your spending across all categories to recommend the best cards for your lifestyle.
Optimize My Wallet