What’s the Best Southwest Credit Card? We Compare the Benefits & Fees

CREDIT CARDS - TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS
Finding the best Southwest credit card boils down to satisfying your personal travel preferences and spending habits. Here’s a side-by-side look at each card to help you choose what makes the most sense for you.
Updated March 28, 2024
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If you’re looking for a travel rewards card and you frequently fly Southwest, it likely makes sense to consider a Southwest credit card. These cards can get you access to exclusive perks, like the legendary Southwest Companion Pass, as well as help you earn more Rapid Rewards points.

There are five options to choose from — three consumer cards for personal use and two business credit cards for business expenses — with annual fees ranging from $69 to $199.

The best airline credit card from Southwest for you depends on your needs and how frequently you fly. In this comparison, we’ll dive deep into the details to help you figure out which card can serve you best as a Southwest flyer.

In this article

Best Southwest credit cards: A side-by-side comparison

Each Southwest credit card offers different perks, as well as ways to potentially earn A-List Status faster. Here’s how they compare:

Personal cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Welcome bonus Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Bonus points for cardmember anniversary 3,000 6,000 7,500
Tier qualifying points N/A 15,000 15,000
Rewards rate 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases 3X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases 3X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases
Annual fee $69 $99 $149
Foreign transaction fees 3% None None
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good Excellent, Good Excellent, Good
Travel protection benefits Yes Yes Yes
Purchase protection Yes Yes Yes

Business cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Bonus points for cardmember anniversary 6,000 9,000
Tier qualifying points 15,000 15,000
Rewards rate 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; plus 1X points on all other purchases 4X points on Southwest purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; 2X on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; plus 1X points on all other purchases
Annual fee $99 $199
Foreign transaction fees None None
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good Excellent, Good
Travel protection benefits Yes Yes
Purchase protection Yes Yes

Which Southwest credit card should you choose?

Now let’s dig into which Southwest credit card could be right for you based on your travel preferences and goals.

Best for frequent flyers: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

If you regularly fly on Southwest, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is likely the best travel credit card choice to consider. Offering the most perks out of all the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card offerings, some of the standout benefits that come with the Priority include:

  • $75 Southwest travel credit
  • Four Upgraded Boardings each year (a savings of up to $200 per year)
  • 25% back on in-flight purchases
  • 7,500 bonus Southwest points on cardmember account anniversary

With these perks and the opportunity to earn 3X on Southwest purchases, the Priority sets itself apart. If you’re able to use your four Upgraded Boardings each year, there’s a good chance you can actually offset the $149 annual fee.

Best middle-of-the-road option: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

If you’re not sure Southwest’s top-of-the-line Priority card is right for you but you want to earn similar rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier is your best bet.

The Premier card offers 3X points on Southwest purchases; 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases. This card has a lower annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and free checked bags when you fly Southwest. You’ll also receive 6,000 anniversary points each year, which can help you on your way to earning A-List Status.

Best for perks with low annual fee: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

If you’re looking for a basic credit card that can help you earn free flights on Southwest without a high annual fee, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is likely the right choice for you.

Despite the $69 annual fee being lower, you’ll still earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases. You'll also receive 3,000 points on your cardmember anniversary and two Early Bird Check-Ins per year.

One of the simple payoffs of this card is that just one free flight per year is likely more than enough to offset the annual fee.

Best for small business: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

If you tend to travel the same routes for business on a regular basis, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business is a strong Southwest credit card choice to consider.

With this card, you will earn 4X points on Southwest purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; 2X on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; plus 1X points on all other purchases, as well as 9,000 points on your cardmember anniversary. This is on top of the handful of other valuable travel perks, including four upgraded boardings per year (when available), in-flight wifi credits, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. You'll also be able to add additional employee cards at no cost and earn points on employee spending.

Best for earning a Companion Pass

One of the easiest ways to get a Companion Pass is to apply for a Southwest credit card with a generous welcome offer. For example, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers the chance to earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

If, however, you’re eligible for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card, you could also consider applying for both a personal and a business credit card to earn the Companion Pass faster. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll be on the hook for two annual fees, so make sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew.

Differences to note

Despite having many similarities, each Southwest credit card brings something different to the table. Here are some of the differences to note:

Annual fee

Each Southwest credit card charges an annual fee, but before you turn your back on any of these Chase credit cards, consider the value you’ll be able to squeeze out of the benefits and rewards. If you travel enough on Southwest, paying an annual fee — even a higher one — might be worth it. Here’s how they compare:

Card Annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card $69
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card $99
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card $99
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card $149
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card $199

Cardmember anniversary points

Each Southwest credit card comes with points you can receive on your cardmember anniversary — but not every card offers the same amount.

Card Points received on cardmember anniversary
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card 9,000
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card 7,500
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card 6,000
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card 6,000
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card 3,000

Additionally, it’s worth noting that you don’t get 15,000 qualifying points toward A-List Status with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. So if earning A-List Status is a goal, you’ll want to consider a different option.

Foreign transaction fees

The only card in this group that charges foreign transaction fees is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. All of the other Southwest credit cards have no foreign transaction fee, so you can feel comfortable using them abroad without worrying about accruing extra fees each time you swipe.

Still not convinced? Southwest credit card alternatives

If you’re still on the fence about pledging your loyalty to Southwest or you want a credit card with a broader travel focus, here are two other options to consider:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

With a comparable $95 annual fee and broader rewards-earning categories, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might be what you’re looking for in a travel rewards card. What’s more, cardholders can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book Southwest flights through the Chase travel portal.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another card with a comparable $95 annual fee. You can also earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25, making it a decent card for everyday spending. When you’re ready to use your rewards, the Venture Rewards card offers a lot of flexibility in choosing your preferred airline.

FAQs

What credit score is needed for a Southwest credit card?

The recommended credit score for all of Southwest’s credit cards is good or excellent, which means a FICO score of 670 or higher. Keep in mind that your credit score is only one factor that card issuers consider, and having a certain score doesn’t guarantee approval. 

What credit card company does Southwest use?

Chase issues Southwest credit cards. 

Is it worth it to upgrade to a Southwest Priority Card?

The $75 annual travel credit alone could make it worthwhile to upgrade to the Southwest Priority Card. You also earn 7,500 anniversary bonus points each year, four upgraded boardings, and a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each calendar year. 

Bottom line

Tucking a Southwest credit card into your wallet can be a good choice if you frequently travel Southwest and want perks like free checked bags. While it may take some time to figure out which one suits you best, the right card ultimately comes down to how much you travel, the perks you expect in a credit card, and how the card fits into your overall lifestyle.

Methodology

To select the best Southwest Airlines credit cards, we compared several co-branded cards with benefits for Southwest passengers. We assessed features like welcome bonuses, rewards rates, annual fees, and foreign transaction fees to identify the top picks for frequent Southwest customers. We did not include all cards available.

Generous Welcome Bonus

4.5

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$69

Rewards Rate

2X points on Southwest purchases and Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; and on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; plus 1X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details

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