Southwest Credit Cards Compared: A Look at the Benefits & Differences

If you frequently travel using Southwest, having a travel credit card that rewards you with Southwest perks you can use makes sense. Because Southwest doesn’t operate like most other airlines, its credit cards offer different perks than most.

For example, you may get access to exclusive perks, like the legendary Southwest Companion Pass, rather than a free checked bag because Southwest passengers automatically get two free checked bags. While Southwest doesn’t fly everywhere, I think it’s worth comparing the flight/baggage costs with other flights when they do go to your destination.

You have five options to choose from with Southwest credit cards (issued by Chase) — three consumer cards for personal use and two business credit cards for business expenses — with annual fees ranging from $69 to $199.

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

Personal cards

	Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card	Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card	Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Welcome bonus	Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening	Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening	Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening
Bonus points for cardmember anniversary	3,000	6,000	7,500
Tier qualifying points	N/A	1,500 for every $5,000 you spend	1,500 for every $5,000 you spend
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% of each transaction in U.S. dollars	None	None
Recommended Credit	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good
Travel protection benefits	Yes	Yes	Yes
Purchase protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Learn more	Learn more	Learn more

Business cards

	Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier 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	1,500 for every $5,000 you spend	1,500 for every $5,000 you spend
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
	Learn more	Learn more

Which Southwest credit card should you choose?

With so many options for Southwest airline credit cards, it’s important to know which is right for you. I suggest determining which features you care about the most to choose the right card. For example, is a lower annual fee more important than cashback on in-flight purchases or upgraded boardings?

Deciding what’s most important for you will help you narrow your choices.

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 cards, some of the standout benefits that come with the Priority include:

• $75 Southwest travel credit
• Four Upgraded Boardings each year when available (worth at least $30 each)
• 25% back on in-flight purchases
• 7,500 bonus Southwest points on cardmember account anniversary
• Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually

With these perks and the opportunity to earn 3X points on Southwest purchases, the Priority sets itself apart. Between the annual Southwest travel credit and the four Upgraded Boardings each year, there’s a good chance you can offset the $149 annual fee and any other points you earn is a bonus.

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

If you’re not happy about the annual fee on Southwest’s Priority card, 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 provides valuable perks including:

• Two Early Bird Check-Ins annually
• 6,000 anniversary points each year
• Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points annually

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 can be a good option.

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
• Two Early Bird Check-Ins per year
• 25% back on in-flight purchases

I like this card for anyone just starting out with a travel rewards card because its annual fee is low enough that one free flight can easily offset the cost.

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

If you travel frequently for business, 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
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
• Access to additional employee cards at no cost

The higher points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases can quickly help offset the annual fee if you travel frequently.

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. All five cards pay healthy bonus points if you meet the spending requirements, and get you well on your way to the required 135,000 points to qualify. For example, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers the chance to earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.

But here’s a hack to earn a Companion Pass:

• Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card
• Apply for a personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card

While you’ll owe two annual fees, if you fly Southwest frequently and own a business, you can earn points for your business and personal spending and earn the Companion Pass faster.

How the Southwest credit cards differ from each other

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 can 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:

Cardmember anniversary points

Each Southwest credit card pays points on your cardmember anniversary — but not every card offers the same amount. Here’s how they compare:

Priority boarding

Each of the Southwest credit cards offer some type of priority boarding benefit. I’d consider what you’d use most and choose the credit card with that 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.

Plus the healthy welcome offer allows you to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, you can earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

Find out more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

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, vacation rentals 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.

This card’s low annual fee, and lack of foreign transaction fees or blackout dates make it a great option for anyone looking for a more flexible travel credit card that doesn’t tie you into a single airline. Miles also never expire, so you can take your time and save up points for that dream vacation.

Learn more in our Capital One Venture Rewards review.

FAQs

Bottom line

I think tucking a Southwest credit card into your wallet can be a good choice if you frequently travel Southwest. 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.

Generous Welcome Bonus

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

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Current Offer

Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 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

Benefits

• Solid rewards rate
• Redeem points for flights, gift cards, and more
• 3,000 bonus points after cardmember anniversary
• 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins® per year

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• Has foreign transaction fee
• Limited travel benefits compared to premium Southwest cards

Card Details

• Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Member FDIC