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Best Low-Fee Southwest Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Annual fee: $99

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

  • First checked bag free
  • 3,000 anniversary points every year
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year
  • Complimentary standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
  • Board with Group 5 for earlier access to overhead bins
  • 10% promo code each cardmember anniversary (excludes Basic fare)
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

The Plus is the most affordable entry point into the Southwest card lineup and a great option if you're primarily opening it to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. The $99 annual fee is the lowest of the three personal Southwest cards, and the 50,000-point welcome offer is easy to earn with just $1,000 in spending. The annual 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost is a nice ongoing perk that gives you a head start on earning the pass each year. If you fly Southwest regularly, even the free checked bag alone can quickly offset the annual fee.

Best Mid-Tier Southwest Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Annual fee: $149

Earn 55,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • First checked bag free
  • 6,000 anniversary points every year
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year
  • Complimentary Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
  • 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent
  • Board with Group 5 for earlier access to overhead bins
  • 15% promo code each cardmember anniversary (excludes Basic fare)
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

The Premier sits nicely in the middle of the Southwest personal card lineup. The 3x on Southwest purchases and 6,000 anniversary points make it worth the extra $50/year more than the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card if you fly Southwest more than a couple of times a year. The bigger anniversary promo code and the Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status are nice extras if you're working toward elite status. If your main goal is earning the Southwest Companion Pass, the Plus card gets you there just as easily at a lower cost. But if you're a regular Southwest flyer who wants a little more ongoing value, the Premier is a solid choice.

Best Premium Southwest Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Annual fee: $229
Limited time offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • First checked bag free
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit
  • 7,500 anniversary points every year
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year
  • Complimentary Preferred seat at booking (when available)
  • Upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
  • 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent
  • Board with Group 5 for earlier access to overhead bins
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

The Priority is the top-of-the-line personal Southwest card, and honestly the $75 annual travel credit alone brings the effective annual fee down to $154, which puts it closer to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card in real cost. Add in the highest anniversary point bonus (7,500), the strongest earn rate (4x on Southwest), and a complimentary Preferred seat at booking and this card makes a lot of sense for anyone who flies Southwest several times a year. The biggest welcome offer of the three personal cards is a bonus too. If you're serious about earning the Southwest Companion Pass and getting the most out of Southwest, this is the card to get.

Best Entry-Level Southwest Business Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Annual fee: $149

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation
  • 6,000 anniversary points every year
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year
  • Complimentary Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
  • Board with Group 5 for earlier access to overhead bins
  • 15% promo code each cardmember anniversary (excludes Basic fare)
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • Does not count toward Chase's 5/24 rule
  • No foreign transaction fees

This is the lower-fee Southwest business card and it's a great option for small business owners or side hustlers who want to earn Southwest points without the higher annual fee of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card. Since it's a business card, it doesn't count toward your 5/24 number, which is a huge advantage if you're also opening other Chase personal cards. The 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost every year is the same as the personal cards, making it a solid card for stacking points toward the Southwest Companion Pass.

Best Premium Southwest Business Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Annual fee: $299

Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

  • First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation
  • 9,000 anniversary points every year
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year
  • Complimentary Preferred seat at booking (when available)
  • Upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
  • Board with Group 5 for earlier access to overhead bins
  • Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year (one per day)
  • Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every 4 years
  • Up to $120 annually in Instacart credits ($10/month) through December 31, 2027
  • 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent
  • Complimentary DashPass for 12 months (activate by December 31, 2027)
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • Does not count toward Chase's 5/24 rule
  • No foreign transaction fees

This is the premium Southwest business card and the benefits make up for its higher annual fee quickly for frequent Southwest flyers. The daily inflight Wi-Fi credits alone are worth up to $365/year, and the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, stronger anniversary bonus, and Preferred seat at booking make the $299 fee very justifiable if Southwest is your go-to airline. Like all Southwest business cards, it doesn't count toward your 5/24 number. If you're going for the Southwest Companion Pass, the 80,000-point welcome offer plus the 10,000 Companion Pass boost gives you a massive head start.

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Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:

Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.