Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Southwest Premier credit card is Southwest’s mid-tier personal card. It balances offering some perks while still charging less than a $100 annual fee.

Cardholders will be reimbursed for up to two EarlyBird Check-In purchases each year, get 25% back on inflight purchases on Southwest Airlines, plus get 6,000 bonus points each card anniversary.

The Southwest Premier Card offers some of the broadest spending bonus categories of any card with an annual fee under $100. Cardholders will earn 3x points on Southwest purchases and 2x points on Southwest Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners; local transit, commuting, rideshare; internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.

Points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, primary cardholders earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List Preferred Status for every $10,000 spent on the card each year.

The Southwest Premier Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, unlike the Southwest Plus Card. Add in the higher earning rate on Southwest purchases, higher anniversary bonus, and ability to earn Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List Preferred Status, and the Premier Card easily justifies its $30 higher annual fee.

Lastly, this card is great for getting a good piece of the way to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer, since the signup bonus points count. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a well-rounded card offering no annual fee and cash back on three key spending categories, including on online purchases. If your focus is on maximizing your earnings towards pure cash back (as opposed to travel rewards), the Everyday Card is a solid option worth considering.

If your spending aligns with purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, or U.S. online retail (who doesn’t shop at online retailers?) — and cash back is your main objective from a credit card — then this becomes an even easier decision. That’s because the Everyday Card earns 3% cash back on these three categories, up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases in each (then 1%). In addition, the Everyday Card offers a statement credit with several merchants including select streaming services and Home Chef, a rarity for a card with no annual fee (enrollment required).

Of course, it pays to consider other options, including this card’s sister product, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the no-annual-fee Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Both of these cards may offer slightly more cash back depending on your monthly expenses.

Rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express