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* Suggested credit score ranges are supplied by QuinStreet, not from the issuers, and are guidelines, not a guarantee of approval.
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Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Detailed Comparison Overview

Key Facts
Annual Fee
Avg. Min. Credit Score
APR on purchases
APR on balance transfers
Ongoing APR
Balance transfers fees
Best Multiplier
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
Bonus Offer
Rating
Review
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Annual Statement Credits
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Extended Warranty
Purchase Protection
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
No Fees for Authorized Users
Free Checked Bags
Trip Protections
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Roadside Assistance
Free Access to Credit Score
0% Intro APR on Purchases
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers
Return Protection
Amex Offers
Annual Fee
$149
Avg. Min. Credit Score
670-850
APR on purchases
-
APR on balance transfers
-
Ongoing APR
20.99%-27.99% (Variable)
Balance transfers fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
Best Multiplier
3x Airfare

Applies only to tickets purchased directly from Southwest. Other airfare earns 1X.

2x Transit
2x Cable / Internet / VOIP Phone
2x Cellular Phone Service
2x Streaming Services
1x Everything Else
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.014
Bonus Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (See Companion Pass Guide!)

Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(3.98) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

Although the Southwest Priority Card charges the highest annual fee of any of the personal Southwest credit cards, we argue that it should be the go-to card for frequent Southwest flyers. That’s because the perks of this Southwest credit card easily justify the $149 annual fee.

Cardholders get four Upgraded Boardings each year, a $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 7,500 bonus points every cardmember anniversary (worth $105), and 25% back on inflight purchases. If you fly Southwest just a couple of times per year, these perks should easily save more than the $149 annual fee.

Get four Southwest Upgraded Boardings each cardmember anniversary.

In addition to the sign-up bonus, cardholders earn 3x points on Southwest purchases and 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit, commuting, and rideshare. In addition to those travel purchases, cardholders also earn 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services. All other purchases earn 1x points.

All points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, cardholders will earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List and A-List Preferred Status for every $5,000 spent per year. And you don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees with the Southwest Priority Card.

The only downside to Southwest Airlines credit cards is that Rapid Rewards points are only valuable for flying Southwest. If you want to earn flexible points, consider a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, so you’ll still be able to top off your Rapid Rewards account when you need points for your next redemption, but you can also transfer them to any of Chase’s other airline or hotel transfer partners.

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

Redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points earned through your Southwest card for nearly-free Southwest flights

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Annual Statement Credits
yes
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
Extended Warranty
yes
Purchase Protection
yes
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
yes
No Fees for Authorized Users
yes
Free Checked Bags
yes
Trip Protections
yes
No Foreign Transaction Fees
yes
Roadside Assistance
yes
Free Access to Credit Score
yes
0% Intro APR on Purchases
no
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers
no
Return Protection
no
Amex Offers
no
Annual Fee
$0 Introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $95 (Rates and fees)
Avg. Min. Credit Score
Good-Excellent
APR on purchases
0% Intro APR (on purchases for 12 months, 18.74%-29.74% thereafter)
APR on balance transfers
0% Intro APR (on balance transfers for 12 months, 18.74%-29.74% thereafter)
Ongoing APR
18.74%-29.74% (Variable)
Balance transfers fees
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Best Multiplier
6x Groceries

At U.S. Supermarkets on the first $6,000 of yearly spend; 1X thereafter. * American Express defines a supermarket as offering a wide variety of food and household products such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies. (Superstores, convenience stores and warehouse clubs are NOT considered supermarkets.)

6x Streaming Services

On select U.S. Streaming Services

3x Transit
3x Gas Stations

At U.S. Gas Stations

Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.01
Bonus Offer
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply.
Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(4.08) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a rewarding cash-back card thanks to its range of useful bonus categories. Perhaps the most valuable bonus category is the ability to earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on the first $6,000 spent annually. Households who spend $500 or so can maximize this threshold to earn a tremendous $350 in reward dollars every year, and that’s before you consider the other bonus cash-back opportunities like 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Still, you will want to subtract the $95 annual fee from that bounty.

The 6% cash back rate applies to select U.S. streaming subscriptions, which covers virtually every participating provider out there. From Apple Music to YouTube TV to Netflix to Prime Video, it’s likely that you subscribe to one (or more) of these popular live TV, movie or music streaming services.

apple-music-blue-cash-preferred-card-from-american-express

Not to mention, you can enroll your card within your American Express account to receive a $7 monthly statement credit when you spend $9.99 (or more) each month on a subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN+. If you already subscribe to one of these eligible services, that’s an instant savings of $84 every year.

You can also earn bonus cash back when you’re on the road. The Blue Cash Preferred provides 3% at U.S. gas stations and for local transit expenses, which includes anything such as taxis, rideshare services like Lyft and Uber, parking expenses, tolls, and train and bus fares.

Simply put, the cash back earnings add up swiftly with the Blue Cash Preferred, especially if you have a large household. You’ll earn cash back in the form of reward dollars, which can then be redeemed for any amount on your monthly statement credit through American Express. One reward dollar equals $1.

Other benefits on the card, such as purchase protection, return protection and access to Global Assist Hotline may be used less frequently, but will still come in handy when it’s least expected.

Best of all, there’s no annual fee for the first year of card membership, giving you time to test drive the card’s earning rates and benefits before you commit to paying the ongoing $95 annual fee. It is possible to downgrade after one year to the Blue Cash Everyday® Card if you find it more suitable.

Rates and Fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Annual Statement Credits
yes
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
Extended Warranty
yes
Purchase Protection
yes
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
yes
No Fees for Authorized Users
yes
Free Checked Bags
no
Trip Protections
no
No Foreign Transaction Fees
no
Roadside Assistance
no
Free Access to Credit Score
no
0% Intro APR on Purchases
yes
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers
yes
Return Protection
yes
Amex Offers
yes

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