Compare the Features and Benefits of The Plum Card® and
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Plum Card® is quite possibly the most unique card in the lineup of American Express business credit cards. As a full “No Preset Spending Limit” card (these used to be called charge cards by American Express, but that term is no longer used), it is really a great choice for extremely high spenders.

1.5% is a solid cash back rate for a card with no preset spending limit, though if you have spend that falls into the right bonus categories, you might want to first take a look at the American Express® Business Gold Card which is also a No Preset Spending Limit card (No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.).

The American Express® Business Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards points on up to $150,000 in total spend per calendar year, in the two qualifying categories where your business spends the most money every month out of 6 select business categories.

(Note that the Plum Card earns cash back, not rewards points).

Now if your business is often a bit behind with cash flow (perhaps all of your client payments come more than 30 days after you need to make your own payments, then the 60 day payment period offer on this card (instead of the early pay discount – i.e. the cash back) could really be a massive benefit. So while it’s a niche card product, it can knock the ball out of the park for certain business owners.

Rates and Fees for The Plum Card®

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card should be the go-to card for Southwest frequent travelers that own a small business. Don’t let the $199 annual fee scare you off. This card comes packed with perks that can easily justify that fee.

Southwest-specific perks include four Upgraded Boardings each year, virtually unlimited inflight WiFi passes, and the ability to spend toward A-List status. Plus cardholders get premium travel perks like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit.

Cardholders earn 4x Rapid Rewards points on Southwest Airlines purchases. That’s a higher rewards earning rate on Southwest purchases than you’ll find on any other Southwest credit card. Plus you’ll earn 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.

However, this card doesn’t just reward travel purchases. Cardholders earn 2x Southwest Rapid Rewards points on a wide range of purchases, including social media and search engine advertising; internet, cable, and phone services; transit and commuting, including ride-hailing services. Earn points on all other purchases at a rate of 1 Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent.

Cardholders will earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent on purchases annually. While you probably don’t want to put that much spending on the card, you can conceivably spend all the way to A-List Preferred status by spending $470,000 on the card in a calendar year.

The only real downside to this card is the limited redemption options. The best way to redeem Rapid Rewards points is for Southwest flights. And since the Rapid Rewards structure is a fixed-value program, you won’t get more value from some flights than others. The good news is that means there are no blackout dates when you want to redeem points.

You can add employee cards for no additional cost, meaning you can be rewarded for employee spending. The card also offers up to a $500 statement credit for points transfers. That means you can transfer points to employees without additional cost.

Lastly, this card is great for getting more than halfway 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.