American Express® Blue Cash Everyday vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Everyday | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $149 |
| Welcome offer | $200 statement credit | |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 3x | 2x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $455 | $382 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified September 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | American Express® Blue Cash Everyday | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 statement credit | 55,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $2,000 in 6 months | $1,500 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $919 | $783 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $719 | $233 |
The American Express® Blue Cash Everyday wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | American Express® Blue Cash Everyday | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$264/yr (2 credits) | 1 listed credits |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday carries the heavier credit stack (about $264 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
One pays flexible everyday cash for free, the other earns Southwest points for a fee, so it hinges on whether you fly Southwest.
The Blue Cash Everyday rewards the categories most households spend in as cash. The Southwest Premier’s 6,000 anniversary points and Companion Pass progress reward Southwest loyalty, and can offset its fee if you fly the airline.
Pros and cons
- Fixed 3% at U.S. supermarkets, online retail, and gas
- No annual fee, no activation
- Cash you can use anywhere
- Great for everyday household spend
- Category caps ($6,000/yr each)
- 1% on dining and general spend
- No travel or airline perks
- 6,000 anniversary points each year
- 2x on dining, groceries, and Southwest; counts toward the Companion Pass
- Free checked bags on Southwest, no blackout dates
- Large welcome bonus
- $149 fee, only worth it for Southwest flyers
- Points locked to Southwest
- Modest earning outside its categories
- No value if you don’t fly Southwest
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday earning | Blue Cash Everyday | 3% groceries/online/gas as flexible cash. |
| Airline perks | Southwest Premier | Anniversary points + Companion Pass progress. |
| Reward flexibility | Blue Cash Everyday | Cash anywhere vs Southwest-only points. |
| Annual fee | Blue Cash Everyday | $0 vs $149. |
| Best for | Depends | Everyday spenders vs Southwest flyers. |
The verdict
If you want flexible everyday value, the Blue Cash Everyday is the stronger free card, 3% on groceries, online shopping, and gas as spendable cash, with no fee and no airline lock-in. For most households it’s the more useful card.
If you fly Southwest, the Premier earns its fee back through the 6,000 anniversary points and Companion Pass progress, especially if you’re chasing the pass. They serve different needs: everyday cash vs Southwest travel. A Southwest flyer might hold the Premier for the airline and the Blue Cash Everyday for groceries and gas.