American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | |
| Dining | 1x | 1x |
| Groceries | 6x | 2x |
| Gas | 3x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 6x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $373 |
| 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 June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $352 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and streaming. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming.