Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $99 |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash bonus | |
| Dining | 3x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1.5x | 2x |
| Gas | 1.5x | 2x |
| Travel | 1.5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1.5x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $490 | $373 |
| Points type | Pools with Chase → transferable | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Visa | 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 Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns about $490 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® delivers more total value, about $215 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and dining. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if you want simplicity. 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 Chase Freedom Unlimited® if your spending leans toward dining, travel, streaming. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if your spending leans toward groceries, gas.