Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Costco Anywhere Visa®

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
VS
Costco Anywhere Visa®
The short answer: The Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier if you spend more on groceries.

Side-by-side comparison

Southwest Rapid Rewards® PremierCostco Anywhere Visa®
Annual fee$149No annual fee
Welcome offer50,000 85,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points (limited-time)No current offer
Dining2x3x
Groceries2x1x
Gas1x4x
Travel1x3x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$382$452
Points typeLocked to Southwest Rapid RewardsCash back only
NetworkVisaVisa

*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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Costco Anywhere Visa® about $452, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Costco Anywhere Visa® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers more total value, about $220 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas and travel. 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® Premier 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier if your spending leans toward groceries. Pick the Costco Anywhere Visa® if your spending leans toward dining, gas, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier or the Costco Anywhere Visa® better?
On typical household spending, the Costco Anywhere Visa® comes out ahead, by roughly $220 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier and the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier or the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
As of June 2026, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier offers 85,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points and the Costco Anywhere Visa® offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.