Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $149 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 2x | 1x |
| Groceries | 2x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $373 |
| Points type | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 55,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points | 50,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $1,500 in 3 months | $1,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $783 | $774 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $233 | $274 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is ahead by roughly $9, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier after about 1 year. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier. Planning to keep it for years? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus pulls ahead.
*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 | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | 1 listed credits | 1 listed credits |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
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.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus delivers more total value, about $42 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas. 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 two are currently comparable in size. Note that Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus are running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. 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 dining. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if your spending leans toward gas.