Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Side-by-side comparison
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $149 | $229 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $343 |
| 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 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority about $343, 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® Priority charges $229, but carries about $75 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier delivers more total value, about $81 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries. 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® Priority 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 groceries. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority if your spending leans toward gas.