Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $299 |
| Welcome offer | 80,000 points | |
| Advertising | 1% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 3% | 4% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $546 | $636 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Amex | 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 | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 100,000 miles | 80,000 points |
| To earn it | $8,000 in 6 months | $5,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,351 | $1,137 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $351 | $337 |
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*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 | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| 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 business spending, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business earns about $546 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business about $636, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business charges $195, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business charges $299, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The two are close on value, but the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business edges ahead by about $14 a year, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. 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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business 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® Performance Business if your spending leans toward travel.