Ink Business Preferred® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business
Side-by-side comparison
| Ink Business Preferred® | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $299 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points | 80,000 points |
| Advertising | 3% | 1% |
| Shipping | 3% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 3% | 1% |
| Travel | 3% | 4% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $846 | $636 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | 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 business spending, the Ink Business Preferred® earns about $846 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business about $636, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Ink Business Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $10 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business charges $299, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Ink Business Preferred® delivers more total value, about $419 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and shipping. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Ink Business Preferred® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Ink Business Preferred® if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Preferred® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Ink Business Preferred® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, phone & internet. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business if your spending leans toward travel.