Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
VS
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority
Annual fee$125$229
Welcome offer125,000 150,000 points + $125 statement credit (limited-time)50,000 90,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points (limited-time)
Advertising2%1%
Shipping4%1%
Office supplies2%1%
Phone & internet4%1%
Travel2%1%
Everything else2%1%
Est. yearly rewards*$1,092$492
Points typeLocked to Marriott BonvoyLocked to Southwest Rapid Rewards
NetworkAmexVisa

*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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card earns about $1,092 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority about $492, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card charges $125, 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card delivers more total value, about $666 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and shipping. 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority better?
On typical business spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $666 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority 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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?
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 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?
As of June 2026, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 150,000 points + $125 statement credit and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority offers 90,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.