Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs Wells Fargo Active Cash®
Side-by-side comparison
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority | Wells Fargo Active Cash® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $229 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash rewards bonus | |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 2x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $343 | $583 |
| Points type | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards | Pools with Wells Fargo → transferable |
| 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® Priority earns about $343 a year in rewards and the Wells Fargo Active Cash® about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority charges $229, but carries about $75 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® delivers more total value, about $432 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Wells Fargo Active Cash® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Wells Fargo Active Cash® if you will use travel transfers, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority 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 Wells Fargo Active Cash® if your spending leans toward groceries, travel, streaming.