Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card ($95/yr) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card needs about $3,005 a month in gas or other purchases, counting that spending alone, to make up its $54 higher annual fee over Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Below that, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in dining at 3%. 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply NowStrongest in dining at 2% (up to $8,000/yr). 3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on groceries and restaurants up to $8,000/year.
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
Apply Now| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $149 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months | 55,000 points after $1,500 spend in 3 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Travel Rewards | 2% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 3% | 2% (up to $8,000/yr) |
| Groceries Rewards | 3% | 2% (up to $8,000/yr) |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
5% through Chase Travel Earns 5% only on travel booked through Chase Travel, Chase's own booking site. Booking direct with an airline or hotel earns 2%. 3% at top gas and EV charging brands Earns 3% only at the gas station and EV charging brands Chase selects. Other gas stations earn 1%. |
3% on Southwest Earns 3% only on Southwest purchases. Flights on other airlines, hotels and car rentals earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel. | 3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on groceries and restaurants up to $8,000/year. |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card pulls ahead for travel, dining, groceries spending.
The $54/year fee difference means Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card carries $220/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.