Southwest Plus vs Southwest Priority
It depends on how you spend: the Southwest Plus wins for 1 of our three profiles and the Southwest Priority for 2. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued as cash (Rapid Rewards points at 1.2¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead. Assumes you fly mostly Southwest; companion fares and checked bags count once you tell the calculator below you use them.
| Profile | Southwest Plus: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | Southwest Priority: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $869 | $291 | $2,032 | $854 | $224 | $1,749 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $1,121 | $537 | $3,269 | $1,211 | $581 | $3,535 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $1,403 | $818 | $4,675 | $1,679 | $1,049 | $5,875 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
Southwest Priority trails Southwest Plus by $57 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, free checked bags and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $57 a year to you.
This flips if Rapid Rewards points are worth more than 2.12¢ each to you (we're using 1.2¢).
Balanced
Southwest Plus trails Southwest Priority by $53 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, free checked bags and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $53 a year to you.
Frequent traveler
Southwest Plus trails Southwest Priority by $240 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, free checked bags and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $240 a year to you.
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Southwest Plus | Southwest Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | Chase, Visa | Chase, Visa |
| Annual fee | $99 | $229 |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 50,000 points after $1,000 in 3 months | 60,000 points after $2,000 in 3 months |
| Earning | 2x on Southwest Airlines purchases (flights, inflight, gift cards, Getaways by Southwest) · 2x at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases each anniversary year · 2x total on Lyft rides and products bought in the Lyft app through 12/31/2027 · 1x on everything else | 4x on Southwest Airlines purchases (flights, inflight, gift cards, Getaways by Southwest) · 2x at gas stations and restaurants (no cap) · 5x total on Lyft rides and products bought in the Lyft app through 12/31/2027 · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | Southwest Rapid Rewards points | Southwest Rapid Rewards points |
| Statement credits | Complimentary DashPass membership for 12 months ($120 value) · $10 quarterly DoorDash promo on a non-restaurant order · $10 monthly Instacart credit (with Instacart+) | Complimentary DashPass membership for 12 months ($120 value) · $10 quarterly DoorDash promo on a non-restaurant order · $10 monthly Instacart credit (with Instacart+) |
| Lounges | None | None |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Authorized users | No fee | No fee |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Is the Southwest Plus worth its $99 fee? · Is the Southwest Priority worth its $229 fee? · Compare every card with your statements