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Side-by-side
Capital One Spark Cash vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier from Chase at $149/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,000 more in estimated value) than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $149 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | 55,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,000 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $1,500 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Chase |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash
$95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
$149/yr · 55,000 bonus points
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
The middle tier of the Southwest portfolio after the 2025 refresh. Doubles the anniversary points and bumps the promo code from 10% to 15% vs Plus. Sweet spot for occasional Southwest flyers who don't need the Priority card's $75 travel credit or upgraded boardings.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash or Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has a public bonus ($1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000), while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier?
- At $95/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Capital One Spark Cash or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash: $10,000 spend in 3 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: $1,500 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.