Capital One Spark Cash Select vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash Select comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($840 more in estimated value) than the Capital One Spark Cash Select's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the Capital One Spark Cash Select after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash Select | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Chase |
| Card category | business | airline |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash Select or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has a public bonus (60,000 points, worth roughly $840), while the Capital One Spark Cash Select doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- At $95/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash Select is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash Select and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- 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 Select or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash Select: $10,000 spend in 3 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $2,000 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.
