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Side-by-side

Capital One Venture Rewards vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Venture Rewards 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.

Bottom line

For most people the Capital One Venture Rewards is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($678 more in estimated value) than the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's. Get the Capital One Venture Rewards first; revisit the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCapital One Venture RewardsSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Annual fee$95$229
Sign-up bonus75,000 miles60,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$1,238$560
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$2,000 in 3 mo
IssuerCapital OneChase
Card categorytravelairline
Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one)5x1x
Transfer partnerscapital-oneNone
Headline benefits
  • 2x on everything
  • 15+ transfer partners
  • $120 TSA credit
  • No foreign tx fees
  • 7,500 anniversary points each year
  • Group 5 boarding (you + up to 8 on the reservation)
  • Unlimited Extra Legroom upgrades within 48h of departure (when available)
  • 4x on Southwest; 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year
Read the full review
Capital One Venture Rewards
$95/yr · 75,000 miles
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
$229/yr · 60,000 points

Editorial take: Capital One Venture Rewards

The simplest travel card in the game. Flat 2x on everything plus transfer partners means you don't have to think, just swipe. Great for people who don't want to chase bonus categories.

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 Venture Rewards or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
The Capital One Venture Rewards has the bigger bonus, 75,000 miles, worth roughly $1,238, versus 60,000 points (~$560) on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority.
Is the Capital One Venture Rewards's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
At $95/yr, the Capital One Venture Rewards 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 Venture Rewards 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 Venture Rewards or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Venture Rewards: $4,000 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.