Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business vs Citi Simplicity Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business comes from Chase at $299/yr; the Citi Simplicity Card from Citi at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($80,000 more in estimated value) than the Citi Simplicity Card's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business first; revisit the Citi Simplicity Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business | Citi Simplicity Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $299 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points | No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no rewards program |
| Bonus value (est.) | $80,000 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $5,000 in 3 mo | - |
| Issuer | Chase | Citi |
| Card category | travel | |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 4x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
Editorial take: Citi Simplicity Card
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business or Citi Simplicity Card?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business has a public bonus (80,000 points, worth roughly $80,000), while the Citi Simplicity Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business's $299 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Simplicity Card?
- At $299/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Simplicity Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business and Citi Simplicity Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and Citi) 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business or the Citi Simplicity Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business: $5,000 spend in 3 months. Citi Simplicity Card: no published min spend. 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.
