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Side-by-side
PayPal Cashback Mastercard vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard comes from Synchrony at $0/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 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($640 more in estimated value) than the PayPal Cashback Mastercard's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the PayPal Cashback Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $200 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $500 in 3 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Synchrony | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| Best earning category (Paypal_purchases) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
$229/yr · 60,000 points
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, PayPal Cashback Mastercard or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has the bigger bonus, 60,000 points, worth roughly $840, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
- Is the PayPal Cashback Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's $229 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's benefits to clear $229 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
- Can I have both the PayPal Cashback Mastercard and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Synchrony 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. PayPal Cashback Mastercard: $500 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.