Amex Business Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business: Which Is Better In 2026?

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we recommend the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.

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• It provides exceptional value for businesses that are loyal to Southwest Airlines.
• Travel perks like upgraded boarding and inflight Wi-Fi credits make for a more comfortable and productive journey.
• The card offers a clear path to earning the valuable Southwest Companion Pass and elite status.

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Pros

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• Points earned from spending help you qualify for the valuable Southwest Companion Pass® and A-List status.
• Travel perks like upgraded boardings, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® improve your travel experience.
• Business-focused features like free employee cards and accelerated rewards on business spending help you maximize points and manage expenses.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is heavily tied to flying frequently with Southwest, which may not justify its annual fee for businesses that don't consistently choose the airline.
• It lacks certain premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access, which are often found on other business cards in a similar category.
• Reward redemption options are limited, as points offer the best value primarily for Southwest flights and cannot be transferred to other airline partners.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business, comes down to your company's primary spending habits and travel patterns. Each card is tailored to a different type of business user, offering distinct advantages depending on your priorities.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is best suited for business owners with significant and varied expenses across different categories, offering flexibility for growing companies that need adaptable rewards.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business: This card is a top pick for frequent travelers, specifically business owners who regularly fly with Southwest Airlines and want to maximize value from their loyalty to the airline.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: This card provides significant redemption flexibility, allowing you to use points for travel through the Amex portal, transfer them to various airline and hotel partners, or redeem them for statement credits and gift cards.

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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business: Rewards are geared toward the airline's loyalists, with points offering the most value when redeemed for Southwest flights, though other travel-related redemptions may also be available through their portal.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Use your real spending data to simulate potential earnings from any card before you apply, helping you see the true value without impacting your credit score.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at your favorite stores through the platform.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is best suited for growing companies with variable expenses across multiple categories. It's particularly valuable for businesses that can maximize the 4X Membership Rewards® points, which are automatically applied to their top two spending categories each billing cycle on up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually, then 1X points (Terms Apply). Entrepreneurs with at least $50,000 in annual business spending who value flexible rewards and premium travel protections will find this card to be a strong contender.

Who Should Choose the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business?

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The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is tailor-made for business owners who are loyal to Southwest Airlines and travel frequently with the carrier. It's particularly valuable for companies aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass or those with multiple traveling employees, thanks to free employee cards that pool points into a single account. Beyond points, the card delivers significant value through practical perks like annual inflight Wi-Fi credits and upgraded boardings, making it a strong choice for entrepreneurs who value productivity and comfort while flying.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Business Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit for your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent business credit cards to consider.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score, as good to excellent credit is typically required for approval.
• Review your business expenses to see if your spending aligns with the card’s bonus categories.
• Understand issuer application rules, as some cards are subject to restrictions like the 5/24 rule.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically to coincide with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Leverage flexible application processes, like seeing your specific welcome offer from issuers like American Express before committing to the card.
• Plan your applications around issuer rules, such as Chase's 5/24 rule, to maximize your approval odds for certain cards.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Business Gold Card to Southwest Airlines?

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While you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Southwest Rapid Rewards, it is not a direct process. You typically have to transfer to an intermediary partner first, which often results in a lower transfer value.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee (Terms apply), while the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card has a $199 annual fee.

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Which card is better for earning the Southwest Companion Pass?

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The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the superior choice for this goal, as all points earned, including from its welcome bonus, count toward Companion Pass qualification. Points transferred from the Amex Business Gold card do not count toward earning the Companion Pass.

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