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Capital One Savor Student vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards: This student card is great for building credit and earning on common expenses like dining, entertainment, streaming services, and at grocery stores.
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business: This business card is best for maximizing travel benefits on Southwest Airlines flights and related business expenses.
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think this card is a compelling choice for students.
- It offers a robust rewards structure that aligns perfectly with typical student spending habits, like dining out and entertainment.
- The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed to help students build credit through responsible use, offering features like automatic credit line reviews.
- With no foreign transaction fees and the ability for international students to apply, it's an accessible option for a wide range of scholars, including those studying abroad.
Pros
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for students, especially those studying abroad.
- A rewards structure that aligns well with typical student spending on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- Designed to help build credit responsibly with features like automatic credit line reviews and access to credit monitoring tools.
Cons
- The credit score requirement may be higher than some other student cards, making it a potential hurdle for those with a limited credit history.
- Travel reward redemptions are limited to the Capital One Travel portal, which could reduce flexibility.
- Some spending categories for earning rewards have specific exclusions, and a fee applies to balance transfers.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business.
- The card provides a clear pathway to earning the Southwest Companion Pass, one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel.
- It enhances the travel experience for Southwest loyalists with valuable inflight benefits and improved boarding.
- The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business card offers robust rewards on airline-specific spending and common business expense categories.
Pros
- Points earned from spending and the welcome offer count toward the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
- A strong set of travel benefits enhances the flying experience with perks like inflight Wi-Fi credits, upgraded boarding opportunities, and a fee credit for expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck®.
- Accelerated rewards on Southwest flights and key business categories, plus free employee cards to help pool points faster.
Cons
- A significant annual fee without some premium travel perks, like airport lounge access.
- The card’s value is heavily dependent on frequent travel with Southwest, as points are not transferable to other loyalty programs.
- Strict application rules may make it difficult for some to qualify.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business vs Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards
Categories
When comparing two vastly different options, the question of which is better, Capital One Savor Student or Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business, depends entirely on your individual spending habits and financial goals.
- Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed for students looking to build their credit history while earning cash back on everyday spending like dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is tailored for business owners who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines and want to maximize travel-specific perks and rewards.
Redemption
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card offers straightforward cash back rewards that can be redeemed in various flexible ways, such as for a statement credit or a check.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on the airline, but also for other travel and merchandise.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a tool designed to help you compare credit cards and maximize rewards by matching them to your actual spending habits.
- Test drive credit cards: Simulate how much you would earn with a specific card using your real spending data before you apply. The feature provides an annual rewards projection and calculates the card's net value after accounting for any annual fees.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you were approved for through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your approval odds for various cards based on your credit report.
- Personalized recommendations: By securely connecting your bank accounts, you can receive data-driven card recommendations that align with your spending patterns.
- Spending and credit monitoring: Track your transactions, monitor your credit score, and manage all your card perks in one place.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards?
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards card is designed for college students, including those studying internationally, who have already started to build a credit history and have at least a fair credit score. It's an ideal choice for students who frequently spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores, offering unlimited 3% cash back on those purchases. Furthermore, students who plan to travel or study abroad can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees, making it a valuable tool for building credit without the burden of an annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business?
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business card is tailor-made for small to medium-sized businesses that are loyal to Southwest Airlines for their travel needs. It's particularly valuable for those aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass or companies with multiple traveling employees who can pool points and share benefits. This card hits a sweet spot, offering premium travel perks like upgraded boardings and inflight Wi-Fi at a more accessible price point than many other high-end business travel cards.
Alternatives to Consider
If neither card in our Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards vs Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business comparison feels like the right choice, there are several other options worth exploring.
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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.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score to ensure it aligns with the card’s typical requirements.
- Review issuer-specific rules, such as Chase’s 5/24 rule, before you apply.
- Confirm your eligibility for the card, as some are designed specifically for students or businesses.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
- Don’t force spending to meet a high requirement; instead, consider a card with a lower threshold, like the Capital One SavorOne Student card.
- Understand the offer’s value beyond just the points, such as how points from the Southwest Performance Business card count toward the Companion Pass.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Can I apply for a business credit card without a registered business?
Yes, you can often apply for business credit cards as a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number instead of an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Many freelancers, gig economy workers, and individuals with side hustles qualify for business cards.
What’s the difference between cash back and travel points?
Cash back rewards offer straightforward value as a statement credit or direct deposit, giving you ultimate flexibility. Travel points or miles are redeemed within a specific loyalty program for flights or hotels, potentially offering outsized value for savvy travelers.
Is a good credit score required for a premium business card?
Yes, premium business travel cards, such as the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, typically require a good to excellent credit score. Issuers generally look for a proven history of responsible credit management before approving applicants for top-tier cards.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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