Chase Freedom Flex vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Which Is Better In 2025?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card is a top contender for Southwest flyers.

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• Cardholders receive a suite of valuable travel benefits, including up to four upgraded boardings per year and an annual travel credit that makes flying Southwest more comfortable and affordable.

• Every point you earn—whether from flights, groceries, or other purchases—counts toward qualifying for the highly sought-after Companion Pass®, effectively doubling the value of your rewards.

• The card’s annual fee is substantially offset by its recurring benefits, including a $75 annual Southwest travel credit (benefit expires 12/31/25) and 6,000 anniversary bonus points. (publisher-formulated estimate)

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Pros

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• Every point earned helps you qualify for the coveted Companion Pass®, one of the best deals in travel.

• Offers recurring value through an annual Southwest travel credit and anniversary bonus points.

• Improves your travel day with benefits like upgraded boardings, discounts on inflight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.

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Cons

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• Carries a higher annual fee compared to other Southwest card options.

• Benefits and rewards are heavily skewed toward Southwest, offering limited value if you fly other airlines.

• Lacks premium perks like airport lounge access that are common on other travel cards in its class.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex® or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority, it's crucial to look at where each card shines in earning rewards.

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is best for those who want to maximize cash back on a variety of purchases through rotating bonus categories that change quarterly.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority: This card is ideal for earning the most rewards on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel booked through the Chase portal, and gift cards, offering a high degree of flexibility.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority: Points are redeemed directly with Southwest for flights, but can also be used for international flights with partner airlines, hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card’s travel benefits are centered around the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, where points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and car rentals. However, it does charge a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority: As an airline co-branded card, its perks are specific to Southwest. It includes an annual travel credit, several upgraded boardings per year, and anniversary bonus points. It does not charge a foreign transaction fee.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive a credit card before you apply by simulating potential earnings based on your actual spending data, with no hard credit pull required.
• Receive personalized, data-driven recommendations to ensure you’re always using the best card to maximize rewards on every purchase.
• Discover new credit cards with personalized matching based on your spending history and get an analysis of your approval odds.
• Monitor your credit score, track spending across multiple cards, and stay on top of card perks in one platform.
• Access exclusive offers and earn additional rewards when shopping at your favorite stores through the platform.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is tailor-made for reward maximizers who enjoy strategizing around rotating bonus categories and don't want to pay an annual fee. Cardholders benefit from earning 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases upon activation), plus a consistent 3% back on dining and at drugstores. It's also a key component for anyone looking to build the popular Chase trifecta, allowing you to pool points with premium travel cards.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for loyal Southwest customers who fly the airline several times a year and want to elevate their travel experience. These travelers can easily offset the annual fee by maximizing benefits like the annual travel credit, anniversary bonus points, and four upgraded boardings per year. It's also a powerful tool for those chasing A-List status or the highly sought-after Companion Pass®, making it a strategic choice for dedicated fans of the airline.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Chase Freedom Flex® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review issuer application rules – Some issuers have rules, such as the Chase 5/24 rule, that may affect your eligibility.
• Understand the card’s benefits – Plan how you will use key perks and activate any required benefits to maximize value.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any welcome offer spending requirements.
• Leverage existing relationships – Ask your card issuer about upgrading or changing an existing product, which can be an alternative to a new application.
• Think about card pairings – Some cards deliver more value when combined with others from the same rewards program.

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 Chase Freedom Flex to Southwest Airlines?

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To transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, you must also hold a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ card on its own does not support direct point transfers to airline partners.

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Which card is better if I want to avoid an annual fee?

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If you want to avoid an annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is the better option as it has a $0 annual fee. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has an annual fee, which is intended to be offset by its valuable travel credits and benefits.

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Is it a good idea to have both the Freedom Flex and the Southwest Priority card?

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Yes, holding both cards can be a powerful strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. You can use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for its rotating bonus categories and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card for its airline-specific perks and to earn points on Southwest purchases.

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