Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Green Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a compelling option for many travelers.

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• It offers generous rewards on a broad range of travel and dining purchases worldwide.
• Membership Rewards® points are flexible and can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
• Cardholders can take advantage of valuable travel-related statement credits and no foreign transaction fees.

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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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Pros

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• A solid welcome offer and an excellent rewards rate on travel, transit, and dining.
• Annual statement credits for travel-related services can help offset the annual fee.
• Membership Rewards points offer great flexibility with a long list of airline and hotel transfer partners.

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Cons

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• It comes with an annual fee that can be difficult to offset if you don't use the card's specific travel credits.
• Getting the most value from your points requires some effort, as some redemption options are less valuable than others.
• The card’s travel credits are less flexible than those on some competing cards.

American Express® Green Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus or Amex Green, depends entirely on your travel habits and spending patterns.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: This card is ideal for occasional to frequent Southwest flyers who are looking for a straightforward way to earn points toward flights and the coveted Companion Pass. It's a good fit for budget-conscious travelers and those loyal to the airline.
• American Express® Green Card: This card is designed for travelers and diners who want to earn high rewards on a broad range of travel and restaurant purchases globally. It is most valuable for those who can take advantage of transferable points and travel-related statement credits.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on the airline, but also for gift cards, merchandise, and other travel experiences.

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American Express® Green Card: Membership Rewards points offer great flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to various airline and hotel partners or redeem them for travel, gift cards, and statement credits.

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Travel Perks

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card:
  • Points are redeemed through the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards portal for flights, gift cards, and other travel experiences.
  • This card charges a foreign transaction fee on international purchases.
  • It does not include complimentary airport lounge access.
  • Perks include two EarlyBird Check-In® credits annually and 25% back on in-flight purchases.
• American Express® Green Card:
  • Membership Rewards points can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs or redeemed via the AmexTravel.com portal.
  • This card does not have a foreign transaction fee. Terms apply.
  • Cardholders receive an annual statement credit toward LoungeBuddy access. Terms apply.
  • An annual statement credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership is also included. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial technology tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best one for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data—all before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop with participating stores through Kudos.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Personalized card matching: Get recommendations for cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your unique spending history.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an excellent choice for occasional Southwest flyers and budget-conscious travelers who want to earn rewards without committing to a high annual fee. It serves as a great entry-level card for those new to travel rewards, offering a straightforward way to accumulate points on everyday spending and Southwest purchases. This card is also particularly valuable for individuals aiming to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, as all points earned count toward qualification.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is a great fit for frequent travelers and diners who want to earn high rewards on their spending. This card is best suited for someone willing to put in the effort to maximize value by transferring points to various airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions. Cardholders whose spending habits allow them to take full advantage of perks like the up to $189 CLEAR® Plus credit and the up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit will find the $150 annual fee easy to justify (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the big Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card vs. American Express® Green Card comparison didn't yield a winner for your wallet? No problem. Let's dive into a few other top-tier travel cards that might be the perfect fit.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirement without overspending.
• Know your rewards goal – Research how you will use the points, whether for specific flights or through transfer partners.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules as some have restrictions on how many cards you can open.
• Time your application with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements naturally.
• Don't settle for a low offer since some issuers let you see your offer before a hard credit inquiry.

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® Green Card to Southwest Airlines?

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American Express Membership Rewards points, which you earn with the Amex Green Card, do not transfer directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards. However, you can transfer them to other airline or hotel partners.

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Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card subject to the Chase 5/24 rule?

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Yes, as a Chase co-branded credit card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card is generally subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. This means you may not be approved if you've opened five or more personal credit cards from any bank in the last 24 months.

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What kind of travel credits does the American Express® Green Card offer?

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The American Express® Green Card offers annual statement credits for CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy lounge access, which can help offset the card's annual fee. Terms apply to these benefits.

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