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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a great choice for frequent Southwest flyers who want to earn points toward award travel and enjoy valuable airline perks.
- The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent no-annual-fee option for earning bonus points on a broad range of everyday expenses, including restaurants, travel, gas, and streaming services.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons we like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier.
- Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points per dollar across several useful bonus categories.
- Despite its annual fee, the card comes with valuable travel perks like two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and has no foreign transaction fees.
- The 6,000 anniversary bonus points alone can offset more than half of the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Generous rewards on Southwest purchases, plus bonus points in a variety of useful spending categories.
- A suite of travel benefits designed to make flying with Southwest more convenient, including priority services and discounts.
- Accelerates your progress toward earning valuable Southwest A-List elite status and the highly sought-after Companion Pass.
Cons
- The annual fee may be high for cardholders who don't fully utilize the card's benefits.
- Rewards earning is limited by spending caps on some bonus categories, and the points program is less flexible than those of general travel cards.
- Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access and offers limited redemption flexibility outside of Southwest flights.
Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card stands out.
- It earns unlimited 3X points on a broad set of popular spending categories, including restaurants, travel, and gas stations.
- Cardholders benefit from no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, though other fees may apply (See Rates & Fees).
- Spending $1,000 in the first three months earns enough points to redeem for a $200 statement credit (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers elevated rewards across a wide range of everyday spending categories, including dining, travel, and gas.
- Features flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners—a rare perk for a card with no annual fee.
- Includes valuable cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or credits for expedited screening programs.
- Requires keeping track of bonus spending categories to maximize rewards.
- The list of airline and hotel transfer partners is more limited compared to other major rewards programs.
Wells Fargo Autograph vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
Categories
Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Wells Fargo Autograph, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel goals. Each card excels in different areas, catering to distinct types of consumers.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is built for loyal or semifrequent Southwest Airlines flyers. It focuses on earning points within the airline's ecosystem while providing day-of-travel benefits and an annual points bonus.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is best for those who want a flexible travel rewards card that also earns bonus points across a wide range of everyday spending categories. It's a strong choice for earning rewards on both daily purchases and general travel.
Redemption
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for flights with Southwest Airlines, though they can also be used for other travel purchases and gift cards through the airline's portal.
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing you to use points for cash back, travel, gift cards, and statement credits through the Wells Fargo Rewards program.
Travel Perks
- Booking & Redemption: The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers a flexible travel portal for booking with various airlines and hotels. In contrast, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card's points are primarily used for booking flights within the Southwest Airlines ecosystem.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travelers, the Autograph card is a strong contender as it has no foreign transaction fees. The Southwest Premier card does include a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
- Airline-Specific Perks: The Southwest Premier card provides benefits tailored to the airline, such as EarlyBird Check-In vouchers and an annual points bonus. The Autograph card does not offer these types of direct airline perks, focusing instead on broad rewards.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To eliminate the guesswork, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your actual spending.
- Test Drive Feature: Simulate the rewards and benefits you’d get from any credit card before applying. Kudos uses your real spending data to show personalized projections of annual rewards and net value after fees.
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- Detailed Approval Odds: Receive a comprehensive analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
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- Kudos Boost: Earn $20 back after your first eligible purchase of $30 or more.
Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is designed for the semi-frequent Southwest flyer who wants a solid balance of perks without committing to a top-tier annual fee. This cardholder typically flies with the airline a few times a year, valuing day-of-travel benefits and a boost toward earning the Companion Pass or A-List status. Ultimately, it's a mid-tier option for those seeking more value than an entry-level card, as detailed in this Southwest Premier Credit Card review.
Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a strong choice for consumers with good to excellent credit who want to earn rewards on both travel and everyday spending without an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for those who spend regularly on dining, transit, gas, streaming services, and phone plans, as it offers elevated rewards in these common categories. As detailed in a comprehensive NerdWallet review, the card also appeals to users seeking flexible redemption options, including transfers to airline and hotel partners.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs. Wells Fargo Autograph matchup didn't yield a clear winner for your wallet, don't fret. Here are a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit.
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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 - Most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Review application rules - Issuers often have restrictions, like Chase's 5/24 rule, that can affect your eligibility.
- Create a plan for the benefits - Understand how to meet any spending requirements and if perks require enrollment to use.
Application Strategy
- Time your application to align with a large planned purchase.
- Confirm your eligibility for the welcome bonus, as issuers have unique restrictions.
- Be patient and strategic to find the highest possible bonus offer.
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 transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Card to Southwest Airlines?
No, you cannot directly transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® program. You can, however, redeem your points for travel, including Southwest flights, through the Wells Fargo travel portal.
Which card is better if I don't fly Southwest exclusively?
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card generally offers more flexibility if you fly with multiple airlines. Its bonus categories are broad, and you can redeem points for various travel options, not just Southwest flights.
Do points earned with these cards count toward the Southwest Companion Pass?
Only points earned with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card count toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. Points earned with the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, even if used to book Southwest flights, do not qualify.
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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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