Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority 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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This section breaks down the key reasons why the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) is one of our top picks for travel rewards.

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• It earns bonus rewards across a uniquely broad definition of travel and transit, in addition to restaurants worldwide.
• Your points are highly flexible and can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering potentially high-value redemptions.

Terms apply.

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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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• Earns bonus points across an exceptionally broad range of spending categories, including travel, transit, and dining worldwide.
• Offers annual statement credits for popular travel services, such as expedited airport security and lounge access.
• Membership Rewards points can be transferred to a long list of airline and hotel partners, offering excellent redemption flexibility and value.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee, and maximizing its overall value requires some strategic effort.
• Not all point redemption options offer high value, so you’ll need to be selective to get the most from your rewards.
• Some of its travel credits are for niche services that may not appeal to all travelers, and a key lounge access credit is being discontinued.

American Express® Green Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Choosing between the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the American Express® Green Card comes down to your personal travel habits. To help determine which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Amex Green, it's essential to understand the core strengths of each card.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is built for dedicated Southwest Airlines flyers. It is best for travelers who want to maximize airline-specific benefits and earn points toward elite status and the Companion Pass®.
• American Express® Green Card: This card is ideal for travelers and diners who value flexibility in their rewards. It excels for those who want to earn points on a broad range of travel and restaurant purchases that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights, and they also help you qualify for the Companion Pass®.

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American Express® Green Card: Cardholders earn flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners or used to book travel through the American Express portal.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal & Ecosystem: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's ecosystem is exclusively tied to Southwest Airlines, with redemptions made directly through the airline. The American Express® Green Card offers a more flexible system, with points transferable to numerous airline and hotel partners or usable through the American Express Travel portal.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
• Lounge Access: The American Express® Green Card provides an annual credit for LoungeBuddy purchases to access airport lounges (Terms Apply). The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card does not offer lounge access.
• Other Key Travel Benefits: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card includes an annual Southwest travel credit and a number of Upgraded Boardings each year. The American Express® Green Card offers an annual credit for a CLEAR Plus membership to help expedite airport security (Terms Apply).

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos, a platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending.

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• Personalized Recommendations: Kudos analyzes your real spending history to provide data-driven recommendations, ensuring you choose a card that matches your lifestyle.
• Test Drive Feature: Before you apply, you can test drive credit cards to simulate your potential earnings based on your actual transaction history, with no impact on your credit score.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Detailed Approval Odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular card points when you shop at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card is tailor-made for loyalists of the airline who fly several times per year. It's particularly valuable for travelers aiming to earn the coveted Companion Pass® or accelerate their journey to A-List elite status through card spending and travel perks. Families and domestic travelers who can consistently leverage the annual travel credit, anniversary points, and upgraded boardings will extract the most value from this premium card.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners who want to maximize rewards on their everyday spending. This card is best suited for individuals whose spending is heavily concentrated on travel—including everything from airfare and hotels to rideshares and transit—as well as dining out worldwide. Ultimately, it's designed for the savvy consumer who is willing to put in the effort to leverage valuable transfer partners and statement credits to offset the annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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After reviewing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Amex Green comparison, you might find that neither card perfectly aligns with your spending habits. Fortunately, the travel rewards card market is vast, and other options may offer a better value proposition.

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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 rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.
• Have a redemption plan - Know whether you want flexible points or are loyal to a specific airline or hotel.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of application restrictions that could affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Look for the best offer - Check different channels, including the issuer's site and trusted platforms, for elevated offers.
• Don't settle for a lower offer - Some applications let you see your offer before accepting, so don't be afraid to decline and try again later.

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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Which card is better for a frequent Southwest flyer?

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For travelers loyal to Southwest Airlines, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made with benefits like an annual travel credit and upgraded boardings. These airline-specific perks give it a distinct advantage over the more general travel rewards of the American Express® Green Card.

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Can I transfer points from the Amex Green card to Southwest?

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No, you cannot directly transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. Amex points offer flexibility with other airline partners, but a direct transfer to Southwest is not an option.

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Are both cards good for earning rewards on dining?

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Yes, both cards offer strong rewards for dining purchases, making either a solid choice for foodies. The American Express® Green Card provides 3X points at restaurants worldwide, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card also features dining as a bonus category.

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