Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Capital One Venture: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Venture Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of what makes the Capital One Venture Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card a standout choice for earning travel miles.

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• It offers a simple rewards structure, allowing you to earn a flat rate of miles on every single purchase.
• Miles can be redeemed flexibly for travel or transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• The card includes valuable travel benefits like key protections and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

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Pros

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• A simple rewards structure allows you to earn miles on every purchase without having to track bonus categories.
• Offers flexible ways to use your rewards, from redeeming miles for travel to transferring them to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Miles do not expire for the life of the account, and there are no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

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Cons

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• It comes with an annual fee that isn’t waived for the first year.
• The value of your miles can vary, as some transfer partners don’t offer a 1:1 ratio.
• It lacks the extensive premium travel benefits found on top-tier cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or the Capital One Venture, comes down to your personal travel habits and brand loyalty.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: This card is built for dedicated Southwest Airlines customers and their families. It's best for those looking to earn rewards and status specifically with Southwest, including the popular Companion Pass®.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is geared toward frequent travelers who prioritize flexibility over airline loyalty. It's ideal for those who want a straightforward way to earn rewards on all purchases and redeem them with various travel partners.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines. Redemptions also count toward earning the valuable Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly with you.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Miles can be used to cover the cost of any travel purchase as a statement credit. You can also transfer your miles to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs for potentially greater value.

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Travel Perks

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: The travel perks are tailored specifically for Southwest flyers. This includes an annual travel credit for Southwest purchases and upgraded boardings. The card does have foreign transaction fees.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card offers more flexible travel benefits. Miles can be used to book travel through the Capital One portal or transferred to numerous travel partners. It also provides airport lounge access, has no foreign transaction fees, and offers a credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, ensuring you find the best option based on your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Personalized recommendations: Connect your bank accounts securely to get data-driven suggestions for the card that will earn you the most rewards.
• Detailed approval odds: Receive a comprehensive analysis of your chances of getting approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Reward optimization: Track your progress toward sign-up bonuses, stack extra rewards with Kudos Boost, and let the autofill feature select the best card for you at checkout.
• 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.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for the dedicated Southwest loyalist who flies with the airline several times a year. This traveler is positioned to maximize the card’s value by taking full advantage of benefits like the $75 annual travel credit, four upgraded boardings, and an accelerated path to earning the coveted Companion Pass®. Ultimately, it's the perfect fit for domestic travelers, especially families, who can easily offset the annual fee through their existing travel patterns and enjoy a more comfortable journey.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Venture Rewards?

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who value simplicity and flexibility over complex bonus categories. This card is ideal for individuals who want to earn a straightforward 2X miles on every purchase and redeem them for travel, cash back, or by transferring to over 15 airline and hotel partners. With no foreign transaction fees and valuable travel protections, it suits those who need a reliable card for both domestic and international trips.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've read the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs. Capital One Venture Rewards comparison and neither card quite fits the bill? No problem—let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be your ticket to rewarding travel.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit to be approved for a premium travel card.
• Review application restrictions: Understand any issuer-specific rules regarding new card approvals or welcome offers.
• Align the card with your habits: Ensure the card’s benefits match your actual spending and travel patterns.

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Application Strategy

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• Plan for the welcome offer - Make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement through your regular purchases.
• Time your application strategically - Apply before a large purchase or to maximize time-sensitive benefits like an annual travel credit.
• Check for existing relationships - Issuers may have special upgrade offers if you already hold one of their other cards.

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 someone who only flies Southwest?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is specifically designed for travelers who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines, as its benefits are tailored to that airline.

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Which card offers more flexible rewards?

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The Capital One Venture Card generally provides more flexibility because its miles can be redeemed for a wide variety of travel purchases, not just with a single airline.

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What is the difference between a co-branded card and a general travel card?

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A co-branded card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card is partnered with a specific company to offer specialized perks, while a general travel card like the Capital One Venture Card offers broader rewards for use with many different travel providers.

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