Skip to main content
Card Comparison

American Express Gold Card vs Southwest Performance Business

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

American Express Gold Card card art
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Gold Card
American Express
More Info
Southwest Performance Business card art
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Performance Business
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$325/yr
$299/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
90,000 points
Spend $6,000 in 6 months
80,000 points
Spend $5,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Restaurants (Worldwide) 4x
  • U.S. Supermarkets 4x
  • Flights (Direct or Amex Travel) 3x
  • Southwest Airlines 4x
  • Rapid Rewards Hotel and Car Rental Partners 3x
  • Social Media and Search Engine Advertising, Internet, Cable and Phone Services 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
  • Uber Cash $10
  • Dining Credit $10
  • Resy Credit $100
  • +1 more
  • WiFi Credit $8
  • Global Entry / TSA PreCheck $100
Card Perks
  • The Hotel Collection Access
  • Baggage Insurance Plan
  • Trip Delay Insurance
  • Four Upgraded Boardings Per Year
  • In-Flight WiFi Credits
  • 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points
  • +1 more
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status
    After $10,000 spend
Transfer Partners
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more
No transfer partners

Common Questions: American Express Gold Card vs Southwest Performance Business

Is the American Express Gold Card or Southwest Performance Business better for dining?

American Express Gold Card earns 4x on dining; Southwest Performance Business has no dining bonus.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

American Express Gold Card currently offers 90,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 6 months). Southwest Performance Business offers 80,000 pts signup bonus (spend $5,000 in 3 months). American Express Gold Card has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the American Express Gold Card and the Southwest Performance Business?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. American Express Gold Card is from American Express and Southwest Performance Business is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.