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Card Comparison

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Southwest Plus

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

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express card art
American Express Membership Rewards
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
American Express
More Info
Southwest Plus card art
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Plus
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$95/yr
$99/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
35,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • U.S. Supermarkets 6x
  • Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions 6x
  • U.S. Gas Stations 3x
  • Southwest Purchases 2x
  • Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
cashback
miles
Key Credits
None
None
Transfer Partners
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more
No transfer partners

Common Questions: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Southwest Plus

Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Southwest Plus better for dining?

Neither card offers a specific dining bonus — both earn their base rate on restaurant purchases.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express currently offers 35,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). Southwest Plus offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Southwest Plus 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 Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express and the Southwest Plus?

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