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Quick Answer

The Chase Sapphire Preferred edges out the Southwest Priority for most cardholders — it wins on 4 of 4 comparison categories and offers 100,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 4x). The Southwest Priority is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.

Card Comparison

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Southwest Priority

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

Which Card Comes Out Ahead?

Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger all-around option for most people in this matchup because it wins more measurable categories in our scoring model. Southwest Priority still makes sense if your spending pattern lines up better with its fee profile, issuer rules, or rewards ecosystem.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.

Southwest Priority

Best if you will actually use recurring statement credits and premium benefits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred card art
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase
More Info
Southwest Priority card art
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest Priority
Chase
More Info

Comparison Method

CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.

Annual Fee
$95/yr
$229/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
100,000 points
Spend $5,000 in 3 months
was 75k pts
90,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
was 85k pts
Top Earn Rates
  • Chase Travel 5x
  • Dining 3x
  • Gas Stations 3x
  • Southwest Airlines 4x
  • Restaurants 2x
  • Gas Stations 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.50¢/pt points · industry est.
~1.40¢/pt points · industry est.
Key Credits
  • Chase Travel Hotel Credit $100
  • Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS Credit $120
  • DoorDash Monthly Promo $10
  • Travel Credit $75
Card Perks
  • DashPass
  • Apple TV Benefit
  • 5x on Lyft Rides
  • +7 more
None listed
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status
    After $5,000 spend
Transfer Partners
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue
  • +10 more
No transfer partners

Quick summary

A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred edges out the Southwest Priority for most cardholders — it wins on 4 of 4 comparison categories and offers 100,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 4x). The Southwest Priority is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, Chase Sapphire Preferred tops out at 5x versus 4x for Southwest Priority. Current signup bonus values are roughly $1000 for Chase Sapphire Preferred and $900 for Southwest Priority. Summary generated June 22, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/chase-sapphire-preferred-vs-southwest-priority

View source data
Winner
Chase Sapphire Preferred
4/4 categories · up to 5x
Runner-up
Southwest Priority
0/4 categories · up to 4x
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred wins 4 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: Chase Sapphire Preferred reaches 5x; Southwest Priority reaches 4x.
  • Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred is $95/yr; Southwest Priority is $229/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $1000 and $900.

Common Questions: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Southwest Priority

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Southwest Priority better for dining?

Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining; Southwest Priority earns 2x on dining. Chase Sapphire Preferred wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers 100,000 pts signup bonus (spend $5,000 in 3 months). Southwest Priority offers 90,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Southwest Priority?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Both cards are from Chase, so check their specific application rules.

Keep Researching

If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.

Best next move
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger next step if you want to stop reopening the same comparison and move toward a real application decision.