Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: Which Is Better In 2025?

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This card is a favorite for frequent Southwest flyers, and this section will break down exactly why.

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• The card offers a suite of travel perks tailored to the Southwest experience, including up to four upgraded boardings per year and 25% back on inflight purchases.
• Cardholders can fast-track their way to elite status and the coveted Companion Pass® since all points earned with the card count toward qualification.
• The annual fee is easily offset by the combination of the $75 annual Southwest travel credit and 6,000 anniversary bonus points, which can bring the effective annual cost down to just $49 (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Accelerates progress toward the valuable Southwest Companion Pass® and A-List elite status.
• Includes valuable travel perks like upgraded boardings, an annual travel credit, and inflight purchase rebates.
• Provides a strong suite of travel and purchase protections, including lost luggage reimbursement and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is heavily tied to flying with Southwest, and its points lack the redemption flexibility of other travel rewards programs.
• It comes with a significant annual fee but lacks premium perks like airport lounge access found on competing cards.
• There are no introductory APR offers for purchases or balance transfers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel goals.

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• Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for everyday spenders who want consistent cash back rewards without the hassle of tracking rotating categories. It's also ideal for those looking to build a rewards strategy within the Chase ecosystem, especially when paired with a premium Chase card.
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is designed for frequent Southwest flyers and brand loyalists. This card is best for travelers looking to earn elite status, work towards the Companion Pass®, and maximize rewards on Southwest Airlines purchases.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, travel through the Chase portal, or gift cards. For maximum value, points can also be transferred to a premium Chase card and then to travel partners.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority: Points are redeemed directly with Southwest Airlines for flights to any destination they serve. You can also use points for other travel-related purchases like hotels, rental cars, and gift cards through the airline's portal.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portals: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® uses the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for booking travel, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card operates within the Southwest Airlines ecosystem for redeeming points on flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong choice for international travel. The Chase Freedom Unlimited®, however, does charge a fee on purchases made abroad.
• Airline-Specific Perks: The Southwest card is packed with benefits tailored to the airline, including an annual travel credit, upgraded boardings, and an anniversary points bonus. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not offer comparable airline-centric perks.
• Broader Ecosystem: The travel value of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is maximized when paired with a premium Chase card, which allows points to be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners. The Southwest card’s ecosystem is designed to reward loyalty to a single carrier, providing a clear pathway to elite status and the highly valued Companion Pass®.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to make a data-backed decision, a tool like Kudos can help by comparing thousands of credit cards to find the best fit for your spending.

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• Test drive credit cards: The platform's "Test Drive" feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your actual spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
• Personalized matching: Receive card recommendations tailored to your unique spending history.
• Exclusive offers and guarantees: Gain access to special promotions, a welcome offer guarantee, and rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+.
• Financial management tools: Monitor your transactions, spending habits, and credit score all in one place.
• Extra rewards: Earn additional rewards through Kudos Boost on top of your card rewards when shopping at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great fit for everyday spenders who want a straightforward rewards card without the hassle of tracking rotating categories. It's also an excellent choice for those already in the Chase ecosystem looking to maximize their rewards by pairing it with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. According to a comprehensive guide, newcomers to credit card rewards and anyone seeking valuable purchase protections without an annual fee will find this card particularly appealing.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers who can fully leverage its airline-specific benefits. It's particularly valuable for loyalists aiming to earn A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass® through credit card spending. Families and domestic travelers who stick to Southwest's extensive network will also find significant value, as detailed in this complete review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. We've rounded up a few other excellent options that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to confirm you meet the typical good-to-excellent requirement.
• Assess how the card fits with your travel patterns and other cards in your wallet.
• Plan your spending to meet the welcome offer requirement without forcing purchases.

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Application Strategy

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• Be mindful of recent applications - Some issuers have unstated rules regarding how many cards you've recently opened.
• Consider your card ecosystem - Certain cards provide more value when paired with others from the same issuer, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
• Apply through a trusted platform - This can help ensure you're seeing the best publicly available welcome offer for a card.

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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Can I transfer points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited to Southwest Airlines?

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Yes, you can transfer points earned with the Chase Freedom Unlimited to Southwest Rapid Rewards, but you must also hold a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The transfer is done through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal at a 1:1 ratio.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on everyday purchases?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited is generally better for a wide range of everyday purchases, as it offers elevated rewards on dining and at drugstores, plus a solid base rate on all other spending. The Southwest card's earning structure is primarily focused on maximizing rewards on Southwest flights and with its hotel and car rental partners.

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What kind of travel benefits does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card offer?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card comes with several valuable travel perks, including an annual travel credit for Southwest purchases and four upgraded boardings per year when available. Cardholders also receive a yearly bonus of 7,500 points after their cardmember anniversary.

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