Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card vs United Explorer Card
Annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining, United Explorer Card on dining.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardChase · $229/yr
United Explorer CardChase · $150/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card$229United Explorer Card$150LowestWaived first year
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card60,000 pointsUnited Explorer CardUp to 80,000 miles
- Rewards
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid RewardsUnited Explorer CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardNoneUnited Explorer CardNone
- Network
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardVisa SignatureUnited Explorer CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xUnited Explorer Card2x
- Gas Stations
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Hotels
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Explorer Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card1xUnited Explorer Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- $100 United travel
- $100 JSX flights
- $100 United Hotels
- $50 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- Rideshare & transit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- $5/mo rideshare credit · $5 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $10/mo Instacart+
- DoorDash DashPass · $10 monthly
United Explorer Card- $10/mo Instacart+ · $10 monthly
- 3-mo Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- 2 United Club one-time passes annually
- Airline perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades
- 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points
- Free Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking
- Free first checked bag for you and 8 companions
- Boarding benefit
- Inflight purchase discount
United Explorer Card- Free first checked bag for you plus companion
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Other perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- No foreign transaction fees
- 7,500 points every year
United Explorer Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500,000 travel accident insurance
United Explorer Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- $100/day baggage delay coverage, up to 3 days · up to $300
United Explorer Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- Rental car insurance up to $60,000 coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $500 per claim on theft or damage
United Explorer Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
United Explorer Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
United Explorer Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year accelerates path to free companion flights
- 7,500 anniversary bonus points ($112+ value) help offset the annual fee
- Earn 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status per $5K annual spend
- Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades at 48 hours when available
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers on same reservation
United Explorer Card- $0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $200 roundtrip
- 3x miles on United, 2x on dining and hotels—solid everyday earning
- Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+
- Cons
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
- $229 annual fee is steep compared to mid-tier airline cards
- Legacy $75 travel credit and EarlyBird benefits ended December 2025
- Only 1x points on non-category purchases limits everyday earning
- No lounge access included despite premium pricing
- Southwest's limited route network reduces card utility for some travelers
United Explorer Card- Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
- Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
- No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
- Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
- Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility
Expert Analysis
Both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and United Explorer Card come from the same issuer, but they target different spending profiles. Understanding where each card excels helps you pick the one that matches your lifestyle — or decide if holding both makes sense.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's strongest category is Southwest Purchases at 3X, while the United Explorer Card leads with 2X on United Purchases. Overall, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card wins in more bonus categories (4 vs 3) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $150/yr vs $229/yr, the United Explorer Card is the more accessible option. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card needs to deliver at least $79 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 3X on Southwest Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X on Rapid Rewards Partners vs 1X for the other
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X on Internet Cable Phone vs 1X for the other
- The United Explorer Card costs $150/yr vs $229/yr — a $79 annual gap
- Only the United Explorer Card offers airport lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on southwest purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on rapid rewards partners
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on hotels
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
United Explorer CardWithout heavy spending in the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's premium categories, the $79 fee difference is hard to recover. The United Explorer Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if:
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on southwest purchases and rapid rewards partners. At $229/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Explorer Card if:
The United Explorer Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and hotels and keeping annual costs low. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
Since both cards are from the same issuer, you may be able to hold both or product-change between them. Check with your issuer for current policies.
Holding both cards can make sense if you want to maximize earn rates across different spending categories.
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 1 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you.
Gas Stations
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
United Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | United Explorer Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $188 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $34 Year one: $784 | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $198 Year one: $1,188 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $750 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($229) Ongoing: $596 Year one: $1,346 | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $694 Year one: $1,684 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr — that's $79 more than the United Explorer Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $79 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card includes dining credits, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $79 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $79 fee gap means the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card needs roughly $79 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and gas stations and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the United Explorer Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr — a $79 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $79 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card also lists dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or United Explorer Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the United Explorer Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the United Explorer Card has a lower $150/yr fee; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $229/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.