Chase Freedom Rise vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Both are Chase cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- Freedom Rise 1.5% 1.5% base rate
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 1.3% 1x base rate
Groceries
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 2.5% 2x
- Freedom Rise 1.5% 1.5% base rate
Gas
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 2.5% 2x
- Freedom Rise 1.5% 1.5% base rate
Flights
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 2.5% 2x
- Freedom Rise 1.5% 1.5% base rate
Lyft
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus 2.5% 2x
- Freedom Rise 2.0% 2%
What the numbers are doing
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus tops lyft at 2.5% only because this table values its points at 1.25 cents each. Value them at one cent and Freedom Rise wins that category instead.
Abroad the answer flips: Freedom Rise charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so once that comes off the rate Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus is the better card for everyday spend.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Freedom Rise $0 and Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus $99 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | Freedom Rise1.5% |
| Groceries | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus2.5% |
| Gas | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus2.5% |
| Flights | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus2.5% |
| Lyft | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus2.5% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- Freedom Rise — 1.5%
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 1.3%
Groceries
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 2.5%
- Freedom Rise — 1.5%
Gas
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 2.5%
- Freedom Rise — 1.5%
Flights
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 2.5%
- Freedom Rise — 1.5%
Lyft
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 2.5%
- Freedom Rise — 2.0%
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