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United Club vs United Explorer

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

United Club
United Club
Chase
United Explorer
United Explorer
Chase

Economics

Annual fee
$695
$150
$545/yr less
Ongoing annual value
$552
$221/yr more
$331
Net value (value − fee)
−$143
$181
$324/yr more
First-year value estimate
$255
$596
$341/yr more
Authorized user fee
$0
—

Sign-up Bonus

Current offer
80K miles after $5K spend in first 3 months + 10K bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months
50K miles after $3K spend in the first 3 months. Plus, earn an extra 10K miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year

Earning

Renowned Hotels (prepaid)
5X6.5%
—
Hotels
—
2X2.6%
Travel
2X2.6%
—
United Purchases
5X6.5%
3X3.9%

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.

Benefits

Statement credits
  • Renowned Hotels & Resorts: $200 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Rideshare: $12 (Monthly)
  • Avis/Budget: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
  • JSX: $200 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Instacart: $20 (Monthly)
  • United Hotels: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Rideshare: $5 (Monthly)
  • Avis/Budget: $50 (Annual Cardmember Year)
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
  • Instacart: $10 (Monthly)
  • JSX: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Lounge access
  • United Club (unlimited)
  • United Club All Access (unlimited)
  • United Club Passes (4/yr)
  • United Club (2/yr)
Elite status
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum
  • United MileagePlus
  • United MileagePlus
  • Avis Preferred President's Club
  • United MileagePlus
Protections
10
8
The same on both cards (7)
Foreign transaction fee
None
None
Issuer
Chase
Chase
Rewards currency
United MileagePlus
United MileagePlus
Card type
Personal
Personal
Network
Visa
Visa
All other purchases
1X1.3%
1X1.3%
Dining
2X2.6%
2X2.6%
Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get
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Chase United Club vs Chase United Explorer • Miles