Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. United Explorer Card [Detailed Comparison]

Should you get an airline or a travel credit card — and is there really a difference between the 2?

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the United℠ Explorer Card exemplify this common debate you may have when opening a new account. Both cards are issued by Chase and carry reasonable annual fees under $100, but there are more significant differences between the 2 popular cards than you may think.

Buckle up for an in-depth comparison of these starter cards!

Overview

First, let’s see the earning rates, benefits, and ongoing fees side-by-side:

Comparing Welcome Bonus Offers

When applying for any card, you may be eligible to earn a welcome bonus as a new applicant. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you’ll earn a big boost of Ultimate Rewards points, while the United Explorer card comes with a sizable offer of MileagePlus miles.

Here are the current welcome offers you can expect from these 2 cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

United Explorer Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER

United℠ Explorer Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
• 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
• First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• 2x miles on United^® purchases, dining, and hotel stays
• Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS fee credit
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

Hot Tip:

Before applying for any new card, you’ll want to get the best welcome offer available. Using the CardMatch tool is a great way to see if you have targeted offers based on your credit history and other factors.

Points vs Miles

As a general travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns points through the Ultimate Rewards program. Since these points are tied to Chase and not to 1 specific airline or hotel program, you have the flexibility to redeem your rewards for virtually any purchase.

On the other hand, the United Explorer card earns miles through the carrier’s loyalty program, known as United MileagePlus. Your miles can be redeemed for flights on United’s website, meaning they’re mostly locked into redemptions for United flights or its Star Alliance partners, like Air Canada or Singapore Airlines.

Earning Potential

Another point of consideration is our valuations of points and miles of various reward currencies. We value Chase Ultimate Rewards points much higher at 2 cents, while we estimate that United MileagePlus miles are worth 1.2 cents — especially in the wake of constant devaluations to the loyalty program.

Bottom Line:

In most cases, you’ll see that the Chase Sapphire Preferred outearns the United Explorer card. In addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers bonus points on everyday spending categories, such as online groceries and streaming services, allowing you to earn rewards beyond travel.

Redemption Options

With the United Explorer card, the best use of your miles is redeeming them on United or partner award flights or upgrading your existing flights. While other options like gift cards and hotels exist, they will likely result in a suboptimal value and are generally not recommended.

But let’s say you’re not loyal to 1 airline — say United Airlines in this case. Earning rewards through a general travel card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card) is almost always the better long-term option.

That’s because the Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers many opportunities to book travel that are not limited to 1 carrier. You can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to 10+ airline and hotel loyalty programs — including United MileagePlus. In other words, if you’ve got 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer any amount in 1,000-point increments to the United MileagePlus program (up to 60,000 miles in this case).

But you can turn those Ultimate Rewards points into other reward currencies, too, like Marriott Bonvoy, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and World of Hyatt, to name a few. There’s a great deal of international airline loyalty programs in the mix, and understanding those sweet spots is where you can get maximum value from your Ultimate Rewards points — to the tune of 2 to 4+ cents per point.

Conversely, you can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points to book virtually any flight, hotel, rental car, or excursion through Chase Travel. In this fashion, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece, which is still a great value compared to the (much more) limited use of United MileagePlus miles.

Hot Tip:

Use our unique transfer partner tool calculator to determine exactly how many points or miles you need for your redemption. It also considers any active transfer bonuses, which is a great way to get even more value from your transferable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards!

Statement Credits

Both cards offer useful statement credits and partner benefits that can be used to offset the cost of the annual fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $50 Hotel Credit: Receive an annual statement credit of up to $50 towards hotel stays booked through the Chase travel portal.
• DoorDash DashPass Subscription: Get a 1-year membership to DashPass and unlock free delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash and Caviar orders. Activate by December 31, 2027.

United Explorer Card

• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS: Receive up to $120 as a statement credit, as of October 1, 2024, when you charge your Global Entry ($120), TSA PreCheck ($78), or NEXUS application fee ($50) to your United Explorer card. The statement credit is available once every 4 years.
• DoorDash DashPass Subscription: Get a 1-year membership to DashPass and unlock free delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible DoorDash and Caviar orders. Activate by January 31, 2025.

Bottom Line:

The United Explorer card is one of the most affordable credit cards with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. This benefit can be quite valuable even if you’re already part of either Trusted Traveler Program, as you can pay for anyone’s application fee with the card and get reimbursed with a statement credit.

Air Travel Advantages

Concierge and Travel Assistance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and United Explorer cards are Visa Signature cards, so you can contact the Visa Signature Concierge 24/7 via the dedicated phone line. The concierge can assist with a variety of everyday or special requests, such as purchasing concert tickets, making dinner reservations, or booking travel.

Advantages Exclusive To the United Explorer Card

When you sign up for a United Explorer card, you’re likely in it for the carrier-specific perks. The most commonly advertised benefit on the card is the free checked bag (more on this below), which can be a substantial money-saving perk depending on how often you fly with United.

The United Explorer card comes with a slew of perks when you’re flying with the carrier:

• Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and 1 companion on your reservation when you fly on United-operated flights.
• Premier upgrades on award tickets if the primary cardholder has United elite status, the primary cardholder and 1 companion on your reservation get placed on the upgrade list on United flights
• Priority boarding for the primary cardholder and travel companions booked on the same reservation
• 2 United Club one-time passes after account opening and every cardholder anniversary
• 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, received as a statement credit
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS: Receive up to $120 as a statement credit, as of October 1, 2024, when you charge your Global Entry ($120), TSA PreCheck ($78), or NEXUS application fee ($50) to your United Explorer card. The statement credit is available once every 4 years.

The most valuable perks are the free checked bags, which can cost $40 each way. And if you’re the type of flyer who likes to visit the United Club but can’t justify paying hundreds of dollars for a more premium card with lounge access, getting 2 passes per year may be just the happy medium, as one-time passes normally cost $59 out of pocket.

Hotel Program Privileges

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $50 Hotel Credit: Receive an annual statement credit of up to $50 towards hotel stays booked through the Chase travel portal.

United Explorer Card

The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection by Chase allows United Explorer cardholders to book premier hotels and receive elite-like perks, such as a room upgrade (upon availability) and complimentary breakfast for 2 guests. This unique perk could help you save on an upcoming luxury hotel stay.

Travel Insurance and Protection Perks

Chase offers one of the best-in-class travel protections for its cardholders, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the United Explorer card are certainly no exceptions. Let’s see what’s on the table if you need to tap into your credit card’s travel benefits and protections.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Next time you rent a car, decline any car rental loss and damage insurance the rental car company provides. Both cards offer primary rental car insurance that covers theft and collision damage on most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. If you ever need to tap into this benefit, you’ll receive reimbursement up to the car’s actual cash value.

Trip Interruption, Cancellation, and Delay Coverage

When you purchase eligible trip costs with either card, and your trip is interrupted or canceled by a covered reason, you may qualify to get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses. However, the coverage limits are different for each card — let’s take a look.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card can reimburse you up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in prepaid travel expenses. The maximum for a 12-month period is $40,000. Your immediate family members will also be covered as long as you purchased their trip expenses with your card — even if you are not on the same trip. You’ll also receive trip delay coverage for disruptions of more than 12 hours or requiring an overnight stay. You can receive up to $500 per person per trip when a covered delay disrupts your travels for more than 12 hours.

The United Explorer Card also provides similar trip interruption and cancellation insurance terms. However, the maximum coverage limits are up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip, which is significantly smaller than the benefit amounts on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. However, the trip delay coverage remains the same: if your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family can receive up to $500 in reimbursement.

Lost and Delayed Baggage Coverage

Both cards offer baggage coverage, reimbursing up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry-on luggage damaged or lost by the airline or other common carrier travel provider.

Shopping Showdown – Benefits and Protections

Outside the scope of travel, these cards offer excellent everyday benefits worth mentioning.

Earn Bonus Rewards for Shopping

Shopping portals are an underrated way to earn bonus points and miles on your card purchases.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase offers a shopping portal at chase.com/ultimaterewards, which allows you to earn up to 20x additional Ultimate Rewards points per dollar at hundreds of online retailers.

United Explorer Card

The United shopping portal operates similarly but does not actually require you to hold the United Explorer card to access it. Anyone with a MileagePlus frequent flyer number can shop through the portal and earn bonus miles.

Purchase Protection

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the United Explorer card offer purchase protection for damage or theft of eligible items purchased with your card for the first 120 days. Purchase protection provides up to $500 per claim, with a maximum of $50,000 per cardholder account in reimbursements.

Extended Warranty

If you purchase an item with either card with an original manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less, the extended warranty benefit extends coverage by an additional year.

Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual Fees

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the United Explorer card are both beginner-friendly thanks to their approachable annual fees:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee
• United Explorer card: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee

Adding Additional Users

There is no charge to add additional authorized users to either the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the United Explorer card. Authorized user cards also earn rewards, and they’ll be pooled into the primary cardholder’s balance.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Any solid travel card should waive foreign transaction fees when you purchase abroad in a different currency. Fortunately, both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the United Explorer card do not charge any foreign transaction fees whatsoever.

Everything Else You Need To Know

It’s recommended to have a good to excellent credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the United Explorer card. And as they’re both issued by Chase, you’ll need to brush up on the Chase 5/24 rule before applying.

Even if you have the necessary credit requirements to qualify, if you’ve opened more than 5 credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months, you’ll have a hard time getting approved for either one.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve considered applying for either card, we hope this in-depth comparison guide has made that decision much easier for you.

The United Explorer card is worth applying for United loyalists who want extra perks when they fly on the Chicago-based carrier. Its earning rate is not as competitive as other travel cards on the market, and United MileagePlus miles are always subject to devaluation.

On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is far superior if your goal is to rack up points and save money on travel across various airlines and hotels. The flexibility of Ultimate Rewards points simply can’t be beaten by most credit cards.

That said, there’s no reason why you can’t have both cards, especially since neither one comes with an exorbitant annual fee. While the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides better earning rates in almost every bonus category, the United Explorer card comes with interesting perks like a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit and a free checked bag just by holding the card.

As always, you’ll want to crunch the numbers to see if both annual fees are worth paying in the long run. No matter which card you end up with, understanding the perks that come with each card can help you make the most of your yearly membership cost.