When it comes to cobranded airline credit cards, United loyalists have four main options for personal cards. Among them, two popular standouts include the mid-tier United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and the top-tier United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees), both issued by Chase.
Both cards offer perks with United and statement credits for cardholders to maximize to offset their annual fees.
The average traveler might get more mileage (so to speak) out of a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — both of which earn bonus rewards on a wide range of purchases that can be transferred to several different airline and hotel partners. But those looking for United-specific benefits will want to consider cobranded United cards.
Here are the factors to help you decide whether the United Club or United Explorer card is right for you.
United Club vs. United Explorer comparison
| Card | United Club Card | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. |
| Annual fee | $695 | $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $150 |
| Earning rates |
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| Benefits |
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United Club vs. United Explorer welcome bonus
The United Club Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 95,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
According to TPG’s April 2025 valuations, these bonus miles are worth $1,283.
Meanwhile, the mid-tier United Explorer Card offers a lower welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
These bonus miles are worth $1,080 based on TPG’s valuations.
Winner: United Club. The higher welcome bonus helps this card take the lead.
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Related: Cards currently offering welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more
United Club vs. United Explorer benefits
As you’d expect, both cards offer benefits geared toward United flyers. Let’s look at similar benefits first.
Shared benefits
- Free first-checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 25% off inflight United purchases
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus statement credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Expanded award availability
You’ll also earn 1 PQP for every $20 in purchases, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year with the Explorer. United Club cardholders can earn up to a maximum of 28,000 PQPs (1 PQP for every $15 spent on purchases) each year.
A major difference between the two cards is their annual fees. The Explorer has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $150), while the United Club charges $695.
United Explorer benefits
While the United Explorer’s annual fee may be off-putting to some, it comes with a list of coupon-book-style statement credits that help offset that cost.
- United TravelBank Cash benefits: If you like the flexibility of United TravelBank Cash, you can earn $100 after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- Rental car benefits: If your preferred car rental agency is Avis or Budget, you can receive two $25 United TravelBank Cash deposits, up to $50 each anniversary year, for the first and second car rentals booked through cars.united.com. This is an easy way to build up your United Cash balance each year.
- Limited lounge access: Even if you don’t frequent United Club lounge locations, you might still enjoy two one-time United Club passes each account year. This is one of TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak’s favorite Explorer perks.
- Ride-hailing statement credits: If you frequently use ride-hailing services, you can easily take advantage of up to $60 a year on ride-hailing purchases, doled out up to $5 per month. Yearly enrollment is required.
- Hotel benefits: If you’re looking for incremental savings, you can earn up to $100 in statement credits on prepaid hotel stays booked through United Hotels (up to $50 on first and second bookings).
- Semiprivate airline statement credit: You can get up to a $100 statement credit each anniversary year on JSX flight purchases (must book directly).
- Instacart benefits: If you prefer ordering groceries for convenience, take advantage of up to $10 per month in Instacart benefits and a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership. Instacart benefits end on Dec. 31, 2027.
United Club Card benefits
Looking ahead to the more expensive card, the United Club Card offers its fair share of perks.
- Lounge access: Frequent flyers will enjoy a United Club membership, the ability to earn United Club All Access (which provides guest privileges and access to all Star Alliance member lounges) after spending $50,000 in a calendar year, and four United Club one-time passes with an all-access membership and authorized user on the account.
- Ride-hailing statement credits: For frequent ride-hailing users, take advantage of up to $150 each year toward those purchases (up to $12 per month between January and November; up to $18 in December). Yearly enrollment is required.
- Hotel benefits: If you prefer more luxurious accommodations, then receiving up to $200 in Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers statement credits per anniversary year is a perk you’ll love.
- Semiprivate airline statement credit: You can get up to a $200 statement credit each anniversary year on JSX flight purchases (must book directly).
- Instacart benefits: Enjoy up to $20 per month in Instacart benefits and a complimentary Instacart+ membership. Instacart benefits end on Dec. 31, 2027.
- IHG elite status: If IHG hotels weren’t on your radar, the United Club Card’s IHG One Rewards Platinum status offer gives you a compelling reason to check them out.
- Rental car benefits: Receive complimentary Avis President’s Club elite status. In addition, two $50 United TravelBank Cash deposits, up to $100 each anniversary year, for the first and second car rentals booked through cars.united.com.
Winner: United Club Card. It offers more valuable statement credits and more travel and United-specific perks.
Earning miles with the United Club vs. United Explorer
The way both cards earn varies a bit. The United Explorer earns:
- 7 miles per dollar on United flights
- 5 miles per dollar on United Hotels
- 2 miles per dollar on other United purchases, dining and other hotel stays
- 1 mile per dollar on everything else
Meanwhile, the United Club Card earns:
- 9 miles per dollar on United flights
- 5 miles per dollar on Renowned Hotels and Resorts
- 4 miles per dollar on other United purchases
- 2 miles per dollar on dining and all other travel (including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines and car rentals)
- 1 mile per dollar on everything else
The most compelling rate is earning bonus miles on United flight purchases, which can be an excellent and fast way to build up your balance if you frequently fly United. (But even then, from an earning standpoint, you may be better off using cards in the Chase Trifecta and transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United.)
Winner: United Club Card. Higher earning potential on United purchases, dining, and all other travel.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
Redeeming miles with the United Club vs. United Explorer
Both cards allow you to earn United miles through credit card spending, which are automatically deposited into your MileagePlus account. You can redeem miles for United and United Express flights and on Star Alliance carriers and with partner airlines.
Miles can also be redeemed for your United card’s annual fee. However, it may or may not be worth it, depending on how much it costs.
When redeeming United miles, you’ll get the best value booking saver-level tickets, as they are the lowest-priced. Also, as a cardholder, you can access expanded saver-level award availability, helping stretch your miles further.
TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson likes to redeem his United miles on flights to Europe — and take advantage of the Excursionist Perk to get the occasional free flight (plus taxes and fees). He recently flew virtually for free between Edinburgh and Madrid using the Excursionist Perk, when his U.S.-to-Europe itinerary award booking included that leg of the journey.
Winner: Both. These cards earn United miles, which can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Should I get the United Club or United Explorer?
If you want to pay a lower annual fee and get general United-specific perks, the United Explorer Card is the one for you. However, the United Club Card is the better choice if you are a die-hard United frequent flyer, as you’ll get a United Club membership, a wider range of statement credits and more benefits when flying the airline.
Bottom line
The United Explorer and United Club Card are two of the best-cobranded cards at United has to offer. It comes down to which card’s benefits meet your travel goals and justify paying its annual fee.
If you fly United frequently, then the United Club is a good choice. However, if you only fly United a couple of times a year, the Explorer is probably enough for you.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the United Club and United Explorer cards.
Apply here: United Club Card
Apply here: United Explorer Card
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