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United Explorer Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
The short answer
- The United Explorer Card costs $55 more a year than the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
- At our point valuations the United Explorer Card earns more on travel.
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns more on dining, groceries, gas, everything else.
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger welcome offer: about $1,500 in value vs $945 for the United Explorer Card.
Side by side
| United Explorer Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | 70,000 after $3,000 in 3 months (≈ $945) | 75,000 after $5,000 in 3 months (≈ $1,500) |
| Earns on dining | 2x (≈ 2.7%) | 3x (≈ 6%) |
| Earns on groceries | 1x (≈ 1.4%) | 1x (≈ 2%) |
| Earns on travel | 3x (≈ 4.1%) | 2x (≈ 4%) |
| Earns on gas | 1x (≈ 1.4%) | 3x (≈ 6%) |
| Earns on everything else | 1x (≈ 1.4%) | 1x (≈ 2%) |
| Rewards | United MileagePlus | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| KritScore | — | 84 |
| Highlights | Free first checked bag (you + 1) · Group 2 priority boarding · 2 United Club passes per year · 10%+ fewer miles on award flights · $100 TravelBank after $10k spend/yr | Full Chase transfer partners · Primary rental car insurance · Trip cancellation & delay insurance · Free DashPass (activate by 12/31/2029) · No foreign transaction fees |
“≈ %” is the earn rate times our point valuation (cash-back cards at one cent). Bonus categories can be limited or capped, and offers change — check each issuer’s current terms.
Is the United Explorer Card better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The United Explorer Card costs $55 more a year than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. At our point valuations the United Explorer Card earns more on travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns more on dining, groceries, gas, everything else. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger welcome offer: about $1,500 in value vs $945 for the United Explorer Card.
What is the annual fee on the United Explorer Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The United Explorer Card: $150 a year. The Chase Sapphire Preferred: $95 a year.
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