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Card vs Card Comparison

Chase Sapphire Preferred
vs
United Explorer.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

Chase

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Annual fee

$95

Points

Ultimate Rewards

Signup bonus

Currently around 75K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →5x on Chase Travel
  • →3x on dining, online grocery, and streaming
  • →2x on other travel

Top perks

  • →$50 annual hotel credit on Chase Travel
  • →10% point bonus on your cardmember anniversary
  • →Primary rental car insurance
See Chase Sapphire Preferred detailsarrow_forward

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee

$150

Points

United MileagePlus

Signup bonus

Currently around 60K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →2x on United purchases and travel
  • →2x on dining and select streaming
  • →1x everywhere else

Top perks

  • →First checked bag free
  • →Priority boarding (Group 2)
  • →2 United Club one-time passes each year
See United Explorer detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Chase Sapphire Preferred wins if

Pick this if you want the best $95-fee travel card on the market and access to Chase transfer partners.

Honest downside: No lounge access. No $300 travel credit. High spenders will outgrow it quickly.

United Explorer wins if

Pick this if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Honest downside: No lounge membership. Earn rate is mediocre. Fee jumped from $95 to $150 in 2026, which weakens the value if you fly United only once or twice a year.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecChase Sapphire PreferredUnited Explorer
Annual fee$95$150
Points currencyUltimate RewardsUnited MileagePlus
Signup bonusCurrently around 75K pointsCurrently around 60K miles
Top earn category5x on Chase Travel2x on United purchases and travel
Second earn category3x on dining, online grocery, and streaming2x on dining and select streaming
Third earn category2x on other travel1x everywhere else
Signature perk$50 annual hotel credit on Chase TravelFirst checked bag free
IssuerChaseChase

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or United Explorer?

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Chase Sapphire Preferred wins if you want the best $95-fee travel card on the market and access to Chase transfer partners. United Explorer wins if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the United Explorer?

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Both cards are issued by Chase, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred or United Explorer?

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United Explorer has the higher annual fee at $150, compared to $95 for Chase Sapphire Preferred. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.