Card vs Card Comparison
Updated
Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.
Chase
Annual fee
$695
Points
United MileagePlus
Signup bonus
80K miles after $5K in 3 months
Top earning rates
Top perks
Chase
Annual fee
$95
Points
United MileagePlus
Signup bonus
60K miles after $3K in 3 months
Top earning rates
Top perks
The verdict
United Club Infinite wins if
Pick this if you fly United often enough that you would buy a Club membership separately ($650 a year retail).
Honest downside: The lounge access makes or breaks the value. If you do not use United Clubs, the fee does not pencil out.
United Explorer wins if
Pick this if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding pay for the $95 fee easily.
Honest downside: No lounge membership. Earn rate is mediocre.
At a glance
Questions
United Club Infinite wins if you fly United often enough that you would buy a Club membership separately ($650 a year retail). United Explorer wins if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding pay for the $95 fee easily.
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.
United Club Infinite has the higher annual fee at $695, compared to $95 for United Explorer. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.
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