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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
United Club Card vs. United Explorer Card: Which is best for United fans?
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
April 24, 2025 • 11 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Quick summary
Travelers loyal to a major U.S. airline have two main personal card options: a mid-tier card with general perks and a top-tier card with more premium benefits.
Both cards provide airline-specific perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and expanded award availability.
The premium card offers additional statement credits, lounge access and higher earning potential at select merchants, while the mid-tier card features more modest credits and limited lounge access.
Choosing between the two depends on how frequently you fly with the airline and which benefits align with your travel habits.
What to consider
The premium card comes with a significantly higher annual fee, while the mid-tier card has a lower fee after the first year.
Both cards allow earning loyalty points toward elite status, but the premium card offers a higher annual maximum.
Statement credits for ride-hailing, hotels and other services require yearly enrollment and may have expiration dates.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, earning structures and redemption tips to help select the best fit for your travel style.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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 up to 100,000 bonus miles: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee
$695
$0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $150
Earning rates
11 total miles per dollar on United flights
5 miles per dollar on Renowned Hotels and Resorts
5 miles per dollar on other United purchases
2 miles per dollar on dining and all other travel
1 mile per dollar on everything else
9 total miles per dollar on United flights
5 miles per dollar on United Hotels
3 miles per dollar on other United purchases
2 miles per dollar on dining
2 miles per dollar on other hotel stays
1 mile per dollar on everything else
Benefits
Up to $240 in Instacart statement credits
Up to $200 in JSX statement credits
Up to $200 in Renowned Hotels and Resorts statement credits
Up to $150 in ride-hailing statement credits (yearly enrollment is required)
Up to $100 in United® TravelBank cash with eligible rental car purchases
United Club membership with the ability to earn United Club All Access membership
Free first and second-checked bags
Premier Access travel services
IHG One Rewards Platinum status
Avis President's Club elite status
Complimentary Premier upgrades on award flights for United elite members (subject to availability)
No foreign transaction fees
Up to $120 in Instacart statement credits
Up to $120 in JSX statement credits
Up to $100 in United Hotel statement credits
Up to $60 in ride-hailing statement credits (yearly enrollment is required)
United Club vs. United Explorer welcome bonus
The United Club Card currently offers a welcome bonus of up to 100,000 bonus miles: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s October 2026 valuations, these bonus miles are worth up to $1,200 (including the points from adding an authorized user).
THE POINTS GUY
Meanwhile, the mid-tier United Explorer Card offers a lower welcome bonus of up to 80,000 bonus miles: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
These bonus miles are worth up to $960 (including the points from adding an authorized user) based on TPG's valuations.
Winner: United Club. The higher welcome bonus helps this card take the lead.
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.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Earning miles with the United Club vs. United Explorer
The way both cards earn varies a bit. The United Explorer earns:
9 total miles per dollar on United flights
5 miles per dollar on United Hotels
3 miles per dollar on other United purchases
2 miles per dollar on dining and other hotel stays
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.
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 yourUnited card's annual fee.However, it may or may not be worth it, depending on how much it costs.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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.
