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United Business Card vs. United Club Business Card: Which should you get?
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.
TPG's director of travel content Eric Rosen has used points and miles to visit some of the world's most remote corners, including swimming with whale sharks off Western Australia's Ningaloo Coast, exploring the wilds of Botswana's Okavango Delta and tasting the high-altitude wines of Argentina's Mendoza region.
also contributed to this story
July 30, 2025 • 14 min read
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Quick summary
Two business travel cards are compared, each offering distinct benefits and annual fees for United Airlines loyalists.
The mid-tier option provides strong value and bonus categories for earning miles at various merchants, while the premium version includes lounge access, more travel credits and enhanced airport perks.
Both cards feature identical introductory offers and help cardholders earn toward United elite status, with differences in how quickly status can be achieved.
Choosing the right card depends on your spending patterns and how much you value premium travel benefits versus broader earning categories.
What to consider
Eligibility for the introductory offer is limited if you have received a bonus on the same card within the past 24 months.
Approval for either card is subject to specific application restrictions, including the 5/24 rule.
The premium card requires higher spending to unlock certain perks and comes with a substantially higher annual fee.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of travel perks, earning structures and redemption strategies to help you select the best fit for your business travel needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
United Airlines offers two business credit cards that are similar in name but differ significantly in annual fees and benefits.
The mid-tier United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) offers great value for a low annual fee. In contrast, the top-tier United Club℠ Business Card has a substantially higher annual fee and valuable benefits for frequent United business travelers.
United refreshed its entire suite of credit cards in March, and we saw changes in benefits, new statement credits and, as expected, increases in annual fees.
If you're a business owner who wants a United cobranded card, which of these cards is a better fit for you? Let's examine both cards' benefits and explore each in more detail.
The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
United Business vs. United Club Business comparison
United Business Card
United Club Business Card
Welcome bonus
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP 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 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP 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.
Annual fee
$150
$695
Earning rates
8 total miles per dollar spent on United flight purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on dining, gas station purchases, office supply store purchases, local transit and commuting
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
8 total miles per dollar spent on United flight purchases
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts
2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
Lounge access
Two United Club one-time passes annually
Four United Club one-time passes per anniversary year (authorized user required on account and Club All Access Membership)
United Club membership
United Club All Access membership (unlocked with spending or United Premier Gold status)
United benefits
25% back on United inflight purchases in the form of a statement credit
Up to $25 in statement credits on United FareLock
Up to $125 in United TravelBank cash
One free checked bag
Priority boarding
Up to 4,000 PQPs through spending
Two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades
Expanded award availability
Premier upgrades on award tickets
5,000 miles on each card anniversary if you also have a personal United card
25% back on United inflight purchases
Up to $50 in statement credits on United FareLock
Two free checked bags
Premier Access services, including designated check-in lines, priority security lanes, priority boarding and priority baggage handling (where available)
Up to 28,000 PQPs through spending
Two global Economy Plus seat upgrades
Expanded award availability
Premier upgrades on award tickets
5,000 miles on each card anniversary if you also have a personal United card
Other benefits
Up to $50 in United TravelBank cash after eligible Avis or Budget car rental purchases (two $25 credits)
Up to $100 in ride-hailing statement credits
Up to $100 in United Hotels statement credits
Up to $100 in statement credits for JSX flight purchases annually
Up to $120 in Instacart credits
Three months complimentary Instacart+ membership
Travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Up to $100 in United travel credits annually on Avis or Budget (two $50 credits)
Up to $150 in ride-hailing statement credits
Up to $200 in statement credits for hotel stays booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts
Up to $200 in statement credits for JSX flight purchases annually
Up to $240 in Instacart credits
Avis President's Club elite status
Complimentary Instacart+ membership
Travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
United Business vs. United Club Business welcome offer
The United Business Card and United Club Business currently have identical welcome offers.
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP 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.
These offers are worth up to $1,200 (including the points from adding an authorized user; not including the value of the PQPs) per TPG's October 2026 valuations.
THE POINTS GUY
With either card, the bonus miles from the welcome offer could be enough for a few domestic economy award tickets or one-way tickets in a premium cabin on United or its partners.
It's important to note that you won't be eligible for a welcome bonus if you have received one on the card you're applying for within the past 24 months.
You'll also be subject to Chase's 5/24 rule in order to be approved for either card.
Winner: Tie. Since the United Club Business comes with a substantially higher annual fee, you should weigh out your use of the card benefits.
The United Business Card includes a free first checked bag for cardholders and up to one companion on United flights, up to $200 in value, round-trip. Cardholders also receive priority boarding and two one-time United Club passes on each account anniversary. Bear in mind that the United Club passes can only be used by the primary cardholder, an authorized user or a guest traveling with them.
Plus, cardholders who also hold a personal United card receive 5,000 anniversary bonus miles each account year. Those who use the card for five United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year will receive $125 in United TravelBank cash.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Furthermore, the United Business Card has a variety of perks and statement credits, including:
Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
$100 United Hotels statement credit: Receive $50 in statement credits on both your first and second prepaid hotel stays ($100 maximum) when purchased through United Hotels each anniversary year.
Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $100 in ride-hailing statement credits each calendar year ($8 per month from January to November and $12 in December). Yearly enrollment is required.
United travel credit via car rental: Earn up to $25 in United TravelBank cash per eligible Avis or Budget rental when booking through cars.united.com. This benefit is limited to two $25 United TravelBank credits per anniversary year ($50 maximum).
JSX statement credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits on JSX (a semiprivate jet service) purchases made directly with the airline per anniversary year.
FareLock statement credit: Earn up to $25 in statement credits annually after purchasing FareLock for United flights.
Instacart+ membership: Enjoy a complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, with a 25% discounted plan thereafter. (Benefits end Dec. 31, 2027.)
Instacart statement credits: Earn up to $120 in Instacart credit each calendar year (up to $10 a month) on purchases made with the United Business Card. (Benefits end Dec. 31, 2027.)
United Club Business benefits
Those with the United Club Business Card get a free first and second checked bag for themselves and a companion on the same reservation purchased using the card (up to $440 in value) and access to United Premier Access services.
However, the star of the show for the United Club Business is a United Club membership, which allows cardholders and their eligible travel companions, including one adult guest and dependent children, access to over 45 United Club locations worldwide. United has introduced United Club All Access membership after a cardholder reaches Premier Gold status or spends $50,000 each year with the United Club Business Card. Benefits include guest privileges for up to two adults or one adult and dependent children under the age of 18 and provide access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Similar to its lower annual fee counterpart, the United Club Business also has a host of perks and travel credits, including:
Renowned Hotels and Resorts credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each anniversary year on prepaid bookings made directly with Renowned Hotels and Resorts using the United Club Business Card.
JSX statement credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits on JSX purchases made directly with the airline per anniversary year.
Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two global U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $150 in ride-hailing statement credit each calendar year ($12 per month from January to November and $18 in December). Yearly enrollment is required.
United travel credit via car rental: Earn up to $50 in United TravelBank cash per eligible Avis or Budget rental when booking through cars.united.com. This benefit is limited to two $50 United TravelBank credits per anniversary year ($100 maximum).
FareLock statement credit: Earn up to $50 in statement credits annually after purchasing FareLock for United flights.
Instacart+ membership: Enjoy a complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, with a 25% discounted plan thereafter. (Benefits end Dec. 31, 2027.)
Instacart statement credits: Earn up to $240 in Instacart credit each calendar year (up to two $10 monthly credits) on purchases made with your card. (Benefits end Dec. 31, 2027.)
GEORGE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES
You'll also receive four one-time Club passes for your authorized users each year after meeting spending requirements. The main cardholder must have a United Club All Access membership, which allows one person to access a lounge with the primary cardholder or the employee card.
Similar benefits
Both cards can help you earn toward Premier elite status with United. With the United Business Card, you earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent, up to 4,000 PQPs in a calendar year. The United Club Business earns 1 PQP for every $15 spent, with the ability to earn up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year. Both cards can help you earn up to the Premier 1K status level.
Additional benefits on both cards include:
25% discount on inflight purchases of food, beverages, Wi-Fi and on premium drink purchases in United Clubs
Earning miles with the United Business vs. United Club Business
The United Business Card earns bonus miles in several different categories. It earns:
8 total miles per dollar spent on United flight purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores, as well as on local transit and commuting (including mass transit systems), ride-hailing services, taxis and tolls
1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
ALEXANDER SPATARI/GETTY IMAGES
By contrast, the United Club Business Card earns:
8 total miles per dollar spent on United purchases
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts
2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
If you tend to make more dining, gas, office supply store and commuting purchases, then the United Business Card's 2 miles per dollar earning rate could help you quickly rack up the miles for award flights.
However, if your purchase activity covers a more diverse range of categories, the simpler 1.5 miles per dollar earning formula on the Club Business might be better for you.
Winner: United Business. It offers bonus miles in several more categories than the Club Business.
Redeeming miles with the United Business vs. United Club Business
Both United business credit cards earn United miles that are deposited into the cardholder's MileagePlus account. You can redeem United miles for United and United Express flights and flights on any Star Alliance carrier or partner airline.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Chris Nelson, a credit cards writer at TPG, is a longtime United loyalist. He has taken advantage of many partner redemptions and redeemed his miles for many saver award tickets, including last-minute Polaris business-class flights to Europe.
Winner: Tie. Both cards earn United miles that can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Should I get the United Business or United Club Business?
If your business purchases tend to be in the bonus categories the United Business Card offers, its elevated earning rates can help you rake in miles. On the other hand, if you regularly travel with United, you'll likely prefer the United Club Business for its lounge access, additional free checked baggage, Premier Access services at the airport, more comprehensive travel credits and travel protections.
How to upgrade from the United Business to United Club Business
Both cards are issued by Chase and fall within the same credit card family. This is useful because if you have the United Business Card, you can upgrade to the United Club Business Card by calling Chase customer service.
However, note that upgrading to the United Club Business will make you ineligible to earn the card's welcome bonus and may make you ineligible to earn a welcome bonus on the same card if you try to apply for the same card within 24 months.
Both cards are tailored to United loyalists, offering excellent welcome bonuses for new applicants.
Although its annual fee is dramatically higher, the benefits of the United Club Business more than make up for the hefty fee for those able to maximize them.
Before applying for either card, map your business expenses, determine how often you fly with United and select the right card to complement your business expenses and redemption aspirations.
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.
