United Explorer Card vs. United Club Infinite Card

Annual Fee: The United Club Infinite Card charges $525 annually. This is more than the United Explorer Card which costs $0 for the first year and then $95.

Reward: United Explorer Card members earn 2 miles for every $1 they spend on food, lodging, or other purchases. The United Club Infinite Card earns 4 miles for every dollar you spend with United Airlines. You'll also get 2 miles per $1 on dining out, travel and delivery service eligible services. All other purchases will be 1 mile per $1.

Sign up bonus: After spending $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of your account opening, you will receive 60,000 bonus miles. After you have spent $5,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, the United Club Infinite Card will give you 100,000 bonus miles.

Benefits: United Explorer Card provides priority boarding and two United Club passes per year. It also offers resort and luxury hotel collection privileges.

United Club Infinite Card includes a United Club Membership, 2 free checked bags per primary cardholder and 1 companion traveler on the same reservation. It also offers purchase protection, return protection insurance, trip interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation insurance.

United Explorer Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Annual Fee: For the first year of use, there is a $0 annual fee. After that it's $95. Annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is $95.

Reward: United Explorer Card members earn 2 miles for every $1 they spend on food, lodging, or other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives you five points per $1 on Lyft (valid until March 2022), three points for dining out at restaurants, two points for travel and one point on any other purchases.

Sign up bonus: After you have spent $3,000 in your first three months of account opening, the United Explorer Card will award you 60,000 bonus miles. After you have spent $4,000 in your first three months of account opening, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card will give you 60,000 bonus points. Chase Ultimate Rewards will give you $750.

Benefits: The benefits of both cards are similar in terms of travel and purchase coverage, with trip cancellation and interruption insurance as well as waivers for auto rental collision damage and vehicle rentals.

The United Explorer Card offers airline-specific benefits such as priority boarding, two United Club Passes per year and other benefits.