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Chase Freedom Flex vs United Explorer: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is a powerhouse for maximizing cash back on rotating quarterly categories, travel booked through Chase, dining, and drugstore purchases.
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is best for frequent United Airlines flyers who want travel perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, and airport lounge passes.
Chase Freedom Flex® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Chase Freedom Flex®.
- With no annual fee, you can earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%) plus bonus rewards on travel, dining, and at drugstores.
- Cardholders also get valuable perks like cell phone protection up to $800 per claim and a complimentary DashPass subscription for three months.
- Spending just $200 a month in the rotating 5% cash back categories could earn you $30 in cash back each quarter (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers a combination of rotating bonus categories and fixed-rate rewards on popular spending areas like travel, dining, and drugstores.
- Includes valuable cardholder perks such as cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection.
- Provides flexible reward redemption options and integrates with the broader Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem, allowing points to be pooled with other eligible Chase cards for enhanced value.
Cons
- Maximizing rewards requires activating rotating bonus categories each quarter, and the highest cash back rate is subject to a spending cap.
- Not ideal for international travel due to foreign transaction fees.
- Approval can be difficult due to strict application rules, and transferring points to airline and hotel partners requires pairing it with a premium Chase card.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the United℠ Explorer Card stands out in a crowded field of travel rewards cards.
- Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like a free first checked bag for two people, priority boarding, and two annual United Club℠ passes.
- You can earn double MileagePlus miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel.
- The free checked bag benefit for you and a companion can offset the annual fee after just one round-trip flight (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Valuable United-specific travel perks, including a free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion, priority boarding, and inflight discounts.
- Provides access to United Club℠ lounges and a credit for expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck®.
- Features strong travel protections like primary car rental insurance and lets you earn double miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays.
Cons
- The card’s benefits are most valuable for frequent United flyers, offering less to those who fly with multiple airlines.
- Rewards on everyday purchases are less competitive than other travel cards, and some key perks like lounge access are limited.
- Strict approval requirements mean it isn't accessible to everyone, and some of its main perks come with usage restrictions.
United Explorer vs Chase Freedom Flex®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex or United Explorer, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel goals.
- Chase Freedom Flex® is ideal for no-fee card seekers who want to maximize rewards on everyday spending through a combination of fixed and rotating bonus categories.
- United℠ Explorer Card is best suited for frequent travelers, especially those who often fly with United Airlines and want to enjoy airline-specific perks and travel benefits.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. These points offer great flexibility, catering to both everyday rewards and travel aspirations.
United℠ Explorer Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its airline partners. This makes it a straightforward choice for those looking to earn and use miles specifically for air travel.
Travel Perks
- Chase Freedom Flex®:
- Travel Portal: Cardholders book travel and redeem points through the flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: This card includes a foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for purchases abroad.
- Lounge Access: Does not offer airport lounge access.
- Card Synergy: Points can be combined with a premium Chase travel card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, to transfer to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.
- United℠ Explorer Card:
- Travel Ecosystem: Rewards are earned and redeemed within the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its Star Alliance partners.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: This card has no foreign transaction fees.
- Lounge Access: Provides two one-time United Club℠ passes each year.
- Airline-Specific Perks: Includes a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and a companion on the same reservation, priority boarding, a statement credit for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS application fee, and 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases.
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Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards through rotating quarterly bonus categories. It also appeals to those who frequently dine out or make drugstore purchases, and it serves as a powerful component in a multi-card strategy to pool Ultimate Rewards® points. As detailed in this cash back card review, its lack of an annual fee makes it a flexible, high-value option for earning either cash back or travel rewards.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is primarily designed for frequent United Airlines flyers who travel several times a year and want to maximize their loyalty. These travelers will find immediate value in perks like a free first checked bag for themselves and a companion, priority boarding, and two annual United Club℠ passes. Beyond loyal United customers, the card also appeals to international travelers thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees and the statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
Alternatives to Consider
If this Chase Freedom Flex® vs. United Explorer comparison has you convinced that neither card is the right choice, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score as most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Review application rules because some issuers have restrictions, like the Chase 5/24 rule, that can affect your eligibility.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer requirements without overspending.
Application Strategy
- Time your application with a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
- Know the issuer's rules, such as the Chase 5/24 rule, which can impact your approval.
- Consider the card's ecosystem to see how it complements other cards you may have.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to the United℠ Explorer Card?
You cannot directly transfer points from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to the United℠ Explorer Card. However, you can move your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to your United MileagePlus® account if you also hold a premium Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Which card is better for international travel?
The United℠ Explorer Card is generally better for international travel because it has no foreign transaction fees and offers airline-specific perks like a free first checked bag. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ charges a foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for purchases made outside the U.S.
Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the United℠ Explorer Card?
Yes, you can hold both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the United℠ Explorer Card simultaneously since they are separate products. Having both cards can be a strategic way to earn flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and valuable United MileagePlus® miles.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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