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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs United Explorer: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great all-around travel card for those who want flexible rewards on travel and dining.
- The United℠ Explorer Card is best for frequent United flyers who want airline-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why we’re fans of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
- It offers a strong combination of travel protections and valuable rewards on everyday spending categories like dining and travel.
- You have the flexibility to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners, which can significantly increase their value.
- The $50 annual hotel credit covers more than half of the card's annual fee, making it easy to justify keeping the card year after year (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Highly flexible rewards program with the ability to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners.
- Comprehensive travel protections, including trip cancellation insurance and an auto rental damage waiver.
- Valuable perks like a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- It comes with an annual fee, which may not be justifiable for infrequent travelers.
- Lacks premium travel perks commonly found on higher-tier cards, such as airport lounge access or credits for expedited security screening programs.
- The annual hotel credit is restricted to bookings made through the Chase travel portal, and bonus rewards are limited to specific spending categories.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the United Explorer card a strong contender for United flyers.
- Cardholders receive two one-time United Club℠ passes each year, offering a comfortable space to relax before a flight.
- It also includes a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
- 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
- Accelerated mileage earning on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays.
- A unique pathway to help you qualify for United MileagePlus Premier status through your everyday spending.
- Flexible redemption options for flights on United and its extensive network of Star Alliance partners.
Cons
- An annual fee applies after the first year.
- Benefits are heavily skewed towards loyal United flyers, offering limited value otherwise.
- Reward rates on general spending are less competitive than what you might find with other travel cards.
United Explorer vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or United Explorer, depends entirely on your travel habits and goals. One is a flexible, general travel card, while the other is tailored for loyalists of a specific airline.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a top choice for those just starting with travel rewards, making it an excellent entry-level travel card that offers strong value without a premium annual fee.
- United℠ Explorer Card is best for frequent travelers who regularly fly with United Airlines, as it's designed to deliver maximum value and enhance the travel experience for those loyal to the airline.
Redemption
Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Points earned with this card offer great flexibility, as they can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or redeemed for travel through the Chase portal.
United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles, which are best used for booking flights with United and its extensive network of Star Alliance partner airlines.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portal: The Sapphire Preferred gives cardholders access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, which offers a value boost when redeeming points for travel. In contrast, the United Explorer card functions within the airline's ecosystem, with bookings made directly through United.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: A key perk for any globetrotter, both cards waive foreign transaction fees, making international spending less costly.
- Lounge Access: The United Explorer card comes with two one-time passes to the United Club each account anniversary year. The Sapphire Preferred does not offer complimentary lounge access as a standard perk.
- Baggage Allowance: For those who don't travel light, the United Explorer card offers a free first checked bag for the cardmember and one companion on the same reservation. This benefit is not available with the Sapphire Preferred.
- Priority Boarding: United Explorer cardholders enjoy priority boarding on United flights, allowing them to settle in sooner. This perk is exclusive to the airline co-branded card and not offered by Sapphire Preferred.
- In-flight Perks: The United Explorer card provides a statement credit on in-flight purchases, including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights. The Sapphire Preferred does not offer a similar benefit.
- Trusted Traveler Programs: The United Explorer card offers a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. This benefit is not offered by the Sapphire Preferred.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.
- Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply.
- Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report to understand your chances before applying.
- Receive a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring you get the best deal available.
- Track spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your cards in one place.
- Earn extra rewards, called Kudos Boost, on top of your card rewards when shopping at participating stores.
Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals whose spending is concentrated on dining, online groceries, and travel, as it offers accelerated points in these key categories. As detailed in a comprehensive review, the card also provides valuable travel protections and flexible redemption options, making it a strong contender for those starting their journey with travel rewards cards.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is tailor-made for loyal United Airlines flyers, as the free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion can easily offset the annual fee after just one round-trip flight. Beyond baggage, the card appeals to travelers who value convenience, offering perks like priority boarding, two annual United Club℠ passes, and a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. With no foreign transaction fees and robust travel protections, this travel card is also a strong contender for international travelers and anyone with good-to-excellent credit seeking significant airline-specific benefits.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. United℠ Explorer Card comparison hasn't convinced you that either is the right choice, other options are worth considering. Several excellent travel rewards cards might be a better fit for your specific spending habits and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score since most top travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
- Understand the rewards ecosystem, as some programs offer flexible transfer partners while others are tied to a single airline.
Application Strategy
- Review issuer-specific rules, such as Chase's 5/24 policy, before submitting your application.
- Use different browsers or incognito mode if you are having trouble finding a specific welcome offer.
- Time your application to align with a planned large purchase to help meet spending requirements.
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 have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and United Explorer cards?
Yes, you can hold both cards at the same time. Since they belong to different card families, having one generally doesn't prevent you from getting the other, as long as you meet Chase's overall application requirements.
Which card is better for booking flights on airlines other than United?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers more flexibility for non-United flights. Its points can be transferred to numerous airline partners or used to book travel through the Chase portal, giving you more options than the United-specific miles.
What happens to my United miles if I close my United Explorer Card?
Your United MileagePlus miles are deposited directly into your airline account, not held by Chase. Therefore, your miles will remain in your United account even if you decide to close the card.
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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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