Chase Sapphire Reserve vs United Gateway: Which Is Better In 2025?

United Gateway℠ Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the United Gateway℠ Card a compelling choice.

• It’s a co-branded airline card with no annual fee, making it an accessible entry point into the United MileagePlus program.
• Despite having no annual fee, the card includes valuable travel protections like an auto rental waiver and trip cancellation coverage.
• With no annual fee to offset, any rewards you earn are pure value, and travel protections like trip cancellation insurance can save you hundreds on a single disrupted trip (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• It charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for purchases abroad.
• The card comes with a suite of travel and purchase protections, including an auto rental waiver and trip cancellation coverage, which are rare for a card with no annual fee.
• It provides an accessible pathway into the United MileagePlus program, allowing you to earn miles on everyday spending and add authorized users at no extra cost to help accumulate rewards.

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Cons

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• You won't find premium travel perks like free checked bags or priority boarding, which can be a drawback for frequent United flyers.
• The card's rewards structure is more basic, offering a smaller welcome bonus and fewer bonus categories than its premium counterparts.
• It omits long-term value perks such as anniversary bonus miles or a companion certificate.

United Gateway℠ vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better Chase Sapphire Reserve or United Gateway depends on your travel habits and what you want from a rewards card.

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card best suited for frequent travelers who can maximize its comprehensive travel benefits and protections.
• United Gateway℠ is an entry-level card for occasional United Airlines flyers and budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles without an annual commitment.

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Redemption

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Points earned with this card are highly flexible, allowing you to redeem them for travel through the Chase portal, transfer them to various airline and hotel partners, or opt for cash back and statement credits.

• United Gateway℠: The miles you earn are primarily redeemed for flights with United Airlines and its partners, but can also be used for seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, and other travel booked through United.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This card provides access to a comprehensive travel ecosystem via the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Key benefits include a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access worldwide, an annual travel credit, and an application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS. The card also has no foreign transaction fees.

• United Gateway℠: The travel benefits for this card are focused on the United Airlines experience. It features no foreign transaction fees and provides a statement credit for in-flight purchases on United. However, it does not offer premium perks like complimentary lounge access or an annual travel credit.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial tool that lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate owning a new card before you apply. This feature uses your actual spending data to project potential earnings and show you the card’s net value, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for various cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses for free.
• Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?

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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is tailored for frequent travelers who can fully leverage its premium benefits to justify the annual fee. This cardholder typically dines out often, values airport lounge access through Priority Pass™ Select, and seeks robust travel protections for peace of mind. As our Chase Sapphire Reserve review details, the ideal user is a points enthusiast who maximizes rewards by transferring them to airline and hotel partners. Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases, as the first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway℠?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is tailor-made for occasional United Airlines flyers who want to earn miles without the burden of an annual fee. It's also a great starting point for credit card beginners dipping their toes into travel rewards or for budget-conscious travelers seeking a simple way to collect MileagePlus miles. Since there's no annual fee, it serves as a low-risk way to build a relationship with United's loyalty program. This card is a practical option for those who don't travel enough to warrant a premium card but still want to make their spending count.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our comparison of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. the United Gateway℠ has left you undecided, or you've concluded that neither card meets your needs. Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better match for your spending habits and travel goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Getting approved for a premium credit card requires a bit of strategy. Here’s how to position yourself for the best outcome.

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Before You Apply:

• Check your credit score. Issuers like Chase typically require good to excellent credit for their travel cards. For top-tier cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card, a score of 740 or higher is generally recommended.
• Plan your spending. Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the United Gateway℠ Card require you to meet a spending threshold in the first three months to earn the welcome offer. Make sure you can meet this spend organically without overstretching your budget.
• Know the rewards program. Understand how you’ll use the points or miles. While some cards offer flexible 1:1 point transfers to airline and hotel partners, others, like the United Gateway℠ Card, have miles that are best used within the airline's own ecosystem.

Application Strategy:

• Use a trusted application source. Applying through a reliable link can help ensure you’re seeing the most current and best available public offer.
• Be patient. Welcome offers can fluctuate. If you’ve seen a higher offer recently, it might be worth waiting to see if it returns rather than settling for a lower bonus.
• Try different methods. Sometimes, offers are targeted. If you can't find a specific offer, try searching in a different browser or using an incognito window.

Pro tip: Time your application just before a large, planned purchase—like a vacation, new furniture, or a home project. This can help you meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer quickly and naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the United Gateway℠ Card?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card with broad travel benefits and flexible rewards, while the United Gateway℠ Card is a no-annual-fee airline card focused on earning United MileagePlus miles. Your choice depends on whether you prefer versatile points or miles specific to one airline.

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Which card is better for earning travel rewards?

It depends on your travel style, as neither card is inherently better for all travelers. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is great for earning flexible points on a wide range of travel and dining, while the United Gateway℠ Card excels at accumulating miles for flights on United and its partner airlines.

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Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth its annual fee?

Whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth its annual fee depends on if you can maximize its premium benefits. Cardholders who take full advantage of perks like the annual travel credit and airport lounge access often find the value outweighs the cost.