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United Explorer vs Capital One SavorOne: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is best for frequent United Airlines flyers looking for travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: A great option for earning cash back on everyday spending like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Let's take a closer look at the specific benefits that make the United Explorer Card a strong choice for United loyalists.
- Cardholders receive a free first checked bag for themselves and a companion on United-operated flights.
- The card provides an elevated airport experience with priority boarding privileges and annual United Club℠ passes.
- It offers robust travel protections, including primary auto rental coverage and no fees on foreign transactions.
Pros
- Offers a more seamless airport experience with perks like a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and annual United Club℠ passes.
- Travel with confidence thanks to robust protections, including primary auto rental coverage and trip delay reimbursement.
- Provides a pathway to earning United Premier status through card spending, in addition to earning miles redeemable across the Star Alliance network.
Cons
- Carries an annual fee after the first year.
- Its perks are most valuable for frequent United flyers, with less appeal for those loyal to other airlines.
- Earning rates on everyday spending lag behind some rival travel cards, and certain benefits come with restrictions.
Capital One SavorOne Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Below, we'll break down the specific features that make the Capital One SavorOne Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card a compelling option.
- It offers generous cash back rewards on popular spending categories like dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores.
- You can redeem your cash back for any amount, and your rewards don't expire for the life of the account.
- The card is a great option for international travel as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- Offers generous, unlimited cash back on popular spending categories including dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores.
- Cash back rewards can be redeemed in any amount and do not expire for the life of the account.
- There are no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for use abroad.
Cons
- The card charges an annual fee and does not offer a welcome bonus for new cardholders.
- There is no 0% intro APR offer on new purchases.
- Bonus rewards for spending at grocery stores exclude purchases made at superstores like Walmart and Target.
Capital One SavorOne Rewards vs United Explorer
Categories
Deciding which is better, United Explorer or Capital One SavorOne, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel preferences.
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is tailored for frequent travelers, especially those who regularly fly with United Airlines and can take advantage of travel-specific perks.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for earning rewards on everyday spending, with a focus on categories like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores.
Redemption
United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are earned as miles that can be redeemed for flights with United and its airline partners. You can also use miles for other travel-related purchases like hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card earns cash back that can be redeemed in a few flexible ways. You can receive your rewards as a statement credit to lower your account balance or request a check.
Travel Perks
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is built for the United Airlines travel ecosystem. It includes benefits like airport lounge passes and has no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders can use miles to book travel through the United portal.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: While not a dedicated airline card, it offers valuable travel features. It has no foreign transaction fees and gives you access to book trips through the Capital One Travel portal. This card does not offer airport lounge access.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a comprehensive tool that helps you compare credit cards by focusing on maximizing rewards based on your unique spending patterns.
- A ‘Test Drive’ feature that lets you simulate a card’s potential earnings using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- A welcome offer guarantee that matches any better offer you find within three months of approval.
- Access to Kudos Boost, which allows you to earn additional rewards on top of your card’s rewards when shopping.
- A single platform to monitor your credit score, manage multiple cards, and track progress toward sign-up bonuses.
- Personalized card recommendations based on your spending history to ensure you’re maximizing rewards.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is primarily designed for frequent United Airlines flyers who can take full advantage of benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding. It also caters to travelers seeking airport conveniences, offering a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry and two annual United Club℠ passes. Ultimately, the card is a great fit for those with good to excellent credit who travel often enough, particularly internationally, for the perks to outweigh the annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Capital One SavorOne Rewards?
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent option for individuals with fair credit who want to earn cash back while building a stronger credit history. It particularly suits users whose spending is concentrated on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores, allowing them to maximize the 3% cash-back rate. This card also serves as a great steppingstone product, offering automatic consideration for a higher credit line and no foreign transaction fees for those who travel internationally.
Alternatives to Consider
Still on the fence after our United Explorer vs Capital One SavorOne comparison? If neither of these cards quite hits the mark for your wallet, let's explore a few other top-tier options that could be a better fit.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Cards require anything from fair to excellent credit, so know where you stand.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet any welcome offer spending requirements.
- Review issuer rules - Check for application restrictions and see if you can pre-qualify without a hard inquiry.
Application Strategy
- Use pre-qualification tools - Check your odds without impacting your credit score.
- Look for targeted offers - You may find better welcome offers through different channels.
- Call the reconsideration line - A quick call can sometimes overturn an initial denial.
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
How do I choose between a travel card and a cash back card?
Your choice should align with your lifestyle and financial goals. Consider whether you value airline-specific benefits and travel perks more, or if you prefer the straightforward flexibility of earning rewards on everyday spending categories.
Can I have both the United Explorer Card and the Capital One SavorOne Card?
Yes, many people hold multiple credit cards from different issuers to maximize their rewards. This strategy allows you to use the best card for each type of purchase, such as flights or dining.
What type of rewards do these cards offer?
The United Explorer Card is designed to earn miles for flights and travel benefits with the airline. The Capital One SavorOne Card focuses on earning rewards for spending on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
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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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