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Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card comes from Barclays at $75/yr; the United Explorer Card from Chase at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the United Explorer Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($590 more in estimated value) than the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureWyndham Rewards Earner Plus CardUnited Explorer Card
Annual fee$75$150
Sign-up bonus45,000 points50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Bonus value (est.)$450$1,040
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 3 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBarclaysChase
Card categoryhotelairline
Best earning category (Wyndham)6x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • 7,500 anniversary points
  • Platinum status
  • Vacasa redemptions
  • 4x gas + groceries
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
$75/yr · 45,000 points
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

Editorial take: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

Underrated card for Vacasa rentals and Caesars properties (which take Wyndham points). The 7,500 anniversary points alone (~$75 in value) make the fee a wash; Platinum status adds late checkout and 15% bonus.

Editorial take: United Explorer Card

Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card or United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, versus 45,000 points (~$450) on the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card.
Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card's $75 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
At $75/yr, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the United Explorer Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card and United Explorer Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Barclays and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card or the United Explorer Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card: $1,000 spend in 3 months. United Explorer Card: $3,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.