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Side-by-side

Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) comes from Bilt / Wells Fargo at $0/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 ($1,040 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)'s. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)United Explorer Card
Annual fee$0$150
Sign-up bonusClosed to new applicants50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Bonus value (est.)$0$1,040
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBilt / Wells FargoChase
Card categorytravelairline
Best earning category (Dining)3x2x
Transfer partnersbiltNone
Headline benefits
  • Closed to new applicants (Wells Fargo)
  • Existing cards being migrated
  • Apply for Bilt 2.0 (Cardless) instead
  • 100k pt/yr rent cap (legacy)
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)
$0/yr · Closed to new applicants
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

Editorial take: Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)

Closed to new applicants. Bilt launched its 2.0 portfolio (Blue / Obsidian / Palladium) on February 7, 2026 with Cardless as the new issuer. Existing Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard holders are being migrated; new applicants should apply for one of the Bilt 2.0 tiers via biltrewards.com.

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, Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) or United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 50,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, versus Closed to new applicants (~$0) on the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo).
Is the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)'s $0 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
The Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Explorer Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Explorer Card's benefits to clear $150 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo).
Can I have both the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) and United Explorer Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bilt / Wells Fargo 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 Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) or the United Explorer Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo): $0 spend in 0 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.