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Side-by-side

Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard vs United Gateway Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard comes from Capital One at $0/yr; the United Gateway Card from Chase at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

FeatureCapital One Platinum Secured MastercardUnited Gateway Card
Annual fee$0$0
Sign-up bonusNot advertised30,000 miles
Bonus value (est.)-$390
Min spend to unlock bonus-$1,000 in 3 mo
IssuerCapital OneChase
Card categorysecuredtravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)0x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
    • 2x on United + transit + gas
    • No annual fee
    • No foreign tx fees
    • 25% inflight rebate
    Read the full review
    Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard
    $0/yr ·
    Read the full review
    United Gateway Card
    $0/yr · 30,000 miles

    Editorial take: Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard

    Editorial take: United Gateway Card

    The no-fee United card. Doesn't include free bags (that starts with the Explorer), so it's really only worth it for credit-building purposes.

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard or United Gateway Card?
    The United Gateway Card has a public bonus (30,000 miles, worth roughly $390), while the Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard doesn't advertise one right now.
    Is the Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the United Gateway Card?
    The Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Gateway Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Gateway Card's benefits to clear $0 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard.
    Can I have both the Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard and United Gateway Card?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One 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 Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard or the United Gateway Card first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard: no published min spend. United Gateway Card: $1,000 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.