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Side-by-side

United Club Business Card vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The United Club Business Card comes from Chase at $695/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 Club Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($639 more in estimated value) than the United Explorer Card's. Get the United Club Business Card first; revisit the United Explorer Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureUnited Club Business CardUnited Explorer Card
Annual fee$695$150
Sign-up bonus100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Bonus value (est.)$1,500$861
Min spend to unlock bonus$5,000 in 3 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerChaseChase
Card categorybusinessairline
Best earning category (Renowned_hotels_chase_travel)5x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • United Club membership
  • 1.5x catch-all (highest)
  • Premier Access
  • Free 2 checked bags
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
United Club Business Card
$695/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

Editorial take: United Club Business Card

Pure United Club access card. Cash equivalent of the lounge membership is $750+/year, so the $695 fee makes sense if you're at United hubs frequently. The 1.5x base earning is the highest catch-all rate among premium business cards.

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, United Club Business Card or United Explorer Card?
The United Club Business Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500, versus 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus (~$861) on the United Explorer Card.
Is the United Club Business Card's $695 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
Premium cards like the United Club Business Card ($695/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $695+ of those credits, the math works. The United Explorer Card at $150/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
Can I have both the United Club Business Card and United Explorer Card?
Yes, though both are issued by Chase so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). 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 United Club Business Card or the United Explorer Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. United Club Business Card: $5,000 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.