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Side-by-side

Mastercard Black Card vs United Business Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Mastercard Black Card comes from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr; the United Business 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 Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Black Card's. Get the United Business Card first; revisit the Mastercard Black Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureMastercard Black CardUnited Business Card
Annual fee$699$150
Sign-up bonusNo public welcome offer100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Bonus value (est.)$0$1,500
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$5,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBarclays (Luxury Card)Chase
Card categorytravelbusiness
Best earning category (Luxury_card_travel)2x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • $200 airline credit
  • $100 dining credit
  • Priority Pass Select
  • 1.5cpp cash back, 2cpp airfare
  • $125 credit after 5 UA flights $100+
  • $50 hotel credit 2x/year
  • Free checked bag (you + 1)
  • 2 United Club passes/yr
Read the full review
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Read the full review
United Business Card
$150/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP

Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card

The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.

Editorial take: United Business Card

Strong United business card. The free checked bag for two travelers, two club passes, and the under-the-radar $50/twice-per-year hotel credit help cover the $150 AF for any United-leaning small business. The 100k + 2,000 PQP bonus is the sweetener. Post-2025 refresh swapped the old $100/$10k-spend credit for a $125 travel credit unlocked by 5 United flight purchases of $100+.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Mastercard Black Card or United Business Card?
The United Business Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
Is the Mastercard Black Card's $699 annual fee worth it compared to the United Business Card?
Premium cards like the Mastercard Black Card ($699/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $699+ of those credits, the math works. The United Business Card at $150/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
Can I have both the Mastercard Black Card and United Business Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Barclays (Luxury Card) 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 Mastercard Black Card or the United Business Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Mastercard Black Card: $0 spend in 0 months. United Business Card: $5,000 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.