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Side-by-side

Mastercard Gold Card vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Mastercard Gold Card comes from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/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 Mastercard Gold Card's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the Mastercard Gold Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureMastercard Gold CardUnited Explorer Card
Annual fee$1199$150
Sign-up bonusNo public welcome offer70,000 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
IssuerBarclays (Luxury Card)Chase
Card categorytravelairline
Best earning category (Luxury_card_travel)2x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • $300 airline credit
  • $200 dining credit
  • $120 Global Entry credit
  • 2cpp cash back or airfare
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
Mastercard Gold Card
$1199/yr · No public welcome offer
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

Editorial take: Mastercard Gold Card

The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.

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, Mastercard Gold Card or United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Gold Card.
Is the Mastercard Gold Card's $1199 annual fee worth it compared to the United Explorer Card?
Premium cards like the Mastercard Gold Card ($1199/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $1199+ 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 Mastercard Gold Card and United Explorer 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 Gold Card or the United Explorer Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Mastercard Gold Card: $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.