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.
Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.
Both are well-respected travel cards. The United Explorer Card comes from Chase at $150/yr; the U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature from U.S. Bank at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
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 U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | United Explorer Card | U.S. Bank Business Leverage Visa Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus | 75,000 bonus points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,040 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $7,500 in 4 mo |
| Issuer | Chase | U.S. Bank |
| Card category | airline | business |
| Best earning category (United) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
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.
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.