Find Your Best
United Gateway Card
vs. United Explorer Card
DC
BH
DC
BH
Updated: March 19, 2024
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The United Gateway Card offers great value to the United traveler looking for a starter travel card with no annual fees and the opportunity to earn reward miles on flights and everyday spending. With the United Gateway, you can earn two miles per dollar on United purchases, gas station and local commute expenses. In comparison, the United Explorer Card rewards are geared towards travel expenses with rewards of two miles per dollar on United purchases, hotel stays and dining. The United Explorer also offers convenient travel perks like lounge access and free checked bags which are enough to make up for the modest $95 annual fee.
Comparison Overview: United Gateway Card vs. United Explorer Card
- United Gateway CardUnited Explorer Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
United Gateway Card At a Glance
The United Gateway lets you earn miles on everyday spending. You will earn two miles per dollar on United purchases, gas station purchases and local commuting expenses. You will also earn one mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. This card has no annual fee making it a great card for those who do not fly frequently. This card also comes with perks like purchase protection, 25% back on United in-flight purchases and no foreign transaction fees.
- United Gateway Card
A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
- 1 Mile per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.99% - 28.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No annual fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- No blackout dates for redeeming miles
- 25% cash back on United in-flight purchases
- Travel and purchase cover
- Use for balance transfers
Cons
- Penalty APR may apply if you make a late payment
- High balance transfer and cash advance fees
- Earn 20,000 bonus miles
- No annual fee
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
- Member FDIC
United Explorer Card At a Glance
The United Explorer Card has a modest $95 annual fee but offers plenty of travel perks including free checked first bag, priority boarding and 25% off on United inflight purchases. With this card, you can easily rack up miles on all your travel-related expenses since you get two miles per dollar spent on United purchases, as well as dining and hotel accommodation purchases. The United Explorer also offers trip delay and cancellation protection, as well as Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection benefits.
- United Explorer Card
A good miles-earning rewards credit card with some perks and no foreign transaction fees
- 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.99% - 28.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No transaction fees
- Earn miles
- Travel perks
- Welcome bonuses
- Intro annual fee
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- High APR
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Member FDIC
Comparison Summary
You can compare United Gateway Card and United Explorer Card features and benefits to see which card is best for you.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | The United Explorer Card and the United Gateway Card will both reimburse you up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip if your trip is canceled due to covered situations like bad weather. Both cards also offer purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft, but the United Gateway per claim limit is $500 per claim while the United Explorer cap is $10,000 per claim. Winner: United Explorer Card |
Welcome Bonus | With the United Gateway Card, you can earn 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months while the United Explorer Card offers 60,000 reward miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. Winner: United Explorer Card |
Rewards | The United Gateway offers a reward rate of two miles per dollar on United purchases, gas station purchases and local commute expenses including trains, tolls, cabs and rideshare services. You also get one mile per dollar on all eligible purchases. The United Explorer rewards you at a rate of two miles per dollar on all United purchases, dining and hotel accommodation purchases and one mile per dollar for all other eligible purchases. Winner: Draw |
Annual Fee | The United Gateway card has no annual fee while the United Explorer has a $95 annual fee which is waived for the first year of membership. Winner: United Gateway Card |
Loyalty Programs | Both the United Gateway Card and the United Explorer Card earn you MileagePlus miles that can be redeemed for gateways, unique experiences and more. However, only the United Explorer allows you to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) for every $12,000 in net purchases that can be applied to earning elite status with United. Winner: United Explorer Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
To get the most value from your travel card, it’s important to compare the United Gateway Card and the United Explorer Card based on your spending habits.
Who Should Consider the United Gateway Card?
The United Gateway Card is a solid card for those who travel infrequently, but still want to rack up reward miles on everyday spending. This card is better than the United Explorer if you spend more on everyday purchases, but do not have many travel-related expenses.
You’re looking for a starter travel card with no annual fees that still offers you opportunities to earn reward miles on your everyday purchases such as gas and local commute expenses like cab and rideshare expenses.
You want to earn miles for award flights but do not necessarily need a card with premium United perks like priority boarding or lounge access.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card offers plenty of rewards and perks at a modest annual fee. This card is better than the United Gateway Explorer in terms of travel perks like priority boarding, club access and a free checked bag
You are a United traveler looking for rewards and access to perks without a large annual fee.
You have frequent travel expenses like hotel accommodation and dining. This card earns you two miles per dollar on these categories so it will suit you best if you spend a lot on travel expenses.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
In this comparison, the United Explorer Card is hands down the better choice for several reasons. Mainly, the welcome offer is significantly better, and saving on checked bag fees makes the United Explorer card the clear winner. However, it’s important to select a card based on immediate future travel plans as United miles do expire.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
If you would like to find out more about the United Explorer Card and the United Gateway Card, here are some answers to commonly asked questions.
The United Gateway Card is better than the United Explorer Card if you do not travel frequently and want to earn reward miles on everyday purchases like gas and local travel expenses. The United Gateway also has no annual fee so it may be a better choice if you want a value travel card although the travel perks are limited.
Yes, you can get the United Gateway Card if you have the United Explorer Card. However, If you have opened more than five personal credit cards in the past two years, you will not be approved for either of these cards due to Chase’s 5/24 rule.
There is no need to transfer points as all United points earned will all go to the same United MileagePlus account.
Yes, you can switch from the United Gateway Card to the United Explorer Card explorer. Although the United Explorer has a modest annual fee, it will offer you more travel perks compared to the United Gateway card including lounge access, priority boarding and a free checked bag.
Both the United Explorer Card and the United Gateway Card require a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher for approval so the qualification requirements for either of these Chase cards are the same.
You need to spend $1,000 in the first three months to get the 20,000 bonus miles on the United Gateway Card while the United Explorer Card requires you to spend $3,000 in the first three months to qualify for the 60,000 reward miles.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
The United Gateway Card is ideal for those who do not travel frequently but want to earn reward miles on both everyday spending and flights. However, with limited travel perks, the United Gateway may not offer much value to United travelers looking to enjoy perks like priority boarding. The United Explorer on the other hand offers premium perks at a modest annual fee and generous rewards on travel-related expenses like hotel stays. If you are not sure which of these cards suits you best you can also look up MoneyGeek’s recommendations for the best travel cards.
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
sources
- Chase.com. "United Gateway Credit Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
- Chase.com. "United Explorer Credit Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.