Travel & Tourism

Which United credit card is right for you? Comparing the Explorer, Quest, Club and Business cards

Not sure which United credit card to get? Compare the Explorer, Quest, Club and Business cards to find the best fit for your travel style.

AAdmin
August 13, 2026
3 min read
Which United credit card is right for you? Comparing the Explorer, Quest, Club and Business cards

Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. If you've flown United , you've probably wondered whether you're leaving value on the table by not carrying one of the airline's cobranded credit cards. And after United's MileagePlus changes earlier this year , the answer is more likely than ever to be yes (more on that below).

As a United cardholder myself, I've seen that value increase firsthand: I now earn 20% more miles on United flights than I did before the changes .

But with several different United cards offering different combinations of perks, figuring out which one is right for you isn't always straightforward.

United offers a range of airline cards with varying perks, from a straightforward personal option for occasional flyers to premium personal and business cards for travelers seeking lounge access and elite status . Choosing the right card comes down to how often you fly United, which perks you'll actually use and whether those benefits justify the annual fee.

Here's how the United consumer and business cards compare — and how to decide which one is the best fit for your wallet.

Here's a quick look at each United credit card's annual fee and current welcome offer:

United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees ) $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening. United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees ) $350 Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening. United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees ) $695 Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening. United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees ) $150 Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQPs: Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQPs after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after you add an employee card to your account in the first three months from account opening. United Explorer Card Best for : Occasional United flyers who want the core travel perks without a premium price tag

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

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