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United Explorer Card vs United Quest Card

At our sample profile ($31,100/yr spend, only “easy” credits counted), the United Explorer Card comes to $1,373 in the first year and $348 a year after that; the United Quest Card comes to $1,358 and $358. Annual fees are $150 and $350, against $460 and $860 a year in stated credits. Figures from the issuers’ pages, checked October 23, 2026; your spending will change the result.

Data checked by Chris Manns · Last updated October 23, 2026

	United℠ Explorer Card	United Quest℠ Card
Issuer	Chase	Chase
Annual fee	$150 ($0 yr 1)	$350
Welcome bonus	70,000 miles≈ $875after $3,000 in 3 months	80,000 miles≈ $1,000after $4,000 in 3 months
Rewards currency	United MileagePlus	United MileagePlus
Value per point	~1.25¢ each, median of 6 published valuations	~1.25¢ each, median of 6 published valuations
Earning	3x United only Flights (booked with the airline) 2x Hotels (booked with the hotel) 2x Dining & takeout 1x everything else	4x United only Flights (booked with the airline) 2x Flights (booked with the airline), Hotels (booked with the hotel), Other travel 2x Dining & takeout 1x everything else
Fee vs stated credits	$150 ($0 yr 1) vs $460+stated credits a year (face value) · + $100 if you hit a spend threshold	$350 vs $860stated credits a year (face value)
Yearly cost after year 1	$120fee − $30 of “easy” credits (our default)	$150fee − $200 of “easy” credits (our default)
Year 2+ value*	$348 each year after the first, after the annual fee	$358 each year after the first, after the annual fee
First-year value*	$1,373	$1,358
Credits & perks	United Hotels credit niche $100/yr · $50 on each of the 1st and 2nd prepaid stays, each anniversary year Rideshare credits niche $60/yr · up to $5/mo Avis / Budget United TravelBank cash niche $50/yr · $25 on each of the 1st and 2nd rentals, each anniversary year Instacart credits niche $120/yr · $10/mo JSX flight credit niche $100/yr · up to $100 each anniversary year United TravelBank cash after $10,000 spend niche $100/yr · $100 once per calendar year Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS application fee credit easy $120 every 4 yrs ≈ $30/yr · up to $120 once every 4 years	United TravelBank cash easy $200/yr · $200 after account opening and each account anniversary Renowned Hotels and Resorts credit niche $150/yr · up to $150 each anniversary year Rideshare credits niche $100/yr · $8/mo Jan–Nov + $12 in Dec Avis / Budget United TravelBank cash niche $80/yr · $40 on each of the 1st and 2nd rentals, each anniversary year Instacart credits niche $180/yr · one $10 + one $5 credit each month JSX flight credit niche $150/yr · up to $150 each anniversary year
Perks (no $ unless the issuer states one)	Free first checked bag for you and one companion (United: “save up to $200 per roundtrip”) 2 United Club one-time passes per year ($100/yr issuer-stated) Group 2 priority boarding (Chase: “a value of $48 per person per roundtrip”) 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 spend in a calendar year 25% back on United inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi	Free first and second checked bags for you and one companion (United: “save up to $440 per roundtrip”) Group 2 priority boarding (Chase: “a value of $48 per person per roundtrip”) 10,000-mile award flight discount each anniversary 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) each year 2 Economy Plus seat upgrades after $40,000 spend in a calendar year
Source	Issuer page	Issuer page

Face value isn’t real value: a credit only saves you money if you’d have spent it anyway. *Year 2+ and first-year values use our sample profile and default credit ticks. Add a third card · How we calculate

United Explorer Card vs United Quest Card: quick answers

Which has the bigger welcome bonus, United Explorer Card vs United Quest Card?

The United Quest Card has the bigger headline bonus in dollars: 70,000 miles (≈$875) vs 80,000 miles (≈$1,000), at median published point values, checked October 23, 2026.

Which has the lower annual fee?

The United Explorer Card: $150 vs $350 a year.

Which costs less after year 1, once credits are counted?

Yearly cost after year 1 (annual fee minus the easy credits we count by default): United Explorer Card $120, United Quest Card $150. Tick the credits you’d really use on each card page to get your own figure.