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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs United Club Infinite: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This is an ideal entry-level card for travelers looking to earn flexible rewards on travel, dining, and select online spending.
- The United Club℠ Card: This premium card is best for frequent United Airlines flyers who want comprehensive benefits like airport lounge access and elite travel perks.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a quick look at why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
The card offers strong rewards rates across popular spending categories like travel, dining, and online groceries.
It comes packed with valuable travel protections and perks, including a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription and no foreign transaction fees.
The $95 annual fee is easily offset; after using the $50 annual hotel credit, you only need to spend $1,500 on dining annually to break even on the remaining cost (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
The card features a flexible rewards program with valuable redemption options, including point transfers to popular airline and hotel partners.
It offers comprehensive travel protections, such as trip cancellation insurance and a primary auto rental collision damage waiver.
As a Visa card with no foreign transaction fees, it is widely accepted for international travel.
Cons
The card comes with an annual fee, which may not be worthwhile for infrequent travelers or those who don’t take full advantage of its benefits.
It lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access, which are available with more expensive travel cards.
Strict application rules can make it difficult to qualify, and its rewards are less valuable if you’re not redeeming them for travel.
United Club℠ Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This card is a top-tier choice for frequent United flyers, and here’s a closer look at why.
It offers a suite of premium travel perks, including complimentary United Club access and free checked bags for you and a companion.
You'll earn an accelerated 4x miles on United purchases and 2x miles on all other travel and dining, making it a strong earner for travelers.
The complimentary United Club membership, valued at up to $650 annually, nearly covers the card's annual fee on its own (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
Enjoy a more comfortable airport experience with complimentary United Club℠ lounge access, free checked bags for you and a companion, and priority services like check-in, security, and boarding.
Accelerate your mileage balance with a generous welcome bonus and high earning rates on United purchases, plus all other travel and dining.
Benefit from a suite of valuable travel protections and credits, including a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and complimentary Avis President's Club status.
Cons
A significant annual fee makes this card a costly option for travelers who don't fly United frequently.
The card’s benefits are heavily skewed toward United loyalists, making it less valuable if you prefer to fly with a variety of airlines.
It lacks some features common to other premium cards, such as an introductory APR offer and broad bonus categories for everyday spending.
United Club℠ vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Categories
When deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or United Club Infinite, it's crucial to look at your travel habits and what you value most in a credit card.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is an excellent entry-level option for frequent travelers who want strong travel rewards and protections without a premium annual fee. It's also considered a top choice for those new to the world of travel rewards cards.
- The United Club℠ Card: This top-tier card is built for United Airlines loyalists. It's best for frequent flyers who can maximize United-specific benefits, such as airport lounge access and other travel perks with the airline.
Redemption
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to transfer points to various airline and hotel partners or book travel directly through the Chase travel portal.
The United Club℠ Card: Rewards from this card are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, making them best for booking United flights, getting upgrades, and accessing other airline-specific perks.
Travel Perks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card provides access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal for flexible bookings. While it doesn't offer airport lounge membership, it does come with an annual hotel credit and has no foreign transaction fees.
- The United Club℠ Card: The standout feature is the complimentary United Club membership, granting access to United and select partner lounges. It also eliminates foreign transaction fees and offers valuable perks for United flyers, such as free checked bags for the primary cardmember and a companion.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos, which helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your personal spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: The platform’s Test Drive feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Personalized recommendations: Get card suggestions based on your actual spending history, not generic advice.
- Approval odds analysis: Kudos provides a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
- Incentives for joining: New members can earn rewards like a $20 bonus with a promo code or a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding eligible cards to their Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers seeking to maximize rewards without paying a premium annual fee, making it a top 'entry-level' travel card. It's particularly well-suited for those who value robust travel protections, flexible point redemption, and perks like hotel credits. Ideal users will leverage the card for booking travel, dining out, and online grocery shopping to maximize points, as detailed in our full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Review.
Who Should Choose the United Club℠?
The United Club℠ Card is tailor-made for loyal United Airlines travelers who fly several times a year and prioritize comfort and convenience. Its main draw is the complimentary United Club membership, which provides a quiet space to relax or work while waiting for a flight. As detailed in a full card review, it also appeals to business travelers and status chasers who can leverage perks like free checked bags, priority airport services, and the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) through spending.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card comparison has you concluding that neither is the right choice, don't fret. The travel rewards landscape is full of other cards that might be a better fit for your wallet.
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Tips for Application Success
Getting approved for a top-tier travel card requires a bit of strategy. Here are our top tips to improve your chances.
- Check your credit score: Most premium travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, require a good to excellent credit score. For top-tier cards such as The United Club℠ Card, you'll likely need an excellent score.
- Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of specific application guidelines, such as Chase's 5/24 rule. If you've opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the last 24 months, your application for a Chase card will likely be denied.
- Plan your spending: Many cards offer a substantial welcome bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. Ensure you can meet this threshold naturally without overspending.
- Time your application: If you have a large purchase on the horizon—like a vacation, home renovation, or new furniture—applying beforehand can make it much easier to meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the annual fees for the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. the United Club Infinite?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a moderate annual fee, while the United Club℠ Infinite Card has a premium annual fee that includes the cost of a United Club℠ membership.
What is the main difference in rewards between these two cards?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on broad categories like travel and dining. The United Club℠ Infinite Card is designed for loyal United flyers, earning MileagePlus® miles and offering elite travel perks with the airline.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offer airport lounge access?
No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not include complimentary airport lounge access. The United Club℠ Infinite Card, however, provides a full United Club℠ membership as one of its primary benefits.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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