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United Explorer vs United Gateway: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United℠ Explorer Card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers looking to maximize travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
- The United Gateway℠ Card is a great entry-level option for occasional United flyers who want to earn miles without an annual fee.
United Explorer Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons we think the United℠ Explorer Card is a strong choice for many travelers.
- It provides significant value for United loyalists with perks like a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and two annual United Club℠ passes.
- Cardholders receive robust travel and purchase protections, including primary auto rental coverage, which is a standout feature for a mid-tier card.
- The free checked bag benefit for the cardholder and a companion can offset the annual fee with just a single round-trip flight (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Enhanced travel experience on United with card benefits like priority boarding, a free first checked bag, and discounts on inflight purchases.
- Valuable travel credits and protections, including a statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry and primary auto rental insurance.
- Flexible rewards program that allows you to earn extra miles on travel and dining, with redemptions available on United and its many Star Alliance partners.
Cons
- The card’s value is significantly diminished for travelers who aren’t loyal to United Airlines, as most benefits are airline-specific.
- Earning rates on general, non-bonus category purchases are lower than what many competing travel cards offer.
- Key travel perks, such as the United Club℠ passes, are limited and less generous than those found on premium travel cards.
United Gateway Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a quick look at what makes the United Gateway℠ Card a solid choice.
- It provides a no-annual-fee entry point into the United MileagePlus program, making it ideal for beginners or occasional flyers.
- You still get valuable travel perks like no foreign transaction fees and trip interruption coverage, which are often reserved for cards with annual fees.
- Since the card has no annual fee, any rewards you earn immediately provide positive value. (publisher-formulated estimate)
Pros
- A valuable welcome bonus helps you quickly build your MileagePlus balance.
- An introductory APR offer on purchases provides flexibility for paying off large buys over time.
- Includes a solid package of travel and purchase protections, such as an auto rental collision damage waiver and extended warranty.
Cons
- You won’t get premium travel perks like free checked bags or priority boarding.
- The welcome bonus is less generous than what you’d find on other United cards.
- Bonus rewards are limited to a narrow set of spending categories.
United Gateway vs United Explorer
Categories
Deciding which is better, the United Explorer or United Gateway, depends entirely on your travel habits and financial goals. Each card caters to a different type of United Airlines flyer.
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card is designed for frequent United Airlines travelers who will use the card's travel perks, like free checked bags and priority boarding, enough to justify the annual fee.
- United Gateway℠ Card: As a no-annual-fee option, this card is best suited for occasional United flyers, credit card beginners, or budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles on their spending.
Redemption
United℠ Explorer Card: Miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, and other travel-related purchases through the United MileagePlus program, offering a wide range of options for cardholders.
United Gateway℠ Card: Rewards earned with this card are also redeemed through the MileagePlus program, primarily for United flights, making it a straightforward way to save on future airfare.
Travel Perks
- Foreign Transaction Fees: The United℠ Explorer Card is the clear winner for international travel, as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. In contrast, the United Gateway℠ Card does have a fee for transactions made abroad.
- Lounge Access: With the United℠ Explorer Card, you'll receive two one-time passes to the United Club℠ each year, a perk not offered with the United Gateway℠ Card.
- Baggage and Boarding: A key advantage of the United℠ Explorer Card is a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation, along with priority boarding privileges. These benefits are not included with the United Gateway℠ Card.
- Trusted Traveler Programs: The United℠ Explorer Card offers a statement credit for the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. This credit is not available with the United Gateway℠ Card.
- Inflight Purchases: Both cards provide a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For a data-driven approach to finding your next card, tools like Kudos allow you to compare top-rated cards side-by-side based on your own spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: The platform’s 'Test Drive' feature lets you simulate potential earnings on a new card using your actual spending data, all before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
- Personalized recommendations and approval odds: Get card suggestions based on your spending history and see a detailed analysis of your approval chances for various cards.
- Exclusive offers and guarantees: Members can access special offers, a welcome offer guarantee, and earn extra rewards on top of their card rewards through the Kudos Boost program.
- All-in-one management: Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your card perks and benefits in a single platform.
Who Should Choose the United Explorer?
The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent choice for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize perks like a free first checked bag and priority boarding. It also appeals to travelers seeking convenience, offering a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and no foreign transaction fees for international trips. Ultimately, this card is ideal for budget-conscious travelers loyal to United who want to elevate their travel experience and earn miles without committing to a premium annual fee.
Who Should Choose the United Gateway?
The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for occasional United Airlines flyers who want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee. It's also well-suited for credit card beginners and budget-conscious travelers, serving as a great entry-level option for earning rewards on everyday spending and avoiding foreign transaction fees abroad. For those already in the Chase ecosystem, this card provides a simple way to start accumulating MileagePlus miles before potentially upgrading to a more premium United card.
Alternatives to Consider
If you've weighed the United Explorer vs. United Gateway comparison and decided neither is for you, don't fret. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most airline cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Plan your spending – Make sure you can meet any welcome offer spending requirements with your normal purchases.
- Review benefit rules – Some perks require you to use the card for the purchase or enroll in advance.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer's rules – Some banks have restrictions on how many new accounts you can open.
- Match the card to your travel habits – Some cards offer premium perks like priority boarding, while others focus on earning miles for occasional travel.
- Look beyond the welcome offer – Evaluate long-term benefits like lounge access or elite status shortcuts to ensure the card provides value year after year.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have both the United Explorer and United Gateway cards?
Yes, it is possible to hold both the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Gateway℠ Card simultaneously. This allows you to combine the benefits of both, such as the Explorer Card's travel perks and the Gateway Card's lack of an annual fee.
Does the free checked bag benefit on the Explorer Card apply to Basic Economy fares?
Yes, the first free checked bag benefit for the primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation applies even on United Basic Economy tickets. To receive this perk, you must purchase your flight with your United℠ Explorer Card.
Can I upgrade from the United Gateway Card to the United Explorer Card?
Chase often allows cardmembers to request a product change from the United Gateway℠ Card to the United℠ Explorer Card, typically after your account has been open for at least one year. You can check for upgrade offers by calling the number on the back of your card or through your online account.
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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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