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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

Chase Freedom Flex Chase United Explorer

Annual fee, welcome offer, top earning categories, and key benefits — compared side-by-side using Perqt's catalog data.

Lower annual fee: Chase Freedom FlexBigger welcome offer: Chase United Explorer

Chase

Freedom Flex

Annual fee
$0
Network
mastercard
Welcome value
$200
Min spend
$500 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 5×rotating quarterly categories · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 5×travel · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3×dining · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3×drugstores · Chase Ultimate Rewards

Key benefits

  • 5% Quarterly Rotating Categories · $300
  • 1% Base Cash Back Rate · $163
  • 5% on Chase Travel purchases · $150
  • 3% on Dining · $108
  • No Minimum Rewards Redemption · $25
Full Chase Freedom Flex review

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee
$150
Network
visa
Welcome value
$720
Min spend
$3,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 2×United purchases · United MileagePlus
  • 2×dining · United MileagePlus
  • 2×hotels · United MileagePlus
  • 1×all other purchases · United MileagePlus

Key benefits

  • Free First Checked Bag · $140
  • United Club Passes · $118
  • Primary Auto Rental CDW · $100
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Fee Credit · $100
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance · $50
Full Chase United Explorer review

Wondering which one is right for your wallet?

Spec sheets can't tell you which card actually earns more for the way you spend. Perqt connects to your wallet, runs the math against your real transactions, and tells you which of these two — or another card entirely — gives you the biggest annual uplift.

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