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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

Chase Sapphire Preferred 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 United Explorer

Chase

Sapphire Preferred

Annual fee
$95
Network
visa
Welcome value
~$1,538
Min spend
$5,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 5×Chase Travel purchases · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 5×Peloton equipment and accessory purchases · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 5×Lyft products and services · Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3×Online groceries · Chase Ultimate Rewards

Key benefits

  • Complimentary Apple TV · $156
  • Complimentary DashPass Membership · $120
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit · $120
  • $100 Chase Travel Hotel Credit · $100
  • Monthly DoorDash Non-Restaurant Promo · $10
Full Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee
$0
Network
visa
Welcome value
Min spend
$3,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 2×Travel · United MileagePlus
  • 2×Dining · United MileagePlus
  • 2×Hotel · United MileagePlus
  • 1×All_other_purchases · United MileagePlus

Key benefits

  • Free first checked bag · $200
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit · $120
  • $100 United travel credit (Spend Tier) · $100
  • JSX statement credit · $100
  • United Hotels credits · $100
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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