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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

Chase Sapphire Reserve 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 ExplorerBigger welcome offer: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase

Sapphire Reserve

Annual fee
$795
Network
visa
Welcome value
$1,500
Min spend
$6,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 10×hotels · Ultimate Rewards
  • 10×car rentals · Ultimate Rewards
  • 5×flights · Ultimate Rewards
  • 3×travel · Ultimate Rewards

Key benefits

  • The Edit Property Benefits · $550
  • The Edit Statement Credit · $500
  • Annual Travel Credit · $300
  • Chase Travel Hotels Credit · $250
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status · $200
Full Chase Sapphire Reserve 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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