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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards PremierBigger welcome offer: Chase United Explorer

Chase

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

Annual fee
$149
Network
visa
Welcome value
$700
Min spend
$1,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 3×Southwest purchases · Southwest Rapid Rewards
  • 2×Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental bookings · Southwest Rapid Rewards
  • 2×local transit and commuting, including rideshares · Southwest Rapid Rewards
  • 2×select streaming services · Southwest Rapid Rewards

Key benefits

  • 2X Grocery and Dining · $240
  • 1X Base Earning Rate · $210
  • First Checked Bag Free · $140
  • 3X Southwest Purchases · $135
  • Companion Pass Points Boost · $100
Full Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier 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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