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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 United Explorer

Chase

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier

Annual fee
$149
Network
visa
Welcome value
~$550
Min spend
$1,500 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 3×Southwest Airlines purchases
  • 3×Qualifying Lyft products and services
  • 2×Grocery stores and restaurants
  • 1×All other purchases

Key benefits

  • First checked bag free · $140
  • DoorDash non-restaurant quarterly discount · $10
  • Monthly Instacart credit · $10
  • Group 5 boarding benefit · $0
  • Extended Warranty · $0
Full Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier 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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