United Explorer vs. Capital One Venture: It Depends on Your Loyalty
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
One clear factor separates the United℠ Explorer Card from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: flexibility.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a general travel rewards card that allows you to earn double miles on most purchases and then redeem those miles across a multitude of airlines. While the United℠ Explorer Card earns 2X miles per dollar on a few spending categories, its earnings-power pales in comparison to the 2X you'll earn on every single purchase with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Of course, there are other factors at play, too. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a bigger sign-up bonus but also a larger spending requirement. Both cards have similar annual fees, but the United℠ Explorer Card’s annual fee is waived the first year. Each card has an array of different perks, as well. Most significantly, the United℠ Explorer Card offers a free checked bag for you and a companion. Both cards offer two one-time-use passes to qualifying airport lounges each year.
If you primarily fly United, then the United℠ Explorer Card may be the right one for you. If you fly on many different airlines, then the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the better fit. But there's nothing that says you can't have both.
At a glance
The United℠ Explorer Card offers double miles on United purchases, restaurant purchases and hotel accommodations purchased directly from the hotel, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. By comparison, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers double miles on all purchases, which makes it a more general and flexible card.
Likewise, United miles are most valuable when you redeem them for flights and upgrades. Miles earned with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, on the other hand, can be used to book travel on any airline or hotel through Capital One.
on Chase's website
$0 intro for the first year, then $95.
$95.
Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases through United.
2 miles per dollar spent on dining, including eligible delivery services
2 miles per dollar spent on eligible hotel stays.
1 mile per dollar spent elsewhere.
5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on everything else.
First bag for you and a companion on the same reservation are checked free.
Two United Club one-time passes each year.
Priority boarding.
25% back on in-flight purchases with United.
Two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges.
Multiple travel transfer partners.
None.
None.
Up to $120 every four years.
Up to $120 every four years.
Why the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is better for most people
Flexibility
Flexibility carries a lot of value for those who tend to fly multiple airlines, which is why the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card edges out the United℠ Explorer Card for most people. Cardholders aren’t restricted when it comes to earning double miles or redeeming their miles for travel.
Miles earned from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card have become even more flexible in recent years, because they can now also be transferred directly to a host of travel partners. If you're a maximizer looking to juice more value out of your miles, you can often find outsized value for your miles by taking advantage of a partner transfer. However, United is not one of them.
High rewards rate
Earning double miles for all purchases puts the card at the top of its class; it also negates the need to juggle different spending categories or opt into rotating categories quarterly.
Large sign-up bonus
Cardholders have a good chance of earning a sizable reward. Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Who might prefer the United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card comes with some benefits that the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card doesn’t have, and those are especially valuable to those who frequently fly United. Those perks include the free checked bag for you and a companion on your reservation, plus 25% back on in-flight purchases.
The bottom line
If you fly United most of the time, then the United℠ Explorer Card will benefit you the most in terms of rewards, redemption options and extra perks. If you fly different airlines, then the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the right pick for you because of its flexibility and high rewards rate. Of course, if you fly a lot, both on United and other airlines, then you might want to carry both cards.
United℠ Explorer Card
Travel
Get valuable perks like free checked bag, lounge passes and rental car insurance for a fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. Limited time offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
