United Explorer Card vs United Quest Card
A side-by-side breakdown of fees, welcome offers, earning rates and travel perks — so you can see which card is worth it for how you actually spend.
| Annual fee | $0 first year, then $150 | $350 |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months |
| Rewards rate | 7X on United purchases; 5X on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels; 2X on dining; 2X on hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel; 1X on all other purchases. Earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for every $20 spent on purchases, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year. | 8X on United purchases; 3X on dining, select streaming, and other travel; 2X on all other purchases. |
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| Card network | — | Visa |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (670–850) | Good to Excellent (670–850) |
United Explorer Card
United Quest Card
Common questions
Is the United Explorer Card or United Quest Card better?
United Explorer Card suits united flights, while United Quest Card is stronger for united flyers. The United Explorer Card carries a $0 first year, then $150 annual fee versus $350 for the United Quest Card, so the right pick depends on how much of each card's credits you'll actually use.
What is the annual fee on each card?
The United Explorer Card has a $0 first year, then $150 annual fee. The United Quest Card has a $350 annual fee. Weigh that against each card's annual credits — a higher fee often nets out lower once you use the travel and dining credits.