Apple Card vs United℠ Explorer
Side-by-side comparison
| Apple Card | United℠ Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 1x |
| Streaming | 2x | 1x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $583 | $322 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Apple Card earns about $583 a year in rewards and the United℠ Explorer about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Apple Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Apple Card delivers more total value, about $412 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the United℠ Explorer currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Apple Card if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel.