Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards vs United℠ Explorer
Side-by-side comparison
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards | United℠ Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome offer | $200 online cash rewards bonus | Up to 60,000 bonus miles |
| Dining | 3x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 3x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $491 | $322 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| Network | Visa | 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 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards earns about $491 a year in rewards and the United℠ Explorer about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards 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 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards delivers more total value, about $319 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. 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 Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.