United℠ Explorer vs Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 60,000 points |
| Dining | 2x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 5x |
| Gas | 1x | 5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $322 | $618 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to Choice Privileges |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard |
*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 United℠ Explorer earns about $322 a year in rewards and the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® about $618, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $351 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 two are currently comparable in size. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the United℠ Explorer if your spending leans toward dining. Pick the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas.