United℠ Explorer vs Discover it® Student Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Discover it® Student Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | Cashback Match in year 1 |
| Dining | 2x | 1x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $322 | $292 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Cash back only |
| Network | Visa | Discover |
*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 Discover it® Student Cash Back about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Discover it® Student Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Discover it® Student Cash Back delivers more total value, about $120 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. 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 United℠ Explorer if your spending leans toward dining.