United℠ Explorer vs Ink Business Preferred®
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Ink Business Preferred® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points |
| Advertising | 1% | 3% |
| Shipping | 1% | 3% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 3% |
| Travel | 1% | 3% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $474 | $846 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| 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 business spending, the United℠ Explorer earns about $474 a year in rewards and the Ink Business Preferred® about $846, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Ink Business Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $10 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Ink Business Preferred® delivers more total value, about $432 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Ink Business Preferred® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the United℠ Explorer stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Ink Business Preferred® if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Explorer if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Preferred® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Ink Business Preferred® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, phone & internet.