United℠ Explorer vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful®
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $250 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 85,000 points |
| Dining | 2x | 4x |
| Groceries | 1x | 4x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $322 | $763 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| 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 United℠ Explorer earns about $322 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® about $763, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® charges $250, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® delivers more total value, about $342 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and everything else. 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 Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.