United℠ Explorer vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $299 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 80,000 points |
| Advertising | 1% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 1% | 4% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $474 | $636 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business about $636, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business charges $299, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The two are close on value, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business edges ahead by about $13 a year, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. 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 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business if your spending leans toward travel.