United℠ Explorer vs Capital One Spark Cash Select
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Capital One Spark Cash Select | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | $750 cash back |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 1% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $474 | $675 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Pools with Capital One → transferable |
| 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 business spending, the United℠ Explorer earns about $474 a year in rewards and the Capital One Spark Cash Select about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Capital One Spark Cash Select has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Capital One Spark Cash Select delivers more total value, about $351 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One Spark Cash Select 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 Capital One Spark Cash Select if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Explorer if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Capital One Spark Cash Select currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Capital One Spark Cash Select if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.