United℠ Explorer vs United Club℠ Business Card
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | United Club℠ Business Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $695 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 110,000 miles |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 1% | 2% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $474 | $699 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| 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 United Club℠ Business Card about $699, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The United Club℠ Business Card charges $695, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the United℠ Explorer delivers more total value, about $320 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 Club℠ Business Card 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 Club℠ Business Card if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.