United℠ Gateway vs Choice Privileges® Mastercard®

United℠ Gateway
VS
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®
The short answer: The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

United℠ GatewayChoice Privileges® Mastercard®
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offerUp to 40,000 bonus miles60,000 points
Dining1x1x
Groceries1x3x
Gas2x3x
Travel1x5x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$320$527
Points typeLocked to United MileagePlusLocked to Choice Privileges
NetworkVisaMastercard

*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℠ Gateway earns about $320 a year in rewards and the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® about $527, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Gateway has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $206 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and 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 Choice Privileges® Mastercard® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the United℠ Gateway or the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® better?
On typical household spending, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® comes out ahead, by roughly $206 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the United℠ Gateway can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the United℠ Gateway and the Choice Privileges® Mastercard®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the United℠ Gateway or the Choice Privileges® Mastercard®?
As of June 2026, the United℠ Gateway offers up to 40,000 bonus miles and the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® offers 60,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.