Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?

The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?

Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?

The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.

Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?

The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?

Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?

The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.

Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?

The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?

Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?

The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.

Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

The United Explorer Card ($150/yr) is better for everyday value, while the United Club Infinite Card ($695/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

United Club Infinite Card

Chase

United Explorer Card

Chase

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$695

$150(waived year 1)

Welcome Bonus

90,000 Airline

70,000 Airline

Earn Rates

Category	United Club Infinite Card	United Explorer Card
United Airlines	4X

Category-by-Category Winner

The United Club Infinite Card wins in 6 of 6 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 0.

United Purchases

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

United Airlines

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

Travel

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Ridesharing

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Transit

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Tolls

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr — that's $545 more than the United Explorer Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $545 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The United Club Infinite Card offers travel credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. With 4 premium perks, heavy spenders on united purchases and united airlines can often offset the full fee.

Bottom line: The $545 gap is significant. Choose the United Club Infinite Card only if you spend heavily on united purchases and united airlines and will use its premium benefits regularly — otherwise the United Explorer Card delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.

The Bottom Line

The United Explorer Card has a lower annual fee ($150 vs $695), making it the more accessible option.

The United Club Infinite Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access and travel credits.

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the United Club Infinite Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?: The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?: Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?: The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?: Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Gold vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Platinum vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Reserve vs United Club Infinite

Explore More

United Club Infinite Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

United Explorer Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

United Club Infinite Card

Chase

United Explorer Card

Chase

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$695

$150(waived year 1)

Welcome Bonus

90,000 Airline

70,000 Airline

Earn Rates

Category	United Club Infinite Card	United Explorer Card
United Airlines	4X

Category-by-Category Winner

The United Club Infinite Card wins in 6 of 6 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 0.

United Purchases

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

United Airlines

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

Travel

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Ridesharing

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Transit

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Tolls

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

The United Explorer Card has a lower annual fee ($150 vs $695), making it the more accessible option.

The United Club Infinite Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access and travel credits.

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the United Club Infinite Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?: The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?: Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?: The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?: Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Gold vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Platinum vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Reserve vs United Club Infinite

Explore More

United Club Infinite Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

United Explorer Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

United Club Infinite Card

Chase

United Explorer Card

Chase

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$695

$150(waived year 1)

Welcome Bonus

90,000 Airline

70,000 Airline

Earn Rates

Category	United Club Infinite Card	United Explorer Card
United Airlines	4X

Category-by-Category Winner

The United Club Infinite Card wins in 6 of 6 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 0.

United Purchases

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

United Airlines

United Club Infinite Card earns 4X vs 2X

Travel

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Ridesharing

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Transit

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Tolls

United Club Infinite Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

The United Explorer Card has a lower annual fee ($150 vs $695), making it the more accessible option.

The United Club Infinite Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access and travel credits.

Choose the United Explorer Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the United Club Infinite Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the United Club Infinite Card worth the higher annual fee?: The United Club Infinite Card costs $695/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. The higher fee includes lounge access and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer Card?: Both cards earn 0X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
What benefits does the United Club Infinite Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?: The United Club Infinite Card offers lounge access, travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
Should I get the United Club Infinite Card or the United Explorer Card?: Choose the United Explorer Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the United Club Infinite Card if you spend enough to justify the $695/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Gold vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Platinum vs United Explorer Delta Skymiles Reserve vs United Club Infinite

Explore More

United Club Infinite Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

United Explorer Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
+Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
+Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
+4x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
+10% off economy saver awards in continental US/Canada

+$0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
+Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $160 roundtrip
+2x miles on United, dining, and hotels—solid everyday earning
+Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
+2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+

Cons

−$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
−United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
−Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
−Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
−No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers

−Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
−Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
−No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
−Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
−Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
+Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
+Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
+4x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
+10% off economy saver awards in continental US/Canada

+$0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
+Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $160 roundtrip
+2x miles on United, dining, and hotels—solid everyday earning
+Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
+2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+

Cons

−$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
−United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
−Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
−Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
−No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers

−Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
−Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
−No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
−Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
−Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
+Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
+Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
+4x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
+10% off economy saver awards in continental US/Canada

+$0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
+Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $160 roundtrip
+2x miles on United, dining, and hotels—solid everyday earning
+Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
+2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+

Cons

−$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
−United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
−Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
−Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
−No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers

−Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
−Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
−No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
−Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
−Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

United Club Infinite Card

United Explorer Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

United Club Infinite Card

United Explorer Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

United Club Infinite Card vs United Explorer Card

United Club Infinite Card

United Explorer Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?