Chase United Explorer Card vs United Gateway Card
Both are Chase cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
- United Gateway Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Dining
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- United Gateway Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Gas
- United Gateway Card 2.4% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Flights
- United Explorer Card 3.6% 3x
- United Gateway Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Hotels
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- United Gateway Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Public transit
- United Gateway Card 2.4% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Rideshare & taxis
- United Gateway Card 2.4% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Tolls
- United Gateway Card 2.4% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
What the numbers are doing
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge United Explorer Card $150 and United Gateway Card $0 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
Where they differ: United Explorer Card takes dining, flights and hotels; United Gateway Card takes gas, public transit, rideshare & taxis and tolls.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | United Explorer Card1.2% |
| Dining | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Gas | United Gateway Card2.4% |
| Flights | United Explorer Card3.6% |
| Hotels | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Public transit | United Gateway Card2.4% |
| Rideshare & taxis | United Gateway Card2.4% |
| Tolls | United Gateway Card2.4% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
- United Gateway Card — 1.2%
Dining
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- United Gateway Card — 1.2%
Gas
- United Gateway Card — 2.4%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Flights
- United Explorer Card — 3.6%
- United Gateway Card — 1.2%
Hotels
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- United Gateway Card — 1.2%
Public transit
- United Gateway Card — 2.4%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Rideshare & taxis
- United Gateway Card — 2.4%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Tolls
- United Gateway Card — 2.4%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
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