Chase United Explorer vs Chase United Quest
On an illustrative household's spending, Chase United Explorer comes out about $190 a year ahead once both annual fees are paid.
The short version
- Over a year: United Explorer nets $222 and United Quest nets $32, after fees of $150 a year and $350 a year.
- Where it flips: United Explorer stays ahead at every level of spending this looks at, from a fraction of that household's to many times it.
- Category by category: United Explorer earns more on 0, United Quest on 3 — the table below. Pick by where most of your money goes.
- What they pay in: both earn United MileagePlus, so the rates compare directly.
Priced on a household spending $2,205 a month on a card — the assumption, in full. Credits, perks and welcome offers are not priced; each card's page lists them.
Where each one earns more
| Spending on | United Explorer per $100 |
United Quest per $100 | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming | $1.20 base rate |
$2.40 2x |
United Quest |
| Rideshare & Taxis | $1.20 base rate |
$2.40 2x |
United Quest |
| Public Transit | $1.20 base rate |
$2.40 2x |
United Quest |
Only categories where the two differ and at least one pays a bonus, plus everything else. No rotating or chosen categories are switched on, and a rate that needs the issuer's travel portal is not counted.
Side by side
| United Explorer | United Quest | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Chase | Chase |
| Annual fee | $150 a year | $350 a year |
| Foreign transaction fee | none | none |
| Earns | United MileagePlus | United MileagePlus |
| A year, before the fee | $372 | $382 |
| A year, after the fee | $222 | $32 |
| Rates checked | 2026-08 | 2026-09 |
Protections one has and the other does not
| Benefit | United Explorer | United Quest |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase protection | Yes | — |
| Extended warranty | Yes | — |
From each issuer's benefit summary (United Explorer: 2026-09; United Quest: 2026-09). Summaries leave out exclusions — read the full guide to benefits before relying on one.
Each card on its own
- Chase United Explorer — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Chase United Quest — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Every airline card, ranked
- Which card adds the most to your own wallet