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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Bank of America Premium Rewards vs United Explorer

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Bank of America Premium Rewards card art
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America Premium Rewards
Bank of America
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$95/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
60,000 points
Spend $4,000 in 3 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Travel 2x
  • Dining 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1.5x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
  • Airline Incidental Credit $100
  • TSA PreCheck / Global Entry $100
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
None listed
  • 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: Bank of America Premium Rewards vs United Explorer

Is the Bank of America Premium Rewards or United Explorer better for dining?

Bank of America Premium Rewards earns 2x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. Bank of America Premium Rewards wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Bank of America Premium Rewards currently offers 60,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,000 in 3 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). United Explorer has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Bank of America Premium Rewards and the United Explorer?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Bank of America Premium Rewards is from Bank of America and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.