The Bilt Palladium Card edges out the United Explorer for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 50,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 6x vs 3x). The United Explorer is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
Bilt Palladium Card vs United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- Dining 6x
- Travel 3x
- Rent 2x
- United Purchases 3x
- Restaurant Purchases 2x
- Hotel Stays 2x
- Bilt Travel Hotel Credit $200
- $200 Bilt Cash $200
- Priority Pass $469
- United Travel Credit $100
- United Hotels Credit $50
- United Hotels Credit $50
- +4 more
- Priority Pass Select
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status
- +2 more
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
- Atmos Rewards
- Avianca LifeMiles
- United MileagePlus
- Flying Blue
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- +19 more
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The Bilt Palladium Card edges out the United Explorer for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 50,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 6x vs 3x). The United Explorer is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, Bilt Palladium Card tops out at 6x versus 3x for United Explorer. Current signup bonus values are roughly $1003 for Bilt Palladium Card and $800 for United Explorer. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/bilt-palladium-card-vs-united-explorer
- Bilt Palladium Card wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Bilt Palladium Card reaches 6x; United Explorer reaches 3x.
- Annual fee: Bilt Palladium Card is $495/yr; United Explorer is $150/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $1003 and $800.
Common Questions: Bilt Palladium Card vs United Explorer
Is the Bilt Palladium Card or United Explorer better for dining?
Bilt Palladium Card earns 6x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. Bilt Palladium Card wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Bilt Palladium Card currently offers 50,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,000 in 3 months). United Explorer offers 80,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Bilt Palladium Card 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 Bilt Palladium Card 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. Bilt Palladium Card is from Cardless and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.