Card Comparison
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Annual Fee
$795/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
200,000 points
Spend $30,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
- Chase Travel 8x
- Lyft 5x
- Flights (Direct) 4x
- United Purchases 2x
- Restaurant Purchases 2x
- Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
- Annual Travel Credit $300
- The Edit Hotel Credit $250
- Statement Credit $5
- Statement Credit $50
- Statement Credit $50
- +1 more
Card Perks
- Priority Pass Select
- Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
- DashPass
- +3 more
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Transfer Partners
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Flying Blue
- +9 more
No transfer partners
Common Questions: Chase Sapphire Reserve vs United Explorer
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve or United Explorer better for dining?
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. Chase Sapphire Reserve wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Chase Sapphire Reserve currently offers 200,000 pts signup bonus (spend $30,000 in 6 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Chase Sapphire Reserve 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve 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. Both cards are from Chase, so check their specific application rules.