Southwest Plus vs United Explorer
Compare fees, current offers, and listed rewards. Add your preferences to see which card may fit better.
United Explorer leads on the listed facts.
United Explorer leads on 3 of 4 headline comparisons: annual fee, estimated welcome bonus, highest listed earn rate, and annual listed credits. This is a starting point; category restrictions and the benefits you actually use can change the better fit.
Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.
Best if you want to keep annual cost lower.
This comparison has not assessed your spending or eligibility. Listed credits are potential benefits, not savings; earn-rate caps and redemption choices can change their value.
What leads on the listed facts
- United Explorer wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: United Explorer reaches 3x; Southwest Plus reaches 2x.
- Annual fee: United Explorer is $150/yr; Southwest Plus is $99/yr.
- Current public bonus values: Southwest Plus ~$0; United Explorer ~$800.
Headline comparison · not personalized
This comparison has not assessed your spending or eligibility. Listed credits are potential benefits, not savings; earn-rate caps and redemption choices can change their value.
Why you can trust this answer
CardCurator compares measurable card economics first, then uses deeper rewards intelligence from program data, transfer partners, award charts, and live bonuses when a decision depends on the ecosystem behind the card rather than the card headline alone.
Personalize this answer without sharing sensitive data
Start with a few signals that usually decide close matchups: rough monthly spend, your top category, annual-fee tolerance, and whether you already hold either card.
This step is meant to break close ties without asking for uploads, account creation, or exact spending data.
United Explorer
Assumptions: default assumptions
No personal inputs have been applied. Add your spending focus, fee preference, or current cards to explore how the comparison changes.
- Southwest Purchases 2x
- Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- United Purchases 3x
- Restaurant Purchases 2x
- Hotel Stays 2x
- United Travel Credit $100
- United Hotels Credit $50
- United Hotels Credit $50
- +4 more
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
- United cardholder award discount eligibility
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
United Explorer leads on 3 of 4 headline comparisons: annual fee, estimated welcome bonus, highest listed earn rate, and annual listed credits. This is a starting point; category restrictions and the benefits you actually use can change the better fit. On raw upside, United Explorer tops out at 3x versus 2x for Southwest Plus. Current signup bonus values are roughly $0 for Southwest Plus and $800 for United Explorer. Summary generated July 13, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/southwest-plus-vs-united-explorer
- United Explorer wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: United Explorer reaches 3x; Southwest Plus reaches 2x.
- Annual fee: United Explorer is $150/yr; Southwest Plus is $99/yr.
- Current public bonus values: Southwest Plus ~$0; United Explorer ~$800.
Common Questions: Southwest Plus vs United Explorer
Is the Southwest Plus or United Explorer better for dining?
Southwest Plus has no dining bonus; United Explorer earns 2x on dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Southwest Plus currently offers No current bonus. United Explorer offers 80,000 points. United Explorer has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Southwest Plus: no foreign transaction fee listed. United Explorer: no foreign transaction fee listed. Check the issuer's current terms before using a card abroad.
Can I hold both the Southwest Plus 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.
Keep Researching
If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.