Sapphire Preferred vs United Explorer
The Sapphire Preferred comes out ahead for all three spending profiles we tested. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued for travel (Chase points at 1.5¢, United miles at 1.0¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead. Assumes you fly mostly United; companion fares and checked bags count once you tell the calculator below you use them.
| Profile | Sapphire Preferred: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | United Explorer: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $1,670 | $545 | $3,850 | $983 | $133 | $1,516 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $2,165 | $1,040 | $6,325 | $1,270 | $420 | $2,950 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $2,790 | $1,665 | $9,448 | $1,654 | $804 | $4,870 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
United Explorer trails Sapphire Preferred by $467 a year. It wins only if its free checked bags, lounge access, Global Entry credit and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $467 a year to you.
With about 1 lounge visit a year at the airports you fly through, that's $355 a visit.
This flips if United miles are worth more than 2.1¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Balanced
United Explorer trails Sapphire Preferred by $675 a year. It wins only if its free checked bags, lounge access, Global Entry credit and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $675 a year to you.
With about 2 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $338 a visit.
This flips if United miles are worth more than 1.95¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Frequent traveler
United Explorer trails Sapphire Preferred by $916 a year. It wins only if its free checked bags, lounge access, Global Entry credit and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $916 a year to you.
With about 2 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $458 a visit.
This flips if United miles are worth more than 1.84¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Sapphire Preferred | United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | Chase, Visa | Chase, Visa |
| Annual fee | $95 | $150 ($0 first year) |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months | 70,000 points after $3,000 in 3 months |
| Earning | 5x on all Chase Travel purchases (flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacation homes, activities, tours) · 3x on dining worldwide (incl. takeout and eligible delivery) · 3x at gas stations and EV charging (new 6/15/2026) · 3x on vacation homes booked direct with top brands: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com, Vacasa (new 6/15/2026) · 3x on top streaming services (Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, Vudu) · 3x on online grocery (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) · 2x on all other travel worldwide · 5x total on Lyft rides/products in the Lyft app through 9/30/2027 · 5x total on Peloton equipment/accessory purchases over $150, on up to $5,000 in total purchases (promo through 12/31/2027) · 1x on everything else | 3x on United purchases (tickets, seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight purchases, bag fees and other United fees) · 2x on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services · 2x on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | Chase Ultimate Rewards points | United MileagePlus miles |
| Statement credits | $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit · $10 monthly DoorDash promo on a non-restaurant order · Complimentary DashPass membership ($120 value) · Complimentary Apple TV for one year ($156 value) | Up to $100 a year in United Hotels credits ($50 on each of your first 2 prepaid stays) · Up to $5 a month in rideshare credits ($60 a year) · $10 monthly Instacart credit (with Instacart+) · Up to $50 a year in United TravelBank cash on Avis or Budget rentals ($25 each, first 2 rentals) · Up to $100 a year in JSX credits · $100 United TravelBank cash after $10,000 in card spend each calendar year |
| Lounges | None | United Club |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Authorized users | No fee | No fee |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Is the Sapphire Preferred worth its $95 fee? · Is the United Explorer worth its $150 fee? · Compare every card with your statements