$229/yrSouthwest Rapid RewardsNo foreign feeVisaGood
View issuer offerComparison brief
Southwest Priority vs. United Explorer
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Both are Chase's mid-tier airline co-brand cards, but they land at different price points. Southwest Priority charges $229/year for a 4x home-airline rate and a credit our model counts at $0; United Explorer charges $150/year for a slightly lower 3x home-airline rate but includes one credit — Global Entry/TSA PreCheck — that clears our bar for genuinely easy to use.
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Overview
United Explorer Card
Chase
$150/yrUnited MileagePlusNo foreign feeVisaGood
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Which wins on my spending?
Runs the optimizer on these two cards alone, one card allowed, against your own monthly spending.
Earn rates
Everyday categories
Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 2x
- United Explorer Card
- 2x
Gas stations (excluding Costco Gas)
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 2x
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
Hotels outside issuer portals
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 1x
- United Explorer Card
- 2x
Other Southwest Purchases
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 4x
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
Other United Purchases
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 1x
- United Explorer Card
- 3x
Southwest Airfare
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 4x
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
United Airfare
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 1x
- United Explorer Card
- 3x
Everything else
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- 1x
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
| Category | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Gas stations (excluding Costco Gas) | 2x | 1x |
| Hotels outside issuer portals | 1x | 2x |
| Other Southwest Purchases | 4x | 1x |
| Other United Purchases | 1x | 3x |
| Southwest Airfare | 4x | 1x |
| United Airfare | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
These cards earn different reward currencies, so no highest rate is labeled; a larger multiplier does not necessarily mean more value. Listed rates can still be subject to portal, spending-cap, or category-selection rules; review each card's details before deciding.
Credits and benefits
Instacart+ Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrConditional
- United Explorer Card
- —
Anniversary Bonus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- $75/yr estimated usableEasy to use
- United Explorer Card
- —
Instacart Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $60/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrConditional
Rideshare Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $30/yr estimated usableUp to $60/yrConditional
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $30/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrEasy to use
United Travel Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
Avis/Budget Car Rental Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $50/yrConditional
United Hotels Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
JSX Credit
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- —
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
Estimated usable credit value
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- $75/yr
- United Explorer Card
- $120/yr
Maximum face value
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
- $195/yr
- United Explorer Card
- $650/yr
| Credit | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Instacart+ Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Conditional | — |
| Anniversary Bonus | $75/yr estimated usable Easy to use | — |
| Instacart Credit | — | $60/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Conditional |
| Rideshare Credit | — | $30/yr estimated usable Up to $60/yr Conditional |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck | — | $30/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Easy to use |
| United Travel Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional |
| Avis/Budget Car Rental Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $50/yr Conditional |
| United Hotels Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional |
| JSX Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional |
| Estimated usable credit value | $75/yr | $120/yr |
| Maximum face value | $195/yr | $650/yr |
Estimated usable value applies the same conservative assumptions used by the optimizer. Maximum face value assumes every listed credit is used in full.
Find your modeled setup
The optimizer searches eligible portfolios against your stated spending—not just two cards at a time—and reports whether the result was proven within the selected catalog and run inputs.
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