United Explorer vs. Capital One Venture: Travel Rewards Cards Earning Miles on Every Purchase

Rewards credit cards are a great way to earn valuable points, cash back, or miles on your everyday purchases. With the right travel rewards credit card, you can enjoy valuable travel benefits and protections while earning points you can redeem for things like flights and hotels.

If you enjoy traveling and want to optimize your cash-back earnings, the United Explorer and Capital One Venture are two cards worth considering. Both have the same annual fee and a similar miles-earning structure but differ when it comes to redemption options.

How the cards stack up

The United Explorer and Capital One Venture cards are popular travel rewards options offering an average annual fee and the ability to earn miles toward travel. While these two cards have many similarities, some key differences exist, especially if you want to maximize the card's value.

*See the spending examples below to compare the earning points from each card.

Welcome bonus winner: Capital One Venture

The Capital One Venture card has the edge over the United Explorer card. It currently offers a bonus of 75,000 miles when you open a new account and spend $4,000 in the first three months. These points are worth $750 or more, depending on how you redeem them.

The United Explorer card, by comparison, only offers a bonus of 60,000 miles, though you have a lower spending requirement to qualify ($3,000). These miles can only be redeemed toward United flights, upgrades, checked bags, etc., limiting your redemption options. Depending on how you redeem your miles, they could be worth about $500 to $800 or more, with most redemption options worth around $500.

Rewards winner: Capital One Venture

The Capital One Venture card is also the winner for earned rewards, mainly because there are so many different redemption options. For example, you can redeem miles for statement credits, cash, gift cards, or even make purchases on Amazon or through PayPal. In most cases, these redemptions are worth 1¢ per mile.

You can also transfer earned Venture miles to one of the card’s 15 partner programs. This allows you to trade your miles for award flights or hotel stays, often maximizing your miles’ value. Eligible partner programs include:

• Accor Live Limitless.
• Aeromexico.
• Air France KLM.
• Air Canada.
• Asia Miles.
• Avianca LifeMiles.
• British Airways.
• Choice Hotels.
• Emirates Skywards.
• Etihad Airways.
• EVA Air.
• Finnair.
• Qantas.
• Singapore Airlines.
• TAP Air Portugal.
• Turkish Airlines.
• Virgin Red.
• Wyndham Rewards

You can maximize your value with United Miles by exchanging earned miles toward award flights. While these can be very valuable with the right redemption, you’re much more limited. You can’t use your miles toward other airlines or hotel brands, so you can only book on United.

Annual fee winner: Draw

Both the Capital One Venture and United Explorer cards charge a $95 annual fee, making them equal in this category. However, United Explorer waives this fee for the first year, giving it an initial edge.

APR winner: Draw

The annual percentage rate (APR) ranges are too close to call, making this a draw. Capital One Venture’s APR range (19.99% to 29.99%) starts slightly lower but also goes higher than United Explorer (21.99% to 28.99%).

Foreign transaction fee winner: Draw

Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, so both options are equal for this category.

Additional perks: United Explorer

Both cards offer several additional benefits to cardholders. For example, each card offers an annual $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment. However, the United Explorer card still offers some valuable travel benefits that many other cards have eliminated over the years, giving it the edge in this category.

The United Explorer card gives you (and one travel companion on the same reservation) a first checked bag for free. For two round-trip travelers, this can mean up to $140 in savings per trip. You’ll also enjoy primary rental car coverage, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage coverage, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection. Oh, and you’ll get priority boarding when traveling on United.

The Capital One Venture card offers secondary rental car coverage and Hertz Five Star status. You’ll also get a $50 hotel credit toward properties in the Lifestyle Collection and limited travel accident insurance coverage.

Which card earns the most

The Capital One Venture should earn you the most rewards simply because it earns 2x miles per dollar spent every day, regardless of category. You can also get 5x miles per $1 spent on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel, further boosting your earnings.

The United Explorer card can also earn 2x miles per $1 spent, but only on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays. You also earn an additional 5x miles on fares purchased on United. All other purchases will only earn 1x miles per $1 spent.

Why Capital One Venture is better for travelers

With the Capital One Venture card, you’ll earn 2x miles per dollar spent everywhere, everyday. These can be redeemed for an already-competitive 1¢ per mile toward statement credits for travel expenses. Or you can even transfer those miles to partner loyalty programs and potentially snag even more valuable redemptions. This makes the card very versatile, especially if you travel often and use partner airlines or hotels to book award travel at a better rate.

Why you would still opt for the United Explorer Card

The United Explorer card might be the better choice if you travel exclusively or frequently on United. This card waives the fee on the first checked bag for you and a travel companion, which is worth as much as $140 per trip. It also provides valuable trip protections such as primary rental car coverage and trip delay or cancellation coverage, offering peace of mind that rivals many premium credit cards.

TIME Stamp: Capital One Venture offers more flexible award options

The United Explorer and Capital One Venture cards are worthwhile options for many travelers. Both offer miles on every dollar you spend, which can be redeemed toward travel or other expenses. Each card has the same annual fee and gives annual credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

The right card depends on how you plan to redeem your rewards. The United Explorer card is the better choice for anyone who prefers to travel on United Airlines and can be valuable. The Capital One Venture card, however, is the better option for anyone who has another airline preference or doesn’t have an allegiance to any particular brand.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How hard is it to get approved for the United Explorer card?

To qualify for the United Explorer credit card, you should aim for a credit score of 700 or higher. While you may be eligible with a lower score, it will depend on other factors, such as your income and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.

Is the United Explorer card a good one?

The United Explorer credit card is a good choice for anyone who frequently travels on United Airlines, particularly if you check bags. Just one round-trip flight with a companion will save you more in checked bag fees than the card’s annual fee, plus you’ll earn miles on every dollar spent and enjoy valuable travel protections.

Can I use Capital One Venture miles on United Airlines?

Miles earned on the Capital One Venture card can be transferred to various airline partners, but United Airlines is not included on that list. If you prefer to travel on United, the United Explorer card may be a better option.

What credit score is needed for the United Explorer card?

JP Morgan Chase does not publicly publish a minimum credit score for the United Explorer card but recommends at least 700 to qualify. You may get approved with a lower score, but it depends on other criteria like income, payment history, and current debt burden.