Chase · Personal card
United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card has a $150 annual fee and up to $310 a year in statement credits, across four credits, plus one that needs spending first. Two of the five United Explorer credits need a one-time enrollment before any spending counts, and Chase will not apply them retroactively.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Charged on your account anniversary
- Credits a year
- Up to $310
- 4 statement credits, used in full
- Need enrollment
- 2 of 5
- Credits. Enroll before you spend
Every credit, and when it resets
Amounts are per period. The last column is what each credit adds up to in a year if you use it every time.
| Credit | Amount | Resets | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Instacart creditEnroll first$10 a month. On the 1st of each month | $10 a month | On the 1st of each month | $120 |
| JSX credit$100 a year. On your account anniversary, not January 1 | $100 a year | On your account anniversary, not January 1 | $100 |
| Monthly rideshare creditEnroll firstEnrollment is required each year before rides earn the credit.$5 a month. On the 1st of each month | $5 a month | On the 1st of each month | $60 |
| Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit$120 each time. Available again every 4 years | $120 each time | Available again every 4 years | $30 |
| United travel credit$100 a year. On January 1 | $100 a year | On January 1 | Not countedOnly after $10,000 of spending, so not in the total |
| Total a year, if you use every credit | $310 |
What people get wrong
- Enrollment comes first. Two benefits need a one-time enrollment. Spend before you enroll and nothing posts, because Chase will not apply a credit retroactively.
- Not every credit resets in January. At least one resets on your account anniversary. Most people assume the calendar year.
- Some credits need spending first. Those are listed above but left out of the total, because you don't get them by default.
- Nothing rolls over. Whatever is unused when a period ends is gone, so a monthly credit missed in March can't be used in April.
Questions about the United Explorer
What is the annual fee on the United Explorer Card?
$150 a year, charged each year on your account anniversary.
How much are the United Explorer credits worth?
Up to $310 a year if you use all four statement credits in full. The largest: Monthly Instacart credit ($120), JSX credit ($100) and Monthly rideshare credit ($60).
Which United Explorer benefits need enrollment?
Two of the five: Monthly Instacart credit and Monthly rideshare credit. Enroll before you spend, because Chase will not apply a credit retroactively.
When do the United Explorer credits reset?
Monthly credits reset on the 1st of each month. JSX credit resets on your account anniversary, not January 1. Unused credit does not roll over.
Is the United Explorer worth the $150 fee?
On credits alone, only if you use at least 49% of them. They add up to $310 a year against the $150 fee, but each is tied to a merchant and a period, so what counts is the ones you would use anyway.
What points does the United Explorer earn?
United MileagePlus points, worth about 1.3 cents each in a typical redemption.
