Capital One Savor vs Chase United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Capital One Savor wins 4-0. Foodies on a no-fee card, restaurants, delivery, streaming, groceries Chase United Explorer is still the right call if united loyalists, free checked bag + lounge passes..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Savor | Chase United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $150 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 3% (dining) | · 2% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cash bonus after $500 spend in first 3 months | = 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.4/5 | · 4.2/5 |
Benefits compared
Capital One Savor
- 3% cashback on dining and food delivery
- 3% on entertainment (concerts, sports, streaming)
- 3% on grocery stores (excludes Walmart, Target)
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
- 8% on Capital One Entertainment bookings
Chase United Explorer
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights
- 3x miles on all other eligible United purchases
- 2x miles on dining, including eligible delivery services
- 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Free first checked bag for the cardholder and one companion on United-operated flights
FAQ
›Capital One Savor vs Chase United Explorer: which is better?
Capital One Savor wins on more dimensions (4 vs 0). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Capital One Savor for its best categories, Chase United Explorer for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Capital One Savor: $200 cash bonus after $500 spend in first 3 months. Chase United Explorer: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months.