Chase United Explorer vs Capital One Venture X
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Capital One Venture X wins 3-2. Premium travel, $395 fee easily offset by $300 travel credit + 10K anniversary miles. Chase United Explorer is still the right call if united loyalists, free checked bag + lounge passes..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase United Explorer | Capital One Venture X |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | · $395 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (travel) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 2% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months | = 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
Benefits compared
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
Capital One Venture X
- 10x miles on hotels + rental cars via Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on every purchase
- $300 annual Capital One Travel credit
- 10,000 miles anniversary bonus (worth $100)
- Unlimited Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges access
- Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
FAQ
›Chase United Explorer vs Capital One Venture X: which is better?
Capital One Venture X wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). 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 Chase United Explorer for its best categories, Capital One Venture X for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Chase United Explorer: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months. Capital One Venture X: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in first 3 months.