Chase United Explorer vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard wins 4-0. Pay rent without fees, only no-fee card that earns points on rent. Chase United Explorer is still the right call if united loyalists, free checked bag + lounge passes..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase United Explorer | Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $150 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 2% (travel) | 3% (dining) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months | = No welcome bonus, value lives in rent payments |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | · 700 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
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
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
- 1x points on rent (up to 100K points/year, no transaction fee)
- 3x on dining
- 2x on travel
- 1x on everything else
- Transfer to 14 airline + hotel partners
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Chase United Explorer vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: which is better?
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard 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 Chase United Explorer for its best categories, Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard 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. Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: No welcome bonus, value lives in rent payments.