Bonvoy Brilliant vs United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), United Explorer comes out ahead at ~$985 at a lower $95 annual fee vs $650. United Explorer sits in United MileagePlus; Bonvoy Brilliant sits in Marriott Bonvoy. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Bonvoy Brilliant
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $2,375 after annual fee.
Amex
Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual Fee
$650/yr
Signup Bonus
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy
Bonus Value
~$1,480
Benefits Value
~$1,545/yr
Spend Req.
$6,000 / 6mo
Rewards Currency
Marriott Bonvoy
Network
Amex
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck
$120/yr
🍽️ dining credit
Dining Credit
$300/yr
🏨 hotel credit
Property Credit
$100/use
Annual Free Night Reward
$425/yr
🏛️ lounge
Priority Pass Select
$200/yr
⭐ status
Marriott Platinum Elite
$400/yr
25 Elite Night Credits
Chase
United Explorer
Annual Fee
$95/yr
Signup Bonus
80,000 United MileagePlus
Bonus Value
~$1,080
Benefits Value
~$238/yr
Spend Req.
$3,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
United MileagePlus
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
Priority Boarding
$50/yr
🏛️ lounge
2 United Club Passes Per Year
$118/yr
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
Bonvoy Brilliant
Wins on stronger travel multiplier (4× vs 2×) on flights and hotels.
Best for Dining
Bonvoy Brilliant
Dedicated dining credit plus strong restaurant earning multiplier.
Best for Lounge Access
Bonvoy Brilliant
Stronger lounge network (Priority Pass) than the other card's United Club (day passes).
Best for Beginners
United Explorer
Lower $95 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
Bonvoy Brilliant
~$2,375 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
Bonvoy Brilliant
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
Biggest Credit Stack
Bonvoy Brilliant
Bigger statement-credit stack (~740/yr in tracked credits) — high ceiling if you use them.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Bonvoy Brilliant | United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $2,641 | $1,417 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $3,221 | $1,817 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $3,329 | $1,835 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $4,031 | $2,249 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Bonvoy Brilliant | United Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy (~$1,480) | 80,000 United MileagePlus (~$1,080) |
| Annual fee | $650/yr | $95/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $0 |
| Transfer partners | None (single program) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $120/yr | $120/yr |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass only | United Club (day passes only) |
| Dining rewards | 4x 4x at restaurants worldwide | 2x |
| Grocery rewards | 2x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | $525/yr 6x at Marriott Bonvoy hotels | 2x 2x on hotel stays booked directly with hotel |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive | Limited |
| Cell phone protection | Included | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
Who should get the Bonvoy Brilliant?
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $650 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓You eat out regularly and want bonus points on restaurants worldwide.
- ✓You stay at a specific hotel chain enough that loyalty-status perks compound.
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
- ✓You enjoy stacking multipliers, calendaring statement credits, and treating your wallet like a small portfolio — the extra cognitive load is worth real $ to you.
Who should get the United Explorer?
- ✓You're comfortable with a $95 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Bonvoy Brilliant or United Explorer?
Bonvoy Brilliant currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,480 vs ~1,080). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Bonvoy Brilliant worth the 650 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,480) and statement credits alone typically cover the 650 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the United Explorer worth the 95 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,080) and statement credits alone typically cover the 95 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Bonvoy Brilliant and the United Explorer?
Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Amex and Chase), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Neither card transfers points to World of Hyatt. Only Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards and the co-branded World of Hyatt card transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. To stack Hyatt points without leaving these two ecosystems you'd need to add a Chase Sapphire or Bilt card alongside.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Bonvoy Brilliant unlocks Priority Pass; United Explorer unlocks United Club (day passes). Both give you a real lounge experience, but the networks don't overlap — pick the card whose lounge footprint fits the airports you actually fly through.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Bonvoy Brilliant comes out ahead at ~2,375 of net value vs ~1,223 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — United Explorer is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened 5 or more cards in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application. Bonvoy Brilliant is issued by Amex and isn't subject to 5/24.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Amex
Bonvoy Brilliant
Welcome: 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy · ~$1,480 est. value
Chase
United Explorer
Welcome: 80,000 United MileagePlus · ~$1,080 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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