SW Priority vs United Explorer
Southwest Rapid Rewards vs United MileagePlus — SW Priority vs United Explorer — here's what separates them. Same fee tier; the winner depends on which category bonuses and credits align with your actual spending.
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 $149. United Explorer sits in United MileagePlus; SW Priority sits in Southwest Rapid Rewards. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Our Verdict
United Explorer wins for most people.
United Explorer's $95 annual fee is $54 less than SW Priority, yet still delivers ~$1,223 in first-year value vs ~$1,118 for SW Priority.
Exception: SW Priority may be worth it if you're a frequent traveler who will max out its premium credits year over year.
United Explorer
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $1,223 after annual fee.
Chase
SW Priority
Annual Fee
$149/yr
Signup Bonus
75,000 Rapid Rewards
Bonus Value
~$938
Benefits Value
~$329/yr
Spend Req.
$3,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
$75 Southwest Travel Credit
$75/yr
🛫 airline credit
4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
$160/yr
🎁 other
7,500 Anniversary Bonus Points
$94/yr
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
United Explorer
Better travel category multipliers and partner network for routing flights/hotels.
Best for Dining
SW Priority
Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.
Best for Lounge Access
United Explorer
Includes United Club (day passes) access — the other card has none.
Best for Beginners
United Explorer
Lower $95 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
United Explorer
~$1,223 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | SW Priority | United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $1,294 | $1,417 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $1,658 | $1,817 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $1,658 | $1,835 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $2,018 | $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.
| SW Priority | United Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 Rapid Rewards (~$938) | 80,000 United MileagePlus (~$1,080) |
| Annual fee | $149/yr | $95/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $0 |
| Transfer partners | None (single program) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $235/yr | $120/yr |
| Lounge access | None | United Club (day passes only) |
| Dining rewards | 1x | 2x |
| Grocery rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | 1x | 2x 2x on hotel stays booked directly with hotel |
| Travel insurance | Included | Limited |
| Cell phone protection | Not standard | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
Who should get the SW Priority?
- ✓You travel or dine out enough that a $149 fee pays back via credits and category multipliers.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓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.
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.
Break-Even Analysis
At what annual spend does one card permanently beat the other?
Below break-even
SW Priority
wins on fixed value
Break-Even Spend
$12,500
annual card spend
Above break-even
United Explorer
wins on multipliers
Below ~$12,500/yr in total annual card spend, SW Priority wins on ongoing value — its $149 annual fee + $329/yr in tracked benefits starts ahead. Above ~$12,500/yr, United Explorer's stronger category multipliers compound faster and overtake SW Priority's fixed advantage. Year-one bonus math heavily favours United Explorer regardless of spend.
Break-even calculated on year-2+ ongoing value (benefits + earning − annual fee). Year-one welcome bonus math is separate — see the value scenarios table above.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, SW Priority or United Explorer?
United Explorer currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,080 vs ~938). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the SW Priority worth the 149 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~938) and statement credits alone typically cover the 149 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 SW Priority and the United Explorer at the same time?
Yes — Chase allows holding both SW Priority and United Explorer simultaneously. Each card has its own welcome bonus and statement credits, so they don't conflict. Chase's welcome bonus eligibility rules may require waiting between applications; check current policy before applying for the second card.
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?
United Explorer includes United Club (day passes). SW Priority doesn't include lounge access — you'd need to pay for it separately or upgrade to a premium card.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), United Explorer comes out ahead at ~1,223 of net value vs ~1,118 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 — both cards are issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies to both. If you've opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application regardless of credit score. Check your 5/24 count before applying for either.
How does CreditPoints compare {cardA} and {cardB}?
Every comparison uses the same fixed methodology: welcome offer value (bonus × current points valuation minus AF), category earning rates, annual fee vs benefit math, transfer-partner depth + redemption value, lounge tier, travel protections, and foreign transaction handling. Card facts come from issuer pages (verified via Playwright on the "Last reviewed" date), card-program award charts, and TPG monthly valuations. Nothing on this page is paid-placement — the Quick Winners, Real-World Scenarios, and Comparison Table are deterministic outputs from the data, not editorial opinion.
How often is the information on this comparison updated?
The comparison data regenerates on every site build (typically multiple times per week as offers change). Welcome offer terms, annual fees, and category multipliers are verified against issuer pages and refreshed as part of the catalog. Welcome bonuses, annual fees, and benefits can change at any time at the issuer's discretion — always confirm current terms on the issuer's application page before applying. The "Last reviewed" date in the trust strip below shows the most recent manual methodology + data-source audit.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If neither card is quite right, these are the next closest options.
Amex
Amex Green
Citi
Strata Premier
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.
Chase
SW Priority
Welcome: 75,000 Rapid Rewards · ~$938 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.
How we compare these cards
Every pair on CreditPoints is evaluated against the same fixed set of criteria, regenerated on every build from verified card-level data. Nothing in this section changes based on who you are or how you got here.
Factors we evaluate
- •Welcome offer value (bonus points × current valuation, minus annual fee)
- •Earning rates per spend category (dining, travel, groceries, gas, base)
- •Annual fee vs benefit math (statement credits + perks priced to value)
- •Transfer partner depth + redemption flexibility (programs, ratios, sweet spots)
- •Lounge access (network tier, guest policy, in-airport coverage)
- •Travel protections (trip cancellation, baggage, rental-car CDW, cell phone)
- •Hotel and airline benefits (free nights, status, elite-night credits)
- •Foreign transaction fees + chip+PIN support for international use
How we evaluate rewards programs
We score transferable-points ecosystems (Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TY, Capital One Miles, Bilt) by partner count + redemption value at each partner's sweet spot. Co-brand programs are evaluated against the loyalty program's published award chart and the realistic point earn rate from typical category spend.
How we evaluate transfer partners
Transfer-partner quality outranks transfer-partner quantity. A single 1:1 partner with strong sweet spots (Hyatt via Chase UR, ANA via Amex MR) often beats a dozen 2:1 partners with little redemption upside.
How we evaluate annual fees
An annual fee is justified only when the card's first-year value (welcome bonus + activated credits + benefits) clearly exceeds the AF for the typical reader profile. Our four spending scenarios (beginner, everyday, traveler, premium) show whether the math works for your situation.
How we evaluate travel benefits
Statement credits are priced at face value only when the activation barrier is low (broad-merchant credits, auto-redeem credits). High-friction credits (single-vendor, expiring monthly, claim-required) are discounted because most cardholders don't capture them.
Recommendations on this page are intended as educational guidance and are not financial advice. Always confirm current offer terms on the issuer's site before applying.
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.
Related guides
Long-form context on the cards and programmes in this comparison.
United MileagePlus: The Complete 2026 Program Guide
Why MileagePlus is the strongest US-domestic Star Alliance program for Chase UR holders — Excursionist Perk free segment, Polaris transcons at 35-45K, Star Alliance partner backup.
Read
How My Family Went to Hawaii for $1,500
A full week in Hawaii for a family of four. Two islands. $15K retail. We paid $1,500. The unvarnished case study — every card, every booking, every number.
Read
Chase's 5/24 Rule, Explained
The unofficial Chase policy that controls who gets approved — and how to sequence your applications so you actually get the cards you want.
Read
Best Credit Cards for Family Vacations in 2026
The 5 cards that maximize family-vacation value in 2026 — Southwest Companion Pass, Hyatt family suites, Chase UR foundation, Hilton Aspire premium picks.
Read
Compare with other cards
Popular comparisons among the same audience.