Best card to pair with the Chase United Explorer
Robinhood Gold Card adds the most next to it: together they keep $469 a year after both fees from typical spending, $305 more than the United Explorer on its own.
- Updated October 17, 2026
- $22,300 a year of spending
- Rankings are never paid for
Best pair
Keeps $469 a year after fees
- Earns $669 a year on the spending below; fees come to $200.
- That's $305 more than the United Explorer alone ($164).
- Robinhood Gold Card needs Robinhood Gold ($50 a year), counted in the fees.
Rates change, so verify them with the issuer before you apply.
The best partners
What each card adds to the United Explorer in a year, after its own fee, with every purchase on whichever of the two earns more. On its own, the United Explorer keeps $164 a year after fees.
| Partner | Adds a year | Together | Its fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Robinhood Gold Card | +$305 | $469 | $50 |
| #2 Citi Strata Premier | +$253 | $417 | $95 |
| #3 American Express Blue Cash Preferred | +$237 | $401 | $95 |
| #4 Capital One Venture Rewards | +$215 | $379 | $95 |
| #5 Barclays Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus | +$211 | $375 | $95 |
| Best with no fee Barclays Wyndham Rewards Earner | +$179 | $343 | $0 |
Which card to use
A year of spending, each purchase on the card that earns the most on it. When a bonus runs out at its cap, the rest goes on the next best card.
| Category | Spend a year | Use | Earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $6,200 | Robinhood Gold Card | $186 3% |
| Dining | $3,900 | Robinhood Gold Card | $117 3% |
| Gas | $2,400 | Robinhood Gold Card | $72 3% |
| Travel | $2,500 | Robinhood Gold Card | $75 3% |
| Drugstores | $700 | Robinhood Gold Card | $21 3% |
| Everything else | $6,600 | Robinhood Gold Card | $198 3% |
| Total | $22,300 | $669 |