Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs United℠ Explorer
Side-by-side comparison
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | United℠ Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $149 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $322 |
| Points type | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | United℠ Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 55,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points | Up to 60,000 bonus miles |
| To earn it | $1,500 in 3 months | $3,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $783 | $772 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $233 | $172 |
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier | United℠ Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | Yes — United Club |
| Annual credits | 1 listed credits | None |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the United℠ Explorer gets you into airport lounges. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the United℠ Explorer about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier delivers more total value, about $61 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. Note that Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier if your spending leans toward groceries.