United Airlines offers two business credit cards similar in name but very different in terms of annual fees and benefits.
The mid-tier United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) offers great value for a low annual fee. In contrast, the top-tier United Club℠ Business Card has a substantially higher annual fee and valuable benefits for frequent United business travelers.
United recently refreshed its entire suite of credit cards, and we saw changes in benefits, new statement credits and, as expected, increases in annual fees.
If you’re a business owner who wants a United cobranded card, which of these cards is a better fit for you? Let’s examine both cards’ benefits and explore each in more detail.
The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
United Business vs. United Club Business comparison
| United Business Card | United Club Business Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $150 | $695 |
| Earning | At least 7 miles per dollar spent on United flight purchases
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays purchased through United hotels 2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, gas station purchases, office supply store purchases, local transit and commuting 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases |
At least 7 miles per dollar spent on United flight purchases
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts 2 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| Lounge access | Two United Club one-time passes annually | Four United Club one-time passes per anniversary year (authorized user required on account and Club All Access Membership)
United Club membership United Club All Access membership (unlock with spend requirement or United Premier Gold status) |
| United benefits | 25% back on United inflight purchases in the form of a statement credit
Up to $25 in statement credits on United FareLock Up to $125 in United TravelBank cash One free checked bag Priority boarding Up to 4,000 Premier qualifying points through spending Two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades Expanded award availability Premier upgrades on award tickets 5,000 miles on each card anniversary if you also have a personal United card |
25% back on United inflight purchases
Up to $50 in statement credits on United FareLock Two free checked bags Premier Access services, including designated check-in lines, priority security lanes, priority boarding and priority baggage handling (where available) Up to 28,000 PQPs through spending Two global Economy Plus seat upgrades Expanded award availability Premier upgrades on award tickets 5,000 miles on each card anniversary if you also have a personal United card |
| Other benefits | Up to $50 in United TravelBank cash after eligible Avis or Budget car rental purchases (two $25 credits)
Up to $100 in ride-hailing statement credits Up to $100 in United Hotels statement credits Up to $100 in statement credits for JSX flight purchases annually Up to $120 in Instacart credits Complimentary Instacart+ membership Travel and purchase protections No foreign transaction fees |
Up to $100 in United travel credits annually on Avis or Budget (two $50 credits)
Up to $150 in ride-hailing statement credits Up to $200 in statement credits for hotel stays booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts Up to $200 in statement credits for JSX flight purchases annually Up to $240 in Instacart credits Avis President’s Club elite status Complimentary Instacart+ membership Travel and purchase protections No foreign transaction fees |
United Business vs. United Club Business welcome offer
Both the United Business Card and the United Club Business Card are offering 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Both offers are worth $1,688, according to TPG’s March 2025 valuations. That number of miles could be enough for a few domestic economy award tickets or one-way tickets in a premium cabin on United or its partners.
This offer is not available to current or previous cardmembers who received a new bonus within the past 24 months, and Chase’s 5/24 rule applies.
Winner: Tie.
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Related reading: How to unlock additional award availability with United Airlines
United Business vs. United Club Business benefits
United Business benefits
The United Business Card includes a free first checked bag for cardholders and up to one companion on United flights — up to $160 in value, round-trip. Cardholders also receive priority boarding, a 25% inflight purchase discount and two one-time United Club passes on each account anniversary. Bear in mind that the United Club passes can only be used by the primary cardholder, an authorized user or a guest traveling with either type of cardmember. Cardholders can no longer gift their United Club passes to other flyers.
Plus, cardholders who also hold a personal United card receive 5,000 anniversary bonus miles each account year. Those who use the card for five United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year will receive $125 in United TravelBank cash.
Furthermore, the United Business Card has a variety of perks and statement credits, including:
- Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two continental U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
- $100 United Hotels statement credit: Receive $50 in statement credits on both your first and second prepaid hotel stays ($100 maximum) when purchased through United Hotels each anniversary year.
- Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $100 in ride-hailing statement credits each calendar year ($8 per month from January to November and $12 in December). Yearly enrollment is required.
- United travel credit via car rental: Cardholders earn up to $25 in United TravelBank cash per eligible Avis or Budget rental when booking through cars.united.com. This benefit is limited to two $25 United TravelBank credits per anniversary year ($50 maximum).
- JSX statement credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits on JSX (a semiprivate jet service) purchases made directly with the airline per anniversary year.
- FareLock statement credit: Cardholders will earn up to $25 in statement credits annually after purchasing FareLock for United flights.
- Instacart+ membership: Enjoy complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, with a 25% discounted plan thereafter. Benefits end March 31, 2027.
- Instacart statement credits: Earn up to $120 in Instacart credit each calendar year (up to $10 a month) on purchases made with the United Business Card. Benefits end March 31, 2027.
United Club Business benefits
Those with the United Club Business Card get a free first and second checked bag for themselves and a companion on the same reservation purchased using the card (up to $360 in value), access to United Premier Access services and a 25% refund on inflight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi.
However, the star of the show for the United Club Business is a United Club membership, which allows cardholders and their eligible travel companions, including one adult guest and dependent children, access to over 45 United Club locations worldwide. United has introduced United Club All Access membership after a cardholder reaches Premier Gold status or spends $50,000 each year with the United Club Business Card. Benefits include guest privileges for up to two adults or one adult and dependent children under the age of 18 and provide access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance member-affiliated lounges.
Similar to its lower annual fee counterpart, the United Club Business also has a host of perks and travel credits, including:
- Renowned Hotels and Resorts credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each anniversary year on prepaid bookings made directly with Renowned Hotels and Resorts using the United Club Business Card.
- JSX statement credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits on JSX purchases made directly with the airline per anniversary year.
- Economy Plus seat upgrades: Earn two global U.S. Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
- Ride-hailing credit: Receive up to $150 in ride-hailing statement credit each calendar year ($12 per month from January to November and $18 in December). Yearly enrollment is required.
- United travel credit via car rental: Cardholders earn up to $50 in United TravelBank cash per eligible Avis or Budget rental when booking through cars.united.com. This benefit is limited to two $50 United TravelBank credits per anniversary year ($100 maximum).
- FareLock statement credit: Cardholders will earn up to $50 in statement credits annually after purchasing FareLock for United flights.
- Instacart+ membership: Enjoy complimentary Instacart+ membership for three months, with a 25% discounted plan thereafter. Benefits end March 31, 2027.
- Instacart statement credits: Earn up to $240 in Instacart credit each calendar year (up to two $10 monthly credits) on purchases made with the United Business Club Card. Benefits end March 31, 2027.
Cardholders also receive four one-time Club passes for your authorized users each year after meeting spending requirements. The main cardholder must have a United Club All Access membership, which allows one person to access a lounge with the primary cardholder or the employee card.
Similar benefits
Finally, both cards can help you earn toward Premier elite status with United. With the United Business Card, you earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent, up to 4,000 PQPs in a calendar year. The United Club Business earns 1 PQP for every $15 spent, with the ability to earn up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year. Both cards can help you earn up to the Premier 1K status level.
Additional benefits on both cards include:
The United Club Business Card also provides Avis President’s Club elite status, which includes benefits like upgrades and expanded availability.
Winner: United Club Business. United Club membership and a higher limit for statement credits give this card a clear edge.
Related: The ultimate guide to United Club access
Earning miles with the United Business vs. United Club Business
The United Business Card earns bonus miles in several different categories. It accrues at least 7 miles per dollar spent on United purchases (tiered earnings based on United elite status), 5 miles per dollar spent on United Hotel purchases and 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores, as well as on local transit and commuting — including mass transit systems, tolls, taxis and ride-hailing services.
By contrast, the United Club Business Card earns at least 7 miles per dollar spent on United purchases and 5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts. Additionally, the card earns a flat 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
If you tend to make more dining, gas, office supply store and commuting purchases, then the United Business Card’s 2 miles per dollar earning rate could help you quickly rack up the miles for award flights.
However, if your purchase activity covers a more diverse range of categories, the simpler 1.5 miles per dollar earning formula on the Club Business might be better for you.
Winner: United Business. It offers bonus miles in several more categories than the Club Business.
Redeeming miles with the United Business vs. United Club Business
Both United business credit cards earn United miles that are deposited into the cardholder’s MileagePlus account. You can redeem United miles for United and United Express flights and flights on any Star Alliance carrier or partner airline.
Chris Nelson, a credit cards writer at TPG, is a longtime United loyalist. He has taken advantage of many partner redemptions and redeemed his miles for many saver award tickets, including last-minute Polaris business-class flights to Europe.
Winner: Tie. Both cards earn United miles that can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Related: How to redeem miles with the United MileagePlus program
Should I get the United Business or United Club Business?
If your business purchases tend to be in the bonus categories the United Business Card offers, its elevated earning rates can help you rake in miles. On the other hand, if you regularly travel with United, you’ll likely prefer the United Club Business for its lounge access, additional free checked baggage, Premier Access services at the airport, more comprehensive travel credits and travel protections.
How to upgrade from the United Business to United Club Business
Both cards are issued by Chase and fall within the same credit card family. This is useful because if you have the United Business Card, you can upgrade to the United Club Business Card by calling Chase customer service. Do note that upgrading to the United Club Business will not make you eligible for the card’s sign-up bonus and may make you ineligible to earn a sign-up bonus on the same card if you try to apply for the same card within 24 months.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades
Bottom line
Both cards are tailored to United loyalists, offering competitive welcome bonuses for new applicants. Although the annual fee is dramatically different, the benefits of the United Club Business more than make up for the hefty fee for those able to maximize them. Before applying for either card, map your business expenses, determine how often you fly with United and select the right card to complement your business expenses and redemption aspirations.
To learn more, read our full review of the United Club Business Card.
Apply here: United Business Card