Is the United Business Card worth it?
United MileagePlus · $150 annual fee
Source date June 8, 20261 recent change to this card : newest took effect Mar 24, 2025, including a cut already in effectRead them
Took effect Mar 24, 2025
In effectChase's 2025 United refresh raised the United Business Card's annual fee from $99 to $150 (waived the first year) and added coupon-style credits (United hotels, rideshare, Avis/Budget, JSX, FareLock, monthly Instacart). New applicants saw the change Mar 24, 2025; existing cardholders at renewal later in 2025.
Source~$1,105Estimated first-year value
Card terms under re-review
This estimate uses the recorded bonus, counted credits, and annual fee. Recommendations are withheld until an issuer re-review is recorded. Confirm current terms and your eligibility before deciding.
We earn nothing from this one. It's a direct link to the issuer. Read the current offer and compare the costs with your needs before applying. See exactly how we picked it.
This estimate uses the same math whether we get paid or not.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Signup bonus
- 75,000 ptsafter $5,000 in 3 months
- Foreign tx fee
- None
- Credit needed
- Good to excellent (typically 700+)
Scores and offer rankings are withheld while card terms are under re-review.
Make the math yoursadjust the credits
Our estimate starts with our model's credit defaults. Tell us which credits you'd actually use and we'll re-run year one on your answers.
Estimated first-year value
$1,105
Card terms under re-review
This estimate reflects your inputs and the recorded terms. A recommendation is withheld pending issuer re-review.
Estimated annual value after year one (no bonus): +$130/yr : based on these inputs; actual value can differ.
Which credits will you actually use?
$125 United travel credit
$125/yrTriggers only after you make 5 United purchases of $100+ in the anniversary year: attainable for a frequent United flyer, but not automatic.
$120 Instacart credit
$120/yrDrips out as a $10 statement credit each month (enrollment required); easy to forget unless you already shop Instacart.
$100 United Hotels credit
$100/yr$50 each on your first and second prepaid stays via United Hotels per anniversary year: only if you book hotels that way.
$100 ride-hailing credit
$100/yrUp to $8/month ($12 in December) as monthly drips (enrollment required) you must remember to use.
$50 Avis/Budget car rental credit
$50/yr$25 each on up to two prepaid Avis or Budget rentals per anniversary year: only if you rent from those brands.
$100 JSX flight credit
$100/yrOnly on JSX, a regional semi-private carrier serving a handful of cities; near-useless if JSX isn't near you.
$25 FareLock credit
$25/yrCovers United's FareLock fare-hold fee. Our model excludes it by default; count it only if you plan to use FareLock.
5,000-mile anniversary bonus
$65/yrOnly if you also hold a personal Chase United card: a nice nudge but conditional.
Starting from our model's credit defaults. Tap to make it yours. Bonus and rewards valued at a conservative 1.3c/point.
We value United MileagePlus at a conservative 1.3c/point (a motivated redeemer can reach ~1.5c). United MileagePlus is dynamically priced with no award chart, so value swings. 1.3c is a fair everyday floor; Star Alliance partner awards reach a bit higher. See how we value points.
The recorded signup offer
These are recorded offer facts and labeled model estimates. Card terms under re-review; check the issuer for the current offer.
Recent typical offer
75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Offers change constantly: this is a recent typical bonus, not a guarantee. Always verify the live offer on the issuer's site before applying.
Both bars are our planning estimates for 75,000 points. Actual redemption values can differ.
at 1.5¢/pt: our achievable estimate
at 1.3¢/pt: our conservative planning estimate
That's $150 (13%) between our estimates, with the percentage measured against the achievable estimate. The card-value calculations on this page use our planning baseline.
Chase's 5/24 rule
Chase typically won't approve you if you've opened 5 or more credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months. Check your count before you apply.
Another card to explore
United Explorer Card
Check recorded facts and current issuer terms.
What you actually get
- Free first checked bag for you and one companion on United-operated flights
- Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation
- Two United Club one-time passes per year
- Earns Premier qualifying points (PQP) toward United elite status (1 PQP per $20, up to a cap)
- 5,000 'better-together' anniversary miles if you also hold a personal United card
- No foreign transaction fees
How it earns
See how it stacks up
Compare recorded fees, programs, and terms side by side. Winners are withheld while any card's terms are under re-review.
Honest answers
Do you recommend the United Business Card?
Where can I check the United Business Card offer?
The honest playbook
Before deciding on a card, consider interest, spending requirements, and how you would use the benefits.
Check current issuer terms
Offers change often, so always confirm the current bonus and fee on the issuer's own site before applying.
We earn nothing from this one. It's a direct link to the issuer. Read the current offer and compare the costs with your needs before applying. See exactly how we picked it.
Not sure it fits your trip? Run the optimizer
Sources: how we know this1 issuer source
These sources support the recorded figures and estimates. Offers change, so always confirm the current terms on the issuer's own page.
Issuer sources
How we make money, honestly: we may earn a commission if you apply for a card through one of our links, and a small commission if you book a hotel through one of our links. Both at no cost to you. Our ranking never depends on payout fields. A “pay cash” verdict earns us nothing by itself; if you then book a hotel through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Offers and terms change constantly; always confirm current details on the provider's site before booking.