The United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card is one of the newest additions to a growing list of rewards debit cards. While it earns miles at a lower rate compared to traditional rewards credit cards, there's no credit check, and you can earn bonus miles if you hit a spending goal each calendar year.
Let's take a look at the United debit card and how it fits in the popular world of travel cards.
The United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards card is a great option if you're looking to earn travel rewards via a debit card, and enjoy United's travel options.
- Offers a welcome bonus
- Earns United Miles on all purchases
- No credit check required
- Limited value when you're not traveling with United
- $4 monthly fee if not meeting minimum deposit
United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card review
Welcome bonus
The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card comes with a launch offer of 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 on purchases in the first four months of account opening.
Benefits and perks
Since credit cards typically have the most valuable benefits, it's not surprising that the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card doesn't offer a huge selection of perks. One attractive feature of this card is that there's no credit check, so applying won't impact your credit score. You can also waive the $4 monthly fee with an average monthly account balance of $2,000 or more.
How to earn and redeem United Debit Rewards
Earning
This rewards-earning debit card has a very simple structure:
- Earn one mile for every $1 spent on United purchases.
- Earn one mile for every $2 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 2,500 bonus miles after spending $10,000 annually on your debit card.
One interesting aspect of the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card is that it lets you earn miles based on your average monthly balance, starting at a minimum of $2,500. While you can earn up to 70,000 miles a year, that requires you to maintain a $50,000 average monthly balance. The 70,000 United miles are valued by many experts at roughly $840. In comparison, depositing the same amount in a 4% APY high-yield savings account would net you over $2,000 a year.
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Redeeming
United's MileagePlus miles can be redeemed in several ways, including for hotels, gift cards, entertainment, and more. Often, the most valuable way to redeem your miles is for flights with United Airlines or its partners.
United uses a dynamic pricing system for award flights, meaning prices change based on demand and other factors. Even though this makes it harder to know how many miles you need, your miles can still help you afford well-priced flights, and you can cover the difference with cash if needed.
Rates and fees
The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card doesn't have an annual fee or APR. The card has a $4 monthly fee, which is waived if you maintain an average balance of at least $2,000.
Card comparison
United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card vs. PayPal Debit Card
The PayPal Debit Card allows you to earn up to 5% back (earned as PayPal points) in everyday spending categories, which is rarer for a debit card. See terms at paypal.com/rewardspal
- Earns up to 5% cash back in select categories
- No annual fee
- No credit check required
- Caps your monthly cash back
- Points can expire with inactivity
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- A debit card for you to spend your PayPal balance.
- Earn 5% back on a category (earned as points) you choose each month on up to $1,000 of monthly category spend. Pick a category each month – Groceries, Fuel, Restaurants, Apparel, and Rideshare/Public Transit. Find the latest available categories in the PayPal app. (5% back earned as points) you redeem at checkout or for other options on up to $1,000 spend/month in your selected category everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Terms apply.)
- Stack rewards with other offers. Find offers from top brands in the PayPal app. Simply choose a monthly category to earn 5% back (earned as points), save relevant offers in your category in the PayPal app, and checkout with the PayPal Debit Card online through PayPal checkout. (Offers are subject to availability. Redeem points at checkout and for other options. PayPal Rewards terms and merchant offer terms and exclusions apply. Offers change often so refer to merchant site for the most accurate information. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase.)
- Use your card online and in store, anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
- Pay with your phone. Add your card to your phone's mobile wallet and tap to pay in store with Apple Pay (Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer), Google Pay (Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC.) or Samsung Pay (Samsung Pay is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
- No monthly fees or credit check (This is not a credit card)
- Withdraw cash at ATMs. It's free at U.S. MoneyPass ATMs (ATMs must display the Mastercard®, Cirrus®, Pulse® or MoneyPass® acceptance marks. Up to $400 USD daily withdrawal limit applies. Transactions at non-MoneyPass ATMs have a $2.50 ATM Domestic and International Withdrawal Fee. No fee for MoneyPass ATM Withdrawals in the U.S. International Transaction Fee applies for International ATM Withdrawals. ATM operator fees may also apply. See Cardholder Agreement for details.)
- Easily manage your card in the PayPal app. The app is your hub to save offers, check your PayPal balance, quickly add money before you shop and track your transactions. Plus, redeem your points, lock and unlock your card, and find an ATM.
- Protection from PayPal and Mastercard(R). Get peace of mind with purchase protection on eligible items. Required Disclosure (Available on eligible purchases. Terms and limitations apply. See PayPal Purchase Protection Terms and exclusions.)
- Plus, Mastercard's Zero Liability, built-in chip technology, and temporary card locking capabilities help keep your money safe. (Conditions and exceptions apply – see Cardholder Agreement.)
The PayPal Debit Card is a great option for people who are less concerned with earning travel miles and are just looking for strong savings. The card offers up to 5% cash back on a category of your choice each month, such as restaurants, apparel, groceries, fuel and rideshare and public transit. The rewards are capped at $1,000 in spending per month, but that's still up to $50 in cash back.
The PayPal Debit card also doesn't require a credit check and comes with no monthly fees, meaning you don't have to maintain a specific deposit amount to avoid extra charges.
United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card vs. United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway℠ Card offers decent rewards, earning 5x total miles on eligible United flights and 2x miles on all other eligible United purchases and 2x miles on gas and local transit. All other purchases earn 1X miles. With this card, you'll earn 25% back on in-flight purchases with United, and you'll receive two checked bag certificates after spending $10,000 in a calendar year. It also comes with benefits like purchase protection and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Since the card has a $0 annual fee and its reward rates are already better than those offered by the United Debit card, it's likely a better option if you can pass the credit check and trust yourself to use your credit responsibly.
Is the United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card right for you?
The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card is a great option for those who are looking to earn travel rewards without undergoing a credit check. While you will have to maintain an average balance of at least $2,000 to avoid the monthly fee, it's a low barrier to entry into earning miles, even if you pay $4 each month for the privilege.
However, if you have a high enough credit score or don't mind an annual fee, there are lots of airline credit cards that provide a stronger return.
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