Chase
United Gateway SM Card
Earn 5x miles on United flights and enjoy no annual fee with a 0% intro APR for 12 months. Gain 2 checked bags annually after $10K spend.
Annual fee
None
Top rate
5x flights
Welcome bonus
$600
Quick look
Miles + No Annual Fee
Earn miles on every purchase with no annual fee
3.5
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Budget-conscious United loyalists who fly the airline at least once a year and want to earn miles without paying an annual fee.
The verdict
The United Gateway SM Card strips away the premium perks to deliver a genuinely free entry point into United earning. You get a competitive 5x rate on flights (8th-best in the catalog) and no annual fee, which removes the biggest barrier to miles-building. The real catch isn't what the card includes—it's what it omits. No automatic free checked bag, no priority boarding, no lounge access, and only 1x earning on everyday purchases. It's honest about its position: if you fly United once or twice yearly and want to earn miles without paying rent on a card, this works. If you fly more often, the $150 United Explorer Card's free checked bag pays for itself almost immediately.
The welcome bonus of up to 40,000 miles is respectable for earning starters. The 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases is genuinely useful if you're building a balance. But this is fundamentally a no-fee alternative for a no-fee crowd—it trades the annual-fee burden for actual benefits, and doesn't pretend otherwise.
Pros
- No annual fee eliminates the entry barrier to United mile-earning
- 5x miles on United flights is competitive for the no-fee category and ranks 8th in the catalog
- Earns 2x miles on gas and local transit—categories many people spend in regularly
- No foreign transaction fees make this practical for occasional international travel
Cons
- No automatic free checked bag; requires $10,000 annual spend to unlock two certificates
- 1x earning on non-bonus categories trails general-purpose competitors like Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Welcome bonus of 30,000 miles (plus 10,000 for an authorized user) is modest—roughly $400–600 in value
- Stripped of perks: no priority boarding, lounge access, or travel credits
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 5x | 5x total miles on eligible United flights |
| Flights | 2x | 2x miles on all other eligible United purchases |
| Gas & EV charging | 2x | 2x miles at gas stations |
| Flights | 2x | 2x miles on local transit and commuting |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x mile on all other purchases |
The 5x rate on United flights places this card 8th among all cards in the catalog for earning on flights, a respectable middle tier for a no-fee card. It trails United's premium options—the Quest Card (10x, $350 fee) and Explorer Card (9x, $150 fee)—but those annual fees buy meaningful perks. The 2x earning on gas stations, local transit, and commuting helps stack miles on frequent spending. The 1x baseline on everything else is functional but unremarkable; a no-fee general-purpose card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One Quicksilver would earn more on random purchases.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
$0 makes this the cheapest way into United mile-earning, removing the psychological barrier that stops many people from applying. However, no annual fee comes with a trade: there's no automatic free checked bag. Instead, you'll need to spend $10,000 in a calendar year to unlock two free checked bag certificates and award discounts. For casual flyers (one United trip per year), that $0 fee actually delivers more value than it appears. For frequent United travelers (4+ flights annually), the Explorer Card's $150 fee pays for itself through the automatic first checked bag alone, plus priority boarding and other perks.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
The up-to-40,000-mile structure splits into two pieces: 30,000 miles for spending $1,000 in your first three months (roughly $333/month), plus an extra 10,000 if you add an authorized user. That's a practical welcome boost—around $400–600 in typical redemption value—but it's not game-changing. You'll want a specific United redemption in mind when you apply; the miles alone won't fund a transcontinental flight. Adding an authorized user is nearly free value if you trust that person.
Similar cards
Costs $150 annually but includes automatic free checked bag, priority boarding, and 9x flight earning. Break-even for anyone flying United 2+ times per year.
No-fee alternative if you're open to American Airlines. Includes automatic free checked bag and earns 2x on dining—benefits this card lacks.
Frequently asked questions
Is earning 5x miles on United flights actually competitive?
Yes—it ranks 8th in the entire catalog for flight earning and outpaces most no-fee cards. The only cards earning more are premium United cards (10x and 9x) that charge $150–350 annually. For a $0 card, 5x is solid. Whether it's worth carrying depends on whether you value airline miles over cash back; if you prefer cash, a 2–3% cash-back card serves you better.
Do I get a free checked bag with this card?
No automatic free bag. To unlock two free checked bag certificates and award discounts, you need to spend $10,000 in a calendar year. If that spending is unrealistic for you, the free bag benefit isn't real, and this card is purely about earning. The United Explorer Card ($150/year) includes an automatic first checked bag, which pays for itself if you fly United more than once annually.
How much spending do I need to hit the welcome bonus?
You earn 30,000 miles by spending $1,000 in your first three months—about $333 per month, which most people hit naturally. The additional 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user is nearly free if you have a trusted family member or friend to put on the account.
What happens when the 0% intro APR expires?
Your purchase APR becomes the ongoing variable rate, typically 19–28% depending on your creditworthiness. Use this card responsibly: if you're carrying a balance, pay it off before month 13, or the interest charges will erase any welcome bonus value.
Are the bonus miles taxable?
Miles themselves are not taxable income. If you redeem them for a cash award or travel credit, the IRS technically considers that taxable, but United and most airline programs don't issue a 1099. The practical answer: no, you won't receive a tax bill for earning or holding miles.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026