United Gateway Card vs. PayPal Cashback Mastercard
On the criteria below, United Gateway Card wins 4 of 5. The verdict depends on which criteria matter to you.
United Gateway Card
Chase
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Synchrony
United Gateway Card wins 4 of 5 criteria here, making it the stronger all-rounder.
United Gateway Card leads on first-year math, earning ceiling, travel insurance, and foreign transactions, while PayPal Cashback Mastercard only ties the rest.
Pick the United Gateway Card if year-one math is your priority.
Who wins what
4 vs 0 (1 tie)- First-year math United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card wins on bonus value minus annual fee.
- Annual fee Tie
Same annual fee.
- Earning ceiling United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card earns more on its best category (5× vs 3×).
- Travel insurance United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card carries built-in travel insurance.
- Foreign transactions United Gateway Card
United Gateway Card has a lower (or zero) foreign transaction fee.
By the numbers
- Annual fee
- Free
- Free
- Welcome offer (typical value)
- $520
- —
- First-year net
- +$520
- +$0
- Peak earning rate
- 5×
- 3×
- Top categories
- Airfare, Travel, Gas
- PayPal Purchases
- Lounge access
- No
- No
- Travel insurance
- Yes
- No
- Elite status
- No
- No
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- 3.00%
- Reward currency
- United MileagePlus
- PayPal Cash Rewards
Welcome-offer dollar values use each program's typical-tier valuation from our signup bonus calculator. See the methodology page for sourcing details.