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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

American Express Gold Card vs United Explorer

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

American Express Gold Card card art
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Gold Card
American Express
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$325/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
90,000 points
Spend $6,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Restaurants (Worldwide) 4x
  • U.S. Supermarkets 4x
  • Flights (Direct or Amex Travel) 3x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
  • Uber Cash $10
  • Dining Credit $10
  • Resy Credit $100
  • +1 more
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
  • The Hotel Collection Access
  • Baggage Insurance Plan
  • Trip Delay Insurance
  • 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Transfer Partners
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: American Express Gold Card vs United Explorer

Is the American Express Gold Card or United Explorer better for dining?

American Express Gold Card earns 4x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. American Express Gold Card wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

American Express Gold Card currently offers 90,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 6 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). American Express Gold Card has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the American Express Gold Card and the United Explorer?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. American Express Gold Card is from American Express and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.