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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

American Express Green Card vs United Explorer

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

American Express Green Card card art
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Green Card
American Express
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
40,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • On Travel Including airfare, hotels, tours, campgrounds, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals, and more 3x
  • On Transit Including trains, buses, ferries, subways, and more 3x
  • Dining At Restaurants Worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. 3x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
  • CLEAR Plus Credit $209
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
None listed
  • 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 Green Card vs United Explorer

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

American Express Green Card earns 3x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. American Express Green Card wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

American Express Green Card currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). United Explorer 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 Green 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 Green Card is from American Express and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.