The United Explorer edges out the American Express Green Card for most cardholders — it wins on 1 of 4 comparison categories and offers 80,000 pts signup bonus. The American Express Green Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.
American Express Green Card vs United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- 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 3x
- Restaurant Purchases 2x
- Hotel Stays 2x
- CLEAR Plus Credit $209
- United Travel Credit $100
- United Hotels Credit $50
- United Hotels Credit $50
- +4 more
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
- Flying Blue
- Delta SkyMiles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qatar Avios
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- +13 more
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The United Explorer edges out the American Express Green Card for most cardholders — it wins on 1 of 4 comparison categories and offers 80,000 pts signup bonus. The American Express Green Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, United Explorer tops out at 3x versus 3x for American Express Green Card. Current signup bonus values are roughly $800 for American Express Green Card and $800 for United Explorer. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/american-express-green-card-vs-united-explorer
- United Explorer wins 1 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: United Explorer reaches 3x; American Express Green Card reaches 3x.
- Annual fee: United Explorer is $150/yr; American Express Green Card is $150/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $800 and $800.
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 80,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Both bonuses are roughly equal in value.
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.