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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs United Explorer

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

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express card art
American Express Membership Rewards
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
American Express
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$95/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
35,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • U.S. Supermarkets 6x
  • Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions 6x
  • U.S. Gas Stations 3x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
cashback
miles
Key Credits
None
  • 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: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs United Explorer

Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or United Explorer better for dining?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has no dining bonus; United Explorer earns 2x on dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express currently offers 35,000 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 Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express 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. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is from American Express and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.