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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

Hilton Honors American Express Card vs United Explorer

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

Hilton Honors American Express Card card art
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors American Express Card
American Express
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
No annual fee
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
70,000 points
Spend $2,000 in 6 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio 7x
  • Dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, Groceries At U.S. supermarkets, Gas At U.S. gas stations 5x
  • All Other Purchases 3x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
None
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
  • Hilton Honors Silver Status
  • 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: Hilton Honors American Express Card vs United Explorer

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

Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. Hilton Honors American Express Card wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Hilton Honors American Express Card currently offers 70,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,000 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 Hilton Honors American Express 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. Hilton Honors American Express Card is from American Express and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.