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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Quick Answer

The The Business Platinum Card from American Express edges out the United Explorer for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 200,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 2x). The United Explorer is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.

Card Comparison

The Business Platinum Card from American Express vs United Explorer

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

The Business Platinum Card from American Express card art
American Express Membership Rewards
The Business Platinum Card from American Express
American Express
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$895/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
200,000 points
Spend $20,000 in 3 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Flights (Amex Travel) 5x
  • Prepaid Hotels (Amex Travel) 5x
  • Purchases $5,000+ 1.5x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.10¢/pt points · industry est.
~1.30¢/pt miles · industry est.
Key Credits
  • Dell Technologies Credit $200
  • Indeed Credit $360
  • Adobe Credit $150
  • +4 more
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
  • Centurion Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass Select
  • Fine Hotels + Resorts
  • +5 more
  • 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: The Business Platinum Card from American Express vs United Explorer

Is the The Business Platinum Card from American Express or United Explorer better for dining?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express has no dining bonus; United Explorer earns 2x on dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express currently offers 200,000 pts signup bonus (spend $20,000 in 3 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). The Business Platinum Card from American Express 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 The Business Platinum 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. The Business Platinum Card from American Express is from American Express and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.