Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card vs United Explorer Card
Both cards cost $150/yr. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card leads on dining; the United Explorer Card on dining.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
American Express · $150/yr
United Explorer CardChase · $150/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card$150Waived first yearUnited Explorer Card$150Waived first year
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAs high as 80,000 miles — offers varyUnited Explorer CardUp to 80,000 miles
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMilesUnited Explorer CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardNoneUnited Explorer CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAmerican ExpressUnited Explorer CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2xUnited Explorer Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Hotels
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1xUnited Explorer Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1xUnited Explorer Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $200 Delta flight credit
- $100 Delta Stays
- 20% inflight purchases · $20 per transaction
United Explorer Card- $100 United travel
- $100 JSX flights
- $100 United Hotels
- $50 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
United Explorer Card- $5/mo rideshare credit · $5 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card—United Explorer Card
- $10/mo Instacart+ · $10 monthly
- 3-mo Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card—United Explorer Card
- 2 United Club one-time passes annually
- Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
United Explorer Card- Free first checked bag for you plus companion
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
United Explorer Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card—United Explorer Card
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
United Explorer Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Secondary car rental insurance coverage
United Explorer Card- Rental car insurance up to $60,000 coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Purchase protection for new items
United Explorer Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
United Explorer Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
United Explorer Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- First checked bag free for you + 8 companions; second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights
- Priority boarding in Main Cabin 1
- $120 rideshare credit ($10/month after first renewal; enrollment required)
- 2X miles on Delta, restaurants, and supermarkets
- No foreign transaction fees
United Explorer Card- $0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $200 roundtrip
- 3x miles on United, 2x on dining and hotels—solid everyday earning
- Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+
- Cons
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $150 annual fee after first year ($0 intro year)
- No companion certificate included
- No Delta Sky Club access
- Only 1X on most purchases
- SkyMiles have variable redemption value
United Explorer Card- Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
- Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
- No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
- Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
- Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility
Expert Analysis
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card and United Explorer Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's strongest category is Delta Purchases at 2X, while the United Explorer Card leads with 2X on United Purchases. Neither card dominates across the board — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $150/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Delta Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Delta Airlines vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Grocery Stores vs 1X for the other
- Only the United Explorer Card offers airport lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Different networks: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is AMEX, United Explorer Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on delta purchases
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on delta airlines
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on hotels
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if:
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on delta purchases and delta airlines. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Explorer Card if:
The United Explorer Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and hotels. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 1 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you.
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
United Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | United Explorer Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $219 Year one: $369 | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $198 Year one: $1,188 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Explorer Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $781 Year one: $931 | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $694 Year one: $1,684 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Explorer Card |
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
Get the United Explorer Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card or United Explorer Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers travel credits. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card or the United Explorer Card?
- Both cards have the same $150/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.