Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
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 September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2X | 2X |
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
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): $212 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $228 Year one: $978 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | United Explorer Card |
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Grocery Stores | 2X | 1X |
| Hotels | 1X | 2X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| 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): $212 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $724 Year one: $1,474 |
| Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| United Explorer Card |
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card means losing:
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if you:
Get the United Explorer Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
