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.
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels, United Explorer Card on dining.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | United Explorer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 3X | 2X |
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express 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.
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | United Explorer Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $212 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $228 Year one: $978 | United Explorer Card |
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr — a $200 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| Dining | 2X | 2X |
| Grocery Stores | 2X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| United Explorer Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $212 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $724 Year one: $1,474 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr — that's $200 more than the United Explorer Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $200 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $200 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $200 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs roughly $200 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card means losing:
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum 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.
