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Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex vs United Explorer Card

At our sample profile ($31,100/yr spend, only “easy” credits counted), the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex comes to $1,727 in the first year and $367 a year after that; the United Explorer Card comes to $1,373 and $348. Annual fees are $150 and $150, against $220 and $460 a year in stated credits. Figures from the issuers’ pages, checked October 23, 2026; your spending will change the result.

Data checked by Chris Manns · Last updated October 23, 2026

	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	United℠ Explorer Card
Issuer	American Express	Chase
Annual fee	$150 ($0 yr 1)	$150 ($0 yr 1)
Welcome bonus	As high as 80,000 miles≈ $1,210after $3,000 in 6 months; + $250 statement credit	70,000 miles≈ $875after $3,000 in 3 months
Rewards currency	Delta SkyMiles	United MileagePlus
Value per point	~1.2¢ each, median of 6 published valuations	~1.25¢ each, median of 6 published valuations
Earning	2x Delta only Flights (booked with the airline) 2x Dining & takeout, Groceries 1x everything else	3x United only Flights (booked with the airline) 2x Hotels (booked with the hotel) 2x Dining & takeout 1x everything else
Fee vs stated credits	$150 ($0 yr 1) vs $220+stated credits a year (face value) · + $200 if you hit a spend threshold	$150 ($0 yr 1) vs $460+stated credits a year (face value) · + $100 if you hit a spend threshold
Yearly cost after year 1	$150fee − $0 of “easy” credits (our default)	$120fee − $30 of “easy” credits (our default)
Year 2+ value*	$367 each year after the first, after the annual fee	$348 each year after the first, after the annual fee
First-year value*	$1,727	$1,373
Credits & perks	Delta Stays credit niche $100/yr · up to $100 per year Rideshare credit niche $120/yr · up to $10/mo after your first card renewal Delta Flight Credit after $10,000 spend niche $200/yr · $200 once per calendar year	United Hotels credit niche $100/yr · $50 on each of the 1st and 2nd prepaid stays, each anniversary year Rideshare credits niche $60/yr · up to $5/mo Avis / Budget United TravelBank cash niche $50/yr · $25 on each of the 1st and 2nd rentals, each anniversary year Instacart credits niche $120/yr · $10/mo JSX flight credit niche $100/yr · up to $100 each anniversary year United TravelBank cash after $10,000 spend niche $100/yr · $100 once per calendar year Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS application fee credit easy $120 every 4 yrs ≈ $30/yr · up to $120 once every 4 years
Perks (no $ unless the issuer states one)	First checked bag free on Delta flights (second bag free on domestic Delta flights) 20% back on Delta in-flight purchases 15% off Delta award travel (TakeOff 15)	Free first checked bag for you and one companion (United: “save up to $200 per roundtrip”) 2 United Club one-time passes per year ($100/yr issuer-stated) Group 2 priority boarding (Chase: “a value of $48 per person per roundtrip”) 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 spend in a calendar year 25% back on United inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi
Source	Issuer page	Issuer page

Face value isn’t real value: a credit only saves you money if you’d have spent it anyway. *Year 2+ and first-year values use our sample profile and default credit ticks. Add a third card · How we calculate

Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex vs United Explorer Card: quick answers

Which has the bigger welcome bonus, Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex vs United Explorer Card?

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex has the bigger headline bonus in dollars: As high as 80,000 miles (≈$1,210) vs 70,000 miles (≈$875), at median published point values, checked October 23, 2026.

Which has the lower annual fee?

Both charge $150.

Which costs less after year 1, once credits are counted?

Yearly cost after year 1 (annual fee minus the easy credits we count by default): Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex $150, United Explorer Card $120. Tick the credits you’d really use on each card page to get your own figure.