American Express® Gold vs United℠ Explorer
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | United℠ Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points | Up to 60,000 bonus miles |
| Dining | 4x | 2x |
| Groceries | 4x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 3x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $598 | $322 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Gold earns about $598 a year in rewards and the United℠ Explorer about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Gold delivers more total value, about $313 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and dining. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the United℠ Explorer stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the American Express® Gold if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Explorer if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, travel.