United℠ Explorer vs Delta SkyMiles® Blue
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Explorer | Delta SkyMiles® Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 60,000 bonus miles | 10,000 Bonus Miles |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $322 | $322 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
*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 United℠ Explorer earns about $322 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue delivers more total value, about $150 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the United℠ Explorer currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.