United Explorer Card
Chase
$150/yrUnited MileagePlusNo foreign feeVisaUsually needs 670+
View issuer offerComparison brief
United Explorer vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold
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United Explorer and Delta SkyMiles Gold charge the identical $150 annual fee and both earn 2x on dining, and each adds one more 2x category: hotels for United Explorer, groceries for Delta Gold. The credit lists are far apart in how much value our model actually counts. Each card also pays a bonus on its own airline (3x at United, 2x at Delta), which the optimizer models separately, so this comparison focuses on what each card pays outside of that.
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Overview
$150/yrDelta SkyMilesNo foreign feeAmexUsually needs 670+
View issuer offerSome links may become affiliate links; today none pay us. Commissions are not solver inputs or ranking criteria; issuer terms, eligibility, channel offers, and your assumptions control the modeled result. Read the affiliate disclosure
Which wins on my spending?
Runs the optimizer on these two cards alone, one card allowed, against your own monthly spending.
Earn rates
Everyday categories
Delta Airfare
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 2x
Dining
- United Explorer Card
- 2x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 2x
Groceries — in store
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 2x
Groceries — online
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 2x
Hotels outside issuer portals
- United Explorer Card
- 2x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 1x
Other Delta Purchases
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 2x
Other United Purchases
- United Explorer Card
- 3x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 1x
United Airfare
- United Explorer Card
- 3x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 1x
Everything else
- United Explorer Card
- 1x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- 1x
| Category | United Explorer Card | Delta SkyMiles Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Airfare | 1x | 2x |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries — in store | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries — online | 1x | 2x |
| Hotels outside issuer portals | 2x | 1x |
| Other Delta Purchases | 1x | 2x |
| Other United Purchases | 3x | 1x |
| United Airfare | 3x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
These cards earn different reward currencies, so no highest rate is labeled; a larger multiplier does not necessarily mean more value. Listed rates can still be subject to portal, spending-cap, or category-selection rules; review each card's details before deciding.
Credits and benefits
Instacart Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
Rideshare Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $30/yr estimated usableUp to $60/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck
- United Explorer Card
- $30/yr estimated usableEasy to use
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
United Travel Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
Avis/Budget Car Rental Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $50/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
United Hotels Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
JSX Credit
- United Explorer Card
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- —
Delta Stays Credit
- United Explorer Card
- —
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $100/yrConditional
Delta Flight Credit
- United Explorer Card
- —
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $200/yrConditional
Rideshare Credit
- United Explorer Card
- —
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- $0/yr estimated usableUp to $120/yrConditional
Estimated usable credit value
- United Explorer Card
- $60/yr
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- $0/yr
Maximum face value
- United Explorer Card
- $560/yr
- Delta SkyMiles Gold
- $420/yr
| Credit | United Explorer Card | Delta SkyMiles Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Instacart Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Conditional | — |
| Rideshare Credit | $30/yr estimated usable Up to $60/yr Conditional | — |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck | $30/yr estimated usable Easy to use | — |
| United Travel Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional | — |
| Avis/Budget Car Rental Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $50/yr Conditional | — |
| United Hotels Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional | — |
| JSX Credit | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional | — |
| Delta Stays Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $100/yr Conditional |
| Delta Flight Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $200/yr Conditional |
| Rideshare Credit | — | $0/yr estimated usable Up to $120/yr Conditional |
| Estimated usable credit value | $60/yr | $0/yr |
| Maximum face value | $560/yr | $420/yr |
Estimated usable value applies the same conservative assumptions used by the optimizer. Maximum face value assumes every listed credit is used in full.
Find your modeled setup
The optimizer searches eligible portfolios against your stated spending—not just two cards at a time—and reports whether the result was proven within the selected catalog and run inputs.
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