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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

American Express Platinum Chase United Explorer

American Express Platinum

$895/yr

Platinum
United Explorer

Chase United Explorer

$150/yr

Every $1 · two cards

American Express Platinum earns more in 7 of 9 categories · Chase United Explorer in 1

  • Dining
    1×2¢ per $1
    2×2.4¢ per $1
  • Groceries
    1×2¢ per $1
    1×1.2¢ per $1
  • Gas
    1×2¢ per $1
    1×1.2¢ per $1
  • Flights
    5×10¢ per $1

    up to $500,000/yr

    1×1.2¢ per $1
  • Hotels
    5×10¢ per $1

    via American Express Travel

    2×2.4¢ per $1
  • Everything else
    1×2¢ per $1
    1×1.2¢ per $1

Value per $1 uses the same point values as Discover Value: cash back at face value, points at Perqt's value for each program. Rates that apply all the time are shown, with caps and booking sites named; limited-time, spend-threshold and pick-one bonuses are in each card's full review. Annual fees and welcome offers are not counted here.

Fees, welcome offers & benefits

Lower annual fee: Chase United Explorer

American Express

Platinum

Annual fee
$895
Network
amex
Welcome value
—
Min spend
$12,000 / 6mo

Top earning rates

  • 5×Flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® · Membership Rewards
  • 5×Prepaid hotels · Membership Rewards
  • 5×Prepaid short-term rentals with Airbnb · Membership Rewards
  • 2×Eligible travel purchases · Membership Rewards

Key benefits

  • Cell Phone Protection · $800
  • Trip Delay Insurance · $500
  • $300 Equinox Credit · $300
  • $600 Lodging Credit · $300
  • $250 Airbnb Experiences Credit · $250
Full American Express Platinum review

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee
$150
Network
visa
Welcome value
—
Min spend
$3,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 3×All other eligible United® purchases · MileagePlus
  • 2×Hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel · MileagePlus
  • 2×Dining · MileagePlus
  • 1×All other purchases · MileagePlus

Key benefits

  • Free first checked bag · $200
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit · $120
  • $100 United travel credit (Spend Tier) · $100
  • $100 JSX Statement Credit · $100
  • United Hotels credits · $100
Full Chase United Explorer review

Wondering which one is right for your wallet?

Spec sheets can't tell you which card actually earns more for the way you spend. Perqt connects to your wallet, runs the math against your real transactions, and tells you which of these two — or another card entirely — gives you the biggest annual uplift.

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