United Explorer vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Green Card Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "120", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Travel Rewards", "headerHint" : "Best for Frequent Travelers" } ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

Here’s a breakdown of why the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) is a compelling option for frequent travelers.

‍

• It earns an accelerated rewards rate on a wide range of travel purchases and at restaurants worldwide.
• The points you earn are highly flexible and can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.
• Cardholders receive annual statement credits for popular travel services that can help offset the card's annual fee.

‍

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

‍

Pros

‍

• Generous rewards on a wide range of travel purchases and at restaurants worldwide.
• Flexible points that can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
• Valuable annual statement credits for travel services and no foreign transaction fees.

‍

Cons

‍

• Includes an annual fee that may be steep if you don't take full advantage of the card's benefits.
• Maximizing rewards can be complex, requiring you to transfer points and use specific travel credits that may not align with your spending.
• Not all redemption options are created equal; some provide significantly less value than others.

American Express® Green Card vs United Explorer

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding between these two popular travel cards can be a challenge. To figure out which is better, United Explorer or Amex Green, it helps to first look at the type of consumer each card is designed for.

‍

• United℠ Explorer Card: This card is tailored for travelers loyal to United Airlines, offering benefits that directly enhance the experience of flying with that specific carrier.
• American Express® Green Card: This is a versatile travel and dining card best suited for people who spend broadly on travel and at restaurants around the world.

‍

Redemption

‍

United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles, which are primarily redeemed for flights with United and its Star Alliance airline partners. Miles can also be used for other travel-related purchases like seat upgrades and in-flight amenities.

‍

American Express® Green Card: This card earns flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Points can also be used to book travel directly through the American Express travel portal or redeemed for statement credits.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Travel Portal: The United Explorer Card is integrated with United's booking system for redeeming miles on United and its partners. The Amex Green Card uses the more flexible American Express Travel portal, which allows booking various travel or transferring points to numerous partners.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are ideal for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
• Lounge Access: The United Explorer Card offers two one-time United Club passes each year. In contrast, the Amex Green Card provides an annual statement credit toward LoungeBuddy to purchase single-visit lounge passes. Terms apply.
• Airport Experience: The United Explorer Card offers practical airline-specific perks like a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights. The Amex Green Card focuses on efficiency with an annual statement credit for a CLEAR Plus membership to expedite airport security. Terms apply.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

Kudos is a data-driven card explorer tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best one for your spending habits.

‍

• Test Drive Feature: Simulate how much you could earn with any card using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting a card, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed Approval Odds: Receive a comprehensive analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get matched with the card that will earn you the most based on your actual spending history.

Who Should Choose the United Explorer?

‍

The United℠ Explorer Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize the card's airline-specific benefits. This cardholder values practical travel perks that save money, such as a free first checked bag and statement credits for programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. It's also a strong choice for international travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees and for those who can easily offset the annual fee through its various perks.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

‍

The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners who are willing to put in the effort to maximize rewards. This cardholder is someone who spends heavily on a wide range of travel and restaurant purchases and knows how to leverage transferable Membership Rewards® points with airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions. While it comes with a $150 annual fee, the generous credits for services like CLEAR Plus and robust earning rates can make it a worthwhile deal for those who can take full advantage of its perks. Terms Apply.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

Still on the fence after our United Explorer Card vs. American Express® Green Card breakdown? If neither option feels like the right co-pilot for your travels, we have a few other excellent alternatives for you to consider.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["2888", "2894"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Luxurious Travel Benefits", "2% Cash Back"]} ]]

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit score - Most travel rewards cards, including those from Chase and American Express, require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement to earn the welcome offer without forcing purchases.
• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of any application restrictions, as some issuers limit how many cards you can open or welcome offers you can receive.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Apply through the right channels - Some offers may only be available directly from the card issuer's website.
• Time your application strategically - A large planned purchase can help you naturally meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Match the card to your habits - Choose a card that aligns with your travel patterns, like an airline card if you're loyal to one carrier.

Our Methodology

‍

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

‍

Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

Which card is better for frequent United flyers?

‍

The United℠ Explorer Card is generally the superior choice for loyal United flyers because it offers airline-specific benefits like a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights.

‍

Can I transfer points from the American Express Green Card to airline partners?

‍

Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points from the American Express® Green Card to many airline and hotel partners. However, United Airlines is not a direct transfer partner for Amex (Terms Apply).

‍

What are the main travel credits offered by each card?

‍

The American Express® Green Card offers up to a $189 CLEAR Plus credit and up to a $100 LoungeBuddy credit annually (Terms Apply). The United℠ Explorer Card provides a statement credit for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee once every four years.

‍