United Explorer vs Delta SkyMiles Gold: Which Is Better?

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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The Delta SkyMiles® Gold card earns 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), at U.S. supermarkets and on purchases made directly with Delta, and 1X on other eligible purchases.

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Pros

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• Your first checked bag is free on Delta flights worldwide, and your second bag is free on domestic Delta flights.
• After you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit.
• Up to $100 back per year on prepaid Delta Stays bookings, Zone 5 priority boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases and no foreign transaction fees.

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Cons

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• There is no Companion Certificate or Medallion® Status help, which come with higher-tier Delta cards.
• The $200 flight credit requires $10,000 in yearly spending.
• The rideshare credit of up to $10 a month only starts after your first Card renewal and requires enrollment.

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^{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.}

Delta SkyMiles® Gold vs United℠ Explorer

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Categories

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Both are mid-tier airline cards, so the better choice depends on which airline you fly from your home airport.

• United℠ Explorer Card: Best for people who fly United several times a year and value club passes and boarding perks.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for Delta flyers who want checked bag savings and steady earning at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

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Redemption

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United℠ Explorer Card: MileagePlus miles book award flights on United and its partner airlines, and can also go toward upgrades and other travel.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: SkyMiles book flights on Delta and partner airlines. TakeOff 15 takes 15% off award travel on Delta flights booked at delta.com or in the Fly Delta app, and Pay with Miles lets you put miles toward a fare. Terms Apply.

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Compare Cards With Kudos

To help you decide, Kudos compares nearly 3,000 credit cards against your own spending habits.

• Test Drive: Test Drive simulates what a card would earn from your real transaction history, including net value after the annual fee, with no hard credit pull.
• Approval odds: See a detailed analysis of your chances of approval based on your credit report.
• Best card at checkout: The Kudos browser extension autofills the card in your wallet that earns the most on each online purchase.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card rewards when you shop at participating stores.

Both cards come with partner credits that are easy to forget about. The Benefits Tracker in Kudos Premium shows how much of each credit you've used and what's left, with step-by-step redemption instructions, plus an annual fee vs. value comparison to help you decide which cards are worth keeping.

Who Should Choose the United℠ Explorer Card?

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The United℠ Explorer Card is for travelers who fly United several times a year. If you check a bag, would use two United Club℠ passes and fly with a companion, the perks can outweigh the $150 annual fee after the first year. You can see the full card details for the United℠ Explorer Card in Kudos Explore.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Gold card suits casual to semi-frequent Delta flyers who want practical perks from a mid-tier airline card. See the card details above for current fees. Our full Delta SkyMiles® Gold review covers the benefits in more detail.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither card fits, consider a flexible points card or a higher-tier Delta card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns transferable points with a $95 annual fee, and its transfer partners include United MileagePlus®. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card adds a yearly Companion Certificate after renewal and MQD Headstart. See the card details below for current fees. Terms Apply.

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^{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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit: Airline rewards cards generally require good to excellent credit.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can meet any welcome offer spending requirement with regular purchases.
• Know the loyalty program: Look at how each airline prices award flights from your home airport.

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Application Strategy

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• Read the issuer rules: Chase and American Express each limit welcome offer eligibility, so check the terms before you apply.
• Compare offers: Co-branded cards sometimes show different offers on the airline website than on the issuer website.
• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.

Our Methodology

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

Our editorial team checks card terms against issuer sources. You can also explore the full dataset yourself in our card explorer, which includes thousands of cards, more than 95% of which do not pay us commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What if I'm Not Loyal to Either United or Delta?

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Consider a general travel rewards card instead. Flexible points can be transferred to several airline and hotel partners, so you can book whichever carrier has the best award price.

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Which Card Has Better Checked Bag Benefits?

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Both cover a first checked bag. The United℠ Explorer Card covers you and one companion on the same reservation on United-operated flights, while the Delta SkyMiles® Gold card covers your first bag on Delta flights worldwide and a second bag on domestic Delta flights. Terms Apply.

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How Do the Annual Fees Compare?

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The United℠ Explorer Card lists a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150. For the Delta SkyMiles® Gold card, see the card details above for current fees. Check the latest terms before you apply, since offers change.