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American Express® Business Gold Card
The New United℠ Explorer Card

American Express® Business Gold Card vs The New United℠ Explorer Card

This comparison aims to help you decide between the American Express® Business Gold Card and The New United℠ Explorer Card. Both cards offer unique benefits tailored to different types of users, making it essential to evaluate their features carefully.

Card Overviews

American Express® Business Gold Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for business owners looking to maximize their rewards on everyday business expenses. With a robust rewards structure and premium benefits, this card is ideal for those who frequently engage in travel and dining.

The New United℠ Explorer Card

The New United℠ Explorer Card is perfect for travelers who are loyal to United Airlines. This card offers a variety of travel perks, including bonus miles on United purchases, making it an excellent choice for frequent flyers.

Detailed Feature Comparison

Feature American Express® Business Gold Card The New United℠ Explorer Card
Annual Fee $375 $0 Intro Annual fee for the First Year, then $150
Welcome Bonus Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 in the first 3 months.* Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Rewards Structure 4X points on top 2 categories, 3X on flights and hotels booked on amextravel.com, 1X on other purchases.* 2X miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays, 1X on all other purchases.
Foreign Transaction Fee None None
Other Fees Variable APR applies for Pay Over Time purchases.* No additional fees specified.
Additional Benefits Monthly credits on eligible purchases, three metal designs, and more.* Priority boarding, free checked bag, and travel credits.

Rewards Highlights

The New United℠ Explorer Card Rewards:

  • Debut Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel.
  • 1x mile on all other purchases.

American Express® Business Gold Card Rewards:

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter).*
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
  • 1X is earned for other purchases. **

Pros and Cons

American Express® Business Gold Card

  • Pros:
    • High potential for rewards on business expenses.
    • No foreign transaction fees.
    • Variety of premium benefits and credits.
  • Cons:
    • High annual fee compared to competitors.
    • Requires significant spending to maximize rewards.

The New United℠ Explorer Card

  • Pros:
    • Lower introductory annual fee.
    • Good rewards structure for United frequent flyers.
    • Additional travel perks like priority boarding and free checked bag.
  • Cons:
    • Limited to United Airlines for maximizing rewards.
    • Fewer points-earning categories compared to the Business Gold Card.

Who Should Consider Which Card?

The American Express® Business Gold Card is best for business owners who want to earn maximum rewards on varied expenses, especially if they spend heavily in specific categories. Meanwhile, the New United℠ Explorer Card is ideal for travelers who frequently fly with United Airlines and want to take advantage of travel-related perks.

Conclusion

In summary, both the American Express® Business Gold Card and New United℠ Explorer Card offer distinct advantages. Your choice should reflect your personal spending habits, travel preferences, and financial goals to determine which card aligns better with your needs.

“Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.”