Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Chase United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins 3-1. Suburban families with kids, best US-supermarket card. Chase United Explorer is still the right call if united loyalists, free checked bag + lounge passes..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Chase United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | · $150 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 6% (shopping) | · 2% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 2.7% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months | = 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = None stated | = None stated |
| Min credit score | = 700 | = 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.5/5 | · 4.2/5 |
Benefits compared
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
Chase United Explorer
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights
- 3x miles on all other eligible United purchases
- 2x miles on dining, including eligible delivery services
- 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Free first checked bag for the cardholder and one companion on United-operated flights
FAQ
›Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Chase United Explorer: which is better?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern. Run your own monthly spend through the maximizer to see which one pays you more.
›Can I get both?
Yes, if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories, Chase United Explorer for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months. Chase United Explorer: 60,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 3 months.