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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs United Club Infinite Card

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the United Club Infinite Card from Chase at $695/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the United Club Infinite Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,010 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the United Club Infinite Card first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardUnited Club Infinite Card
Annual fee$0$695
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points80,000 miles (up to 90,000 with authorized user)
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,120
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$5,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • United Club access
  • 4x on United
  • Hyatt Discoverist
  • Priority everything
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
United Club Infinite Card
$695/yr · 80,000 miles (up to 90,000 with authorized user)

Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card

The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.

Editorial take: United Club Infinite Card

Worth it only for frequent United flyers who use the clubs regularly. At $695, you need to visit the club 15+ times a year to break even on lounge access alone.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or United Club Infinite Card?
The United Club Infinite Card has the bigger bonus, 80,000 miles (up to 90,000 with authorized user), worth roughly $1,120, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the United Club Infinite Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Club Infinite Card's $695 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Club Infinite Card's benefits to clear $695 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and United Club Infinite Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Schwab Investor Card or the United Club Infinite Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. United Club Infinite Card: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.