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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs United Gateway Card

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

Bottom line

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardUnited Gateway Card
Annual fee$0$0
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points30,000 miles
Bonus value (est.)$110$390
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$1,000 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
  • 2x on United + transit + gas
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign tx fees
  • 25% inflight rebate
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
United Gateway Card
$0/yr · 30,000 miles

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 Gateway Card

The no-fee United card. Doesn't include free bags (that starts with the Explorer), so it's really only worth it for credit-building purposes.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or United Gateway Card?
The United Gateway Card has the bigger bonus, 30,000 miles, worth roughly $390, 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 Gateway Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Gateway Card's $0 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Gateway Card's benefits to clear $0 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 Gateway 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 Gateway 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 Gateway Card: $1,000 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.