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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs United Explorer Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the United Explorer Card from Chase at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the United Explorer Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($930 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the United Explorer Card first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardUnited Explorer Card
Annual fee$0$150
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,040
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytravelairline
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
  • Free checked bag
  • 2 United Club passes/year
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
United Explorer Card
$150/yr · 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus

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 Explorer Card

Solid for United flyers. The free checked bag and 2 United Club passes per year add up, and the 70k + 10k AU bonus is a great starting point for domestic award flights. $0 intro annual fee, then $150.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or United Explorer Card?
The United Explorer Card has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + 10,000 AU bonus, worth roughly $1,040, 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 Explorer Card?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the United Explorer Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the United Explorer Card's benefits to clear $150 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 Explorer 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 Explorer 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 Explorer Card: $3,000 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.