Which card has a lower annual fee, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has an annual fee of $95, compared to $150 for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.

Which card earns more cash back, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1.0% base cash back, while the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 1.0%. The best choice depends on your spending habits. Use the calculator to see which card earns you more.

Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express better than the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?

It depends on your spending. If you spend more on categories where the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers higher rewards, it may be better. Use our calculator to compare based on your actual monthly spending.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Travel ($)

Dining ($)

Groceries ($)

Gas ($)

Special ($)

Other ($)

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95/yr) and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($150/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

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Meet the Contenders

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr). 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.

Annual fee: $95 Sign-up bonus: $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 2.7%

Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.

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Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Strongest in dining at 2%. 2x miles on Delta, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta.

Annual fee: $150 Sign-up bonus: 90,000 miles after $5,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Annual Fee	$95	$150
Sign-Up Bonus	$300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months	90,000 miles after $5,000 spend in 6 months
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.7%	0%
Base Reward Rate	1%	1%
Travel Rewards	3%	1%
Dining Rewards	1%	2%
Groceries Rewards	6% (up to $6,000/yr)	2%
Gas Rewards	3%	1%
Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above	None	2% on Delta Earns 2% only on Delta purchases. Flights on other airlines, hotels and car rentals earn 1%.
Key Benefits	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.	2x miles on Delta, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta.

The Verdict

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for travel, groceries, gas spending.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card wins on dining.

The $55/year fee difference means Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card carries $540/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.