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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($150/yr) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149/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.
Strongest in dining at 2%. 2x miles on Delta, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on groceries and restaurants up to $8,000/year.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now| Feature | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150 | $149 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 90,000 miles after $5,000 spend in 6 months | 55,000 points after $1,500 spend in 3 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 2% | 1% |
| Groceries Rewards | 2% | 1% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
2% on Delta Earns 2% only on Delta purchases. Flights on other airlines, hotels and car rentals earn 1%. |
3% on Southwest Earns 3% only on Southwest purchases. Flights on other airlines, hotels and car rentals earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 2x miles on Delta, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta. | 3x on Southwest purchases, 2x on groceries and restaurants up to $8,000/year. |
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card pulls ahead for dining, groceries spending.
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.