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 Discover it Cash Back (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex needs about $895 a month in dining or groceries, counting that spending alone, to make up its $150 higher annual fee over Discover it Cash Back. Below that, Discover it Cash Back comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
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 Now5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Discover it Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 80,000 miles after $3,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| 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%. |
None |
| Key Benefits | 2x miles on Delta, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets. Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta. | 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year. |
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card pulls ahead for dining, groceries spending.
The $150/year fee difference means Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
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.