American Express Blue Cash Preferred vs Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Groceries
- Blue Cash Preferred 6.0% 6%, capped
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
Gas
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Ground transportation
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred 6.0% 6%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
What the numbers are doing
Blue Cash Preferred's 6% on groceries runs out: it applies to the first $6,000 of groceries spend a year, and everything past that earns 1%.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card tops everything else at 1.2% only because this table values its points at 1.2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Blue Cash Preferred wins that category instead.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Blue Cash Preferred $95 and Delta SkyMiles Gold Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card1.2% |
| Dining | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4% |
| Groceries | Blue Cash Preferred6.0% |
| Gas | Blue Cash Preferred3.0% |
| Ground transportation | Blue Cash Preferred3.0% |
| Streaming | Blue Cash Preferred6.0% |
| Flights | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Groceries
- Blue Cash Preferred — 6.0%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
Gas
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
Ground transportation
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
Streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred — 6.0%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
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