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American Express Cash Magnet Card vs Delta SkyMiles Gold Card

Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.

Best card by category Card terms as of Oct 29

Everything else

  1. Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate
  2. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate

Dining

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
  2. Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate

Groceries

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
  2. Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
  2. Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate

What the numbers are doing

Abroad the answer flips: Cash Magnet Card charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, so once that comes off the rate Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is the better card for everyday spend.

The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Cash Magnet Card $0 and Delta SkyMiles Gold Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.

Where they differ: Cash Magnet Card takes everything else; Delta SkyMiles Gold Card takes dining, groceries and flights.

pointslipEveryday
Pass content preview
CategoryBest card
Everything elseCash Magnet Card1.5%
DiningDelta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4%
GroceriesDelta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4%
FlightsDelta 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

  1. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%
  2. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%

Dining

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
  2. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%

Groceries

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
  2. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
  2. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%
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