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American Express Cash Magnet Card vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum 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 Platinum Card 1.2% 1x base rate

Dining

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

Groceries

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

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 3.6% 3x
  2. Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate

Hotels

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 3.6% 3x
  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 Platinum 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 Platinum Card $350 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 Platinum Card takes dining, groceries, flights and hotels.

pointslipEveryday
Pass content preview
CategoryBest card
Everything elseCash Magnet Card1.5%
DiningDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card2.4%
GroceriesDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card2.4%
FlightsDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card3.6%
HotelsDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card3.6%

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 Platinum Card — 1.2%

Dining

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

Groceries

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

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 3.6%
  2. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%

Hotels

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 3.6%
  2. Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%
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