American Express Cash Magnet Card vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- Cash Magnet Card 1.5% 1.5% base rate
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card 3.6% 3x
- 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 Reserve 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 Reserve Card $650 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 Reserve Card takes flights.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | Cash Magnet Card1.5% |
| Flights | Delta SkyMiles Reserve 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
- Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card — 1.2%
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card — 3.6%
- Cash Magnet Card — 1.5%
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