Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express $0/yr, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express on gas stations, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card on dining.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
American Express
American Express
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Stations | 3X | 1X |
Both cards win in 1 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Department Stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 2X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Online Shopping
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express $0/yr, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr — a $150 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| Grocery Stores |
| 3X |
| 2X |
| Online Shopping | 3X | 1X |
| Department Stores | 2X | 1X |
| Dining | 1X | 2X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Scenario | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $162 Year one: $162 | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $219 Year one: $369 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $522 Year one: $522 | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $781 Year one: $931 | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card |
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card costs $150/yr — that's $150 more than the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $150 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card includes travel credits, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $150 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $150 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card needs roughly $150 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and grocery stores and everyday spend.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express means losing:
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
