Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$550
vs
$150 (waived first year)
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$900
vs
$700
Editor Score
9/10
vs
7/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 5/6 | 1/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $550✗ Highest | $150 (waived first year)★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 22.49% – 29.49% | 20.99% – 29.99% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% | None |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Miles |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1x |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining | 2x Delta Air Lines purchases · 2x Dining · 2x U.S. Supermarkets |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $900 value★ Highest | $700 value✗ Lowest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | Visa | American Express |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Frequent luxury travelers | Frequent Delta Air Lines flyers |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.5 / 5★ Highest | 4.2 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 7 / 10✗ Lowest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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| Cons |
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Our verdict: Too close to call
The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) and the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express ($150/year) compete on different axes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's strongest category is 10x on Hotels (Chase), while the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express leads with 2x on Delta Air Lines purchases. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 more per year, so you need at least $400 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $12,000 and $24,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our model scores these cards effectively even (3-2). Pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you spend heavily on hotels (chase); pick the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express if you spend heavily on delta air lines purchases.
Too close to call — pick based on your primary spending category
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $550/year | $150/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 10x on Hotels (Chase) | 2x on Delta Air Lines purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months | 70,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 6 months |
| Lounge Access | Yes | No |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | good |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Chase Sapphire Reserve or Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express?
It depends on your spending habits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express has a $150 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between Chase Sapphire Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee while the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express has a $150 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Chase and American Express), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.