American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Delta SkyMiles® Platinum
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $350 |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 6x | 2x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 6x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $382 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Amex | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $300 statement credit | Up to 100,000 SkyMiles |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 6 months | $6,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $968 | $1,032 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $668 | $32 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum is ahead by roughly $64, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum after about 1 year. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum. Planning to keep it for years? The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$84/yr (1 credits) | 2 listed credits |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred carries the heavier credit stack (about $84 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
One maximizes grocery cash, the other rewards Delta travel with a companion certificate, so it depends on whether you fly Delta.
The Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% supermarket rate is the best fixed grocery rate anywhere and pays real cash. The Delta Platinum’s headline is an annual companion certificate that can be worth more than its fee for domestic Delta flyers, plus free bags and status boosts.
Pros and cons
- 6% at U.S. supermarkets and on streaming, 3% gas
- Cash you can use anywhere
- $0 first-year fee
- Best fixed grocery rate available
- $95 after year one, 6% grocery capped
- 1% on travel and dining
- No airline perks
- Annual companion certificate (can exceed the fee)
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta
- 3x on Delta and hotels, plus MQD status boost
- Large SkyMiles welcome bonus
- $350 fee, needs Delta travel to justify
- Miles locked to Delta
- Companion cert is main-cabin, domestic-focused
- Low everyday earning outside Delta/hotels
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Blue Cash Preferred | 6% cash the Delta card can’t match. |
| Delta perks | Delta Platinum | Companion certificate, free bags, status boosts. |
| Reward flexibility | Blue Cash Preferred | Cash anywhere vs Delta-only miles. |
| Annual fee | Blue Cash Preferred | $95 vs $350. |
| Best for | Depends | Grocery spenders vs Delta flyers. |
The verdict
If groceries dominate your budget and you don’t fly Delta much, the Blue Cash Preferred is the clear pick, 6% at supermarkets pays real, flexible cash for a low fee, no airline needed. For a grocery-heavy household, it’s a standout.
If you fly Delta domestically at least once a year, the Platinum’s companion certificate alone can more than cover its $350 fee, with free bags and status boosts on top. They aren’t substitutes: one is a grocery cash card, the other a Delta travel card. Choose by whether your value is in the supermarket or in a Delta companion fare.