Capital One Quicksilver vs Delta SkyMiles® Gold

Capital One Quicksilver
VS
Delta SkyMiles® Gold
The short answer: The Capital One Quicksilver delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if you spend more on dining, groceries.

Side-by-side comparison

Capital One QuicksilverDelta SkyMiles® Gold
Annual feeNo annual fee$150
Welcome offer$200 cash bonus50,000 Up to 90,000 SkyMiles (limited-time)
Dining1.5x2x
Groceries1.5x2x
Gas1.5x1x
Travel1.5x1x
Streaming1.5x1x
Everything else1.5x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$437$382
Points typePools with Capital One → transferableLocked to Delta SkyMiles
NetworkMastercardAmex

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Capital One Quicksilver earns about $437 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Capital One Quicksilver has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Capital One Quicksilver delivers more total value, about $106 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One Quicksilver earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Delta SkyMiles® Gold stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Capital One Quicksilver if you will use travel transfers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Capital One Quicksilver if your spending leans toward gas, travel, streaming. Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Capital One Quicksilver or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold better?
On typical household spending, the Capital One Quicksilver comes out ahead, by roughly $106 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Delta SkyMiles® Gold can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Capital One Quicksilver and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Capital One Quicksilver or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold?
As of June 2026, the Capital One Quicksilver offers $200 cash bonus and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold offers up to 90,000 skymiles. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.