Choice Privileges® Mastercard® vs Delta SkyMiles® Reserve
Side-by-side comparison
| Choice Privileges® Mastercard® | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $650 |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 points | |
| Dining | 1x | 1x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $527 | $292 |
| Points type | Locked to Choice Privileges | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*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 Choice Privileges® Mastercard® earns about $527 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve about $292, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve charges $650, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $885 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and travel. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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 Choice Privileges® Mastercard® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel.