Delta SkyMiles® Blue vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 10,000 Bonus Miles | No current offer |
| Dining | 2x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 1x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $322 | $437 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*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 Delta SkyMiles® Blue earns about $322 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers more total value, about $116 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. 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® Blue currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Blue if your spending leans toward dining. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, travel.