Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business vs Discover it® Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business | Discover it® Cash Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $550 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Cashback Match, all cash back earned in year 1 doubled | |
| Advertising | 1% | 1% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 3% | 1% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $546 | $450 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Discover |
*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 business spending, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business earns about $546 a year in rewards and the Discover it® Cash Back about $450, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business charges $550, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Discover it® Cash Back has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Discover it® Cash Back delivers more total value, about $454 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. 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 Business 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 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business if your spending leans toward travel.