Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
Amex Business Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Gold: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
The American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for businesses with varied spending, automatically maximizing rewards in top categories like U.S. advertising, shipping, and airfare. Terms Apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is perfect for Delta loyalists, offering benefits like a free first checked bag and accelerated miles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and at U.S. supermarkets. Terms Apply.
American Express® Business Gold Card Breakdown
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "111", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Business Owners", "headerHint" : "Versatile Business Tool" } ]]
Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees).
- The card automatically optimizes rewards based on your top spending categories, so you don't have to track them yourself. Terms apply.
- It offers flexible purchasing power that can adjust to your business's changing needs. Terms apply.
- Cardholders gain access to a suite of valuable travel and business protections. Terms apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Earning is optimized automatically based on where your business spends the most, saving you the effort of tracking categories. Terms apply.
- The card's purchasing power is flexible and adjusts based on factors like your payment history, rather than having a fixed, preset limit. Terms apply.
- Offers valuable consumer protections on eligible purchases, including extended warranty and purchase protection. Terms apply.
Cons
- The card’s annual fee requires a significant level of spending in bonus categories to make it worthwhile. Terms apply.
- Bonus rewards are limited to two categories per billing cycle, which may not be ideal for businesses with varied spending habits. Terms apply.
- Adding employee cards to your account comes at an additional cost.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Breakdown
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1010", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Popular Choice" } ]]
Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express (See Rates & Fees).
- It offers valuable perks that can significantly enhance the travel experience for loyal Delta flyers.
- The card provides a great entry point into travel rewards without the commitment of a premium card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Enjoy key Delta travel perks like a free first checked bag for you and your companions, plus priority boarding.
- Save on international spending with no foreign transaction fees.
- Access exclusive Amex Offers and receive complimentary status with a major car rental partner.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel perks found on higher-tier cards, such as complimentary lounge access and a companion certificate.
- The rewards structure is less competitive for spending outside of Delta purchases and may not provide enough value for infrequent travelers.
- It omits common travel card benefits like statement credits for expedited security programs.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express vs American Express® Business Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Delta SkyMiles Gold, comes down to your primary goals as each card is designed for a different type of user. These cards excel in separate areas, making the best choice dependent on your spending habits and priorities.
- American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for business owners. It acts as a versatile tool for companies that have variable expenses across different spending categories.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best suited for frequent travelers. This card is a popular choice for those who often fly with Delta and want to enhance their travel experience.
Redemption
American Express® Business Gold Card: This card’s points offer great flexibility, allowing you to redeem them for travel, transfer them to airline and hotel partners, or apply them as statement credits. Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Rewards are earned as miles in the Delta SkyMiles program, which are best used for booking Delta flights or upgrading your seat. Terms apply.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial technology tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, using your own spending data to provide personalized recommendations.
- Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings, all without a hard credit pull.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting a card through Kudos, they will match it.
- Automated Rewards Maximization: Kudos can automatically select and fill in the best card from your wallet at checkout to maximize your rewards on every purchase.
- Personalized Matching: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your actual spending history.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?
The American Express® Business Gold Card is best suited for growing businesses with significant and variable expenses, particularly those spending over $50,000 annually. Its primary appeal lies in automatically earning 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two spending categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year, then 1X points thereafter. Terms apply. This structure makes it a powerful tool for companies that can consistently maximize these bonus categories and leverage premium travel and purchase protections to justify the $375 annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express?
The American Express® Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best suited for loyal Delta customers who fly a few times a year and want to earn miles on daily purchases like dining and groceries. These cardholders are typically casual travelers or families who can take full advantage of key benefits like a free first checked bag for up to nine people on the same reservation and priority boarding. While it offers solid value for regular Delta flyers, it's less ideal for road warriors seeking premium perks like lounge access or for those who rarely fly with the airline; Terms apply.
Alternatives to Consider
Still on the fence after this Amex Business Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Gold comparison? If neither of these cards checks all your boxes, here are a few other compelling alternatives to consider.
[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["509", "118"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Exceptional Value", "Generous Travel Rewards"]} ]]
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check Your Credit Score: You will generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for a premium rewards card.
- Plan Your Spending: Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the Welcome Offer without forcing purchases.
- Review the Benefits: Make sure the card’s rewards and perks align with your typical spending and travel habits.
Application Strategy
- Time Your Application: Apply before a large planned purchase to more easily meet the minimum spend for a Welcome Offer.
- Know the Rules: Understand issuer policies, like the once-per-lifetime Welcome Offer rule from American Express, before you apply.
- Find the Best Offer: Check for elevated Welcome Offers through different channels, as they can vary significantly.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have both the Amex Business Gold and the Delta SkyMiles Gold cards?
Yes, you can hold both the American Express® Business Gold Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card simultaneously. Since they are different products, having one does not typically prevent you from being approved for the other, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards are good options for international travel as neither charges foreign transaction fees (Terms apply). The best choice depends on whether you prefer flexible Membership Rewards® points from the Business Gold Card or earning Delta SkyMiles for brand loyalty.
Do the rewards on these cards expire?
American Express Membership Rewards® points earned with the Business Gold Card do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. Similarly, Delta SkyMiles do not expire, regardless of account activity.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
