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Capital One Platinum Secured vs Delta SkyMiles Gold Business: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: This card is designed for building or rebuilding your credit history.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: This card is ideal for small business owners who frequently fly with Delta and want to earn miles on travel and business expenses.
Capital One Platinum Secured Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Capital One Platinum Secured (See Rates & Fees).
- It’s an excellent tool for building or rebuilding your credit history as it reports to all three major credit bureaus.
- The card is accessible thanks to its lack of an annual fee and flexible security deposit requirements.
- Responsible use can lead to a higher credit line and an eventual upgrade to an unsecured card.
Pros
- It reports to all three major credit bureaus and offers access to Capital One’s CreditWise tool, giving you a clear path to monitor and build your credit.
- The card features flexible security deposit requirements and provides an upgrade path to an unsecured card, rewarding responsible use over time.
Cons
- It comes with a high variable APR, which can make it expensive if you carry a balance.
- A security deposit is required to open the account.
- The card offers limited benefits and lacks many of the perks found on unsecured cards.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons we recommend the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (See Rates & Fees).
- It provides a generous welcome offer for new cardholders and solid rewards on business-related spending categories.
- Cardholders receive valuable Delta-specific travel perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding that can enhance the travel experience.
- The card includes useful business management tools, such as employee cards at no extra cost and integration with accounting software.
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
- Valuable travel perks for frequent Delta flyers, including a free first checked bag and priority boarding.
- Business-friendly features, including employee cards at no extra cost and expense management tools.
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel perks like complimentary lounge access and a companion certificate.
- Does not offer statement credits for expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
- Provides no pathway to accelerate earning Delta Medallion elite status.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express vs Capital One Platinum Secured
Categories
Deciding which is better, the Capital One Platinum Secured or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express, depends entirely on your financial goals and spending habits. These two cards serve vastly different purposes, making a direct comparison a matter of individual needs.
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is best for no-fee seekers. This card is an excellent option for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit without paying an annual fee.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is designed for frequent travelers. It's a mid-tier business card with essential travel perks for those who fly with Delta regularly.
Redemption
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: This card is designed for building credit and does not offer a traditional rewards program. Its main purpose is to help you establish a positive payment history, which can open the door to rewards cards in the future.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: With this card, you earn miles that are redeemable within the Delta SkyMiles program. These miles are typically used for booking flights with Delta and its partner airlines or for other travel-related perks.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For a more personalized approach, Kudos offers a comprehensive tool that lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your unique spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: Before applying, you can simulate potential earnings from any card using your actual spending data. This feature provides a personalized projection of annual rewards and net value after accounting for fees.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months of your application, Kudos will match it.
- Approval odds analysis: The platform provides a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card by looking at your credit report.
- Stacked rewards: You can earn additional rewards through Kudos on top of your credit card rewards when shopping at participating online stores.
- Personalized recommendations: By securely connecting your bank accounts, you can receive card recommendations tailored to your real transaction history.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Platinum Secured?
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is an ideal tool for individuals focused on building or rebuilding their credit profile. It's particularly well-suited for those with a limited or poor credit history, such as students, recent immigrants, or anyone recovering from past financial difficulties. Since the card reports to all three major credit bureaus and offers a pathway to an unsecured card, it provides a clear and effective route to establishing a positive credit history.
Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is tailored for small business owners who fly Delta regularly but not frequently enough to justify a premium travel card. It’s particularly valuable for companies whose employees travel occasionally, as the free checked bag benefit can offset the annual fee after just a couple of trips. This card also suits businesses with consistent spending at restaurants or on U.S. shipping and advertising, allowing them to earn miles on common operational expenses.
Alternatives to Consider
The Capital One Platinum Secured and the American Express® Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Card cater to very different needs, so it's possible neither is the right choice for you. If that's the case, here are several other compelling alternatives to consider.
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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 – Knowing your score helps you identify which cards you’re likely to be approved for.
- Review your budget – Ensure you can comfortably meet any security deposit or spending requirements without financial strain.
- Define your goal – Decide if you’re looking to build credit, earn rewards, or finance a large purchase.
Application Strategy
- Tailor your application to the card type – A business card requires business information, while a secured card may require a deposit.
- Apply through a trusted platform – This can help you find the best offers and streamline the application process.
- Don’t settle for a lesser offer – Some issuers let you decline an offer without a credit impact and try again later.
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 get the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card if I have bad credit?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card generally requires a good to excellent credit score for approval. If you're building or rebuilding your credit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is designed for that purpose.
Do I need a business to apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card?
While it is a business card, you may be eligible even with a small business, side hustle, or as a sole proprietor. Issuers typically require you to provide information about your business, such as its structure and revenue, during the application process.
Does the Capital One Platinum Secured card earn rewards?
No, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card does not earn rewards like miles or cash back. Its primary function is to help users build or rebuild their credit history through responsible use over time.
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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.
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