Capital One Quicksilver vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better In 2026?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we’re fans of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• It offers a valuable annual companion certificate that can significantly reduce the cost of traveling with a partner.
• The card provides an accelerated path to earning Delta Medallion elite status for frequent flyers.
• Cardholders receive a suite of travel protections and statement credits that add value beyond just earning miles.

Terms apply.

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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.}

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Pros

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• Annual companion certificate for a domestic main cabin round-trip flight.
• An accelerated path to earning Medallion® status with Delta.
• Statement credits for rideshare and dining purchases.

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Cons

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• A high annual fee that isn't waived for the first year.
• No complimentary access to Delta Sky Club® lounges.
• The annual companion certificate comes with notable restrictions.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

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Categories

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When it comes to choosing a new credit card, the question of which is better, Capital One Quicksilver or Delta SkyMiles Platinum, depends entirely on your spending habits and goals.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is best for consumers seeking a straightforward cash back card for all their everyday spending, without the hassle of tracking rotating categories.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers loyal to Delta Air Lines who want to enjoy premium travel perks and accelerate their path to airline status.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card offers simple redemption options, allowing you to receive your rewards as cash back, typically in the form of a statement credit or a check.

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: With this card, you earn miles that can be redeemed for flights with Delta and its partner airlines, as well as for other travel-related perks like seat upgrades.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of cards and find the best fit for your wallet.

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• Test drive any credit card using your actual spending data to see a personalized projection of your annual rewards—all without a hard credit pull.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better public offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Track your progress toward earning sign-up bonuses and monitor your credit score for free.
• Discover new cards and get personally matched to the one that will earn you the most rewards based on your spending history.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who value simplicity and want to earn straightforward cash back on their everyday spending. It's particularly well-suited for those who don't want the hassle of tracking rotating bonus categories and for international travelers, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees. Cardholders who prefer a predictable rewards structure without an annual fee, or frequent Uber users looking to leverage the complimentary Uber One membership, will find this card especially beneficial.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is an excellent choice for dedicated Delta loyalists who fly the airline several times a year and want to save on checked bags. It's also geared toward travelers seeking to accelerate their path to Medallion status and couples or families who can take full advantage of the annual companion certificate. Ultimately, the card best serves moderate-to-heavy spenders with good-to-excellent credit who can maximize the rewards on travel, dining, and U.S. supermarkets (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Capital One Quicksilver vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum comparison has left you undecided, there are plenty of other cards that might be a better fit. Perhaps your spending habits don't align perfectly with either the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express® Card, so let's look at some alternatives.

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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.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to ensure you meet the typical requirements for approval.
• Review your spending habits to confirm the card’s benefits align with your lifestyle.
• Understand issuer-specific rules, like welcome offer eligibility, before submitting your application.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application with large planned purchases to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Take advantage of pre-approval tools or application flows, like those offered by American Express, that may not impact your credit score.
• Use a wallet app or browser extension to find the highest available offers and streamline the application process.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Which card is better for someone new to credit card rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver is often a better starting point for beginners due to its straightforward flat-rate cash back and no annual fee. It provides a simple way to earn rewards without needing to understand complex travel loyalty programs.

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Is the annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card worth it?

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The annual fee can be worthwhile for frequent Delta flyers who take full advantage of the card's travel-centric benefits (Terms apply). Casual travelers might find the cost outweighs the value they receive from the card.

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Can I use the rewards from one card on the other?

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No, you cannot transfer rewards between the Capital One Quicksilver and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. They are issued by different banks and operate on separate rewards ecosystems—one earning cash back and the other earning airline miles.

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