Capital One Savor vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Which Is Better In 2026?

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of this premium travel card.

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• Cardholders gain access to a network of exclusive airport lounges, making travel more comfortable and relaxing.
• The annual companion certificate offers significant value, allowing you to bring a travel partner along on a domestic flight each year.
• The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express card (See Rates & Fees) provides a clear path to elite status and enhances your travel experience with benefits like priority boarding and upgrade priority.

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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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• The annual companion certificate, valid even for first-class domestic flights, and extensive airport lounge access provide exceptional value.
• Accelerate your path to Delta Medallion status and enjoy priority treatment, including complimentary upgrade priority.
• Take advantage of annual statement credits for dining and rideshares, plus a range of travel protections for peace of mind.

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Cons

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• The card carries a premium annual fee, which is only justifiable for travelers who fly with Delta frequently.
• Its most valuable benefits and bonus rewards are heavily focused on Delta, offering limited value if you fly with other airlines or for non-Delta purchases.
• Redeeming miles can be challenging as the SkyMiles program lacks a public award chart, leading to unpredictable reward values.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express vs Capital One Savor Cash Rewards

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Capital One Savor or Delta SkyMiles Reserve, comes down to your primary spending habits and lifestyle.

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• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed for food enthusiasts and entertainment seekers who value simple cash back on everyday spending categories like dining and groceries.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card caters to frequent Delta flyers who want premium travel benefits, including airport lounge access and an accelerated path to airline elite status.

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Redemption

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Rewards are earned as straightforward cash back, which you can redeem as a statement credit or a check, offering simple and flexible value.

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card earns miles within the Delta SkyMiles program, which are best used for booking flights with Delta and its airline partners or for seat upgrades.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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A tool like Kudos can help by letting you compare its database of nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your wallet.

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• Test drive cards: Before you apply, you can simulate your potential earnings on any card using your real transaction history. This shows you a personalized projection of your annual rewards and net value without a hard credit pull.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you get a card through Kudos and then find a better public offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: Get an analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost rewards: Earn additional rewards on top of what your credit card offers when you shop with Kudos.
• Personalized recommendations: The platform can match you with the best card for your spending habits, helping you maximize rewards.
• Track your finances: Monitor your spending, transactions, and credit score across all your cards in one place.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card is a great fit for foodies and entertainment lovers who can take full advantage of the unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services. It's also an excellent choice for families with significant spending at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and for travelers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Ultimately, this card is best for anyone with good to excellent credit who wants to earn simple, valuable cash back on their daily expenses without paying an annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is tailor-made for loyal Delta flyers, whether they travel for business or pleasure multiple times a year. These travelers will get the most value by taking advantage of premium perks like access to Delta Sky Club® and Centurion Lounges and the annual companion certificate (Terms apply). It's also an excellent choice for those aspiring to achieve or maintain Delta Medallion status through the card's spending boosts.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the Capital One Savor vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve showdown didn't end with a clear champion for your wallet, you're in the right place. Here are a few other excellent alternatives if neither the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card nor the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card quite fits the bill.

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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 – Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Be aware of any application restrictions, such as Amex’s once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy.
• Have a spending plan – Ensure you can naturally meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Target the right card for your spending – Align your application with a card that matches your lifestyle, whether for broad cash back or specific travel loyalty.
• Understand issuer tendencies – Different issuers weigh factors like your credit history, income, and existing relationships differently during approval.
• Look for pre-approval tools – Many issuers offer a way to check your approval odds with no impact to your credit score.

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 everyday spending?

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The Capital One Savor card is typically superior for everyday spending, as it offers high cash back rates on popular categories like dining, entertainment, and select streaming services. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card's rewards structure is primarily optimized for purchases made directly with Delta.

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Do both cards offer airport lounge access?

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The Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card provides cardholders with complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and The Centurion® Lounge when flying on eligible Delta-marketed or operated flights; terms apply. The Capital One Savor card is focused on cash back rewards and does not offer airport lounge access as a benefit.

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Can I transfer rewards between these cards?

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No, rewards are not transferable between these two programs. The Capital One Savor card earns cash back, while the Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card earns miles that are deposited into a Delta SkyMiles account.

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