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Amex Business Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Gold Business: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is ideal for businesses with variable expenses across categories like airfare, advertising, gas, and shipping, as it automatically rewards your top two spending areas.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express: This card is best for business owners who frequently fly with Delta and want to earn miles on travel, dining, shipping, and advertising purchases.
American Express® Business Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we recommend the American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees).
- It automatically optimizes rewards in your top spending categories, so you don't have to manually select them. Terms Apply.
- The card provides spending flexibility that adapts to your business needs, which is ideal for growing companies. Terms Apply.
- Cardholders get access to valuable travel and purchase protections for added peace of mind. 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
- Automatically optimizes rewards in your top two eligible spending categories each billing cycle, so you don’t have to track or activate them. Terms Apply.
- Offers flexible purchasing power that adapts to your business needs, which is ideal for managing large or fluctuating expenses. Terms Apply.
Cons
- It has a high annual fee, which may be difficult to offset without significant spending in bonus categories.
- Airport lounge access is more limited compared to other premium business cards.
- Adding employee cards to the account incurs additional fees.
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 (See Rates & Fees).
- It's a great fit for small business owners who frequently fly with Delta and want practical travel perks.
- The card offers valuable benefits like priority boarding and a free checked bag that enhance the travel experience on Delta flights.
- It comes with helpful business management tools and the ability to add employee cards, making it easier to track expenses.
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
- Offers valuable travel perks on Delta flights, such as priority boarding and discounted access to Delta Sky Club lounges.
- Includes business-centric tools like QuickBooks integration, year-end summaries, and the ability to add employee cards for streamlined expense management.
Cons
- Lacks some premium travel benefits like complimentary lounge access or credits for expedited security programs, which are often found on competing travel cards.
- The rewards structure for earning miles isn't as strong as some competitors, and the card doesn't offer a direct path to accelerate Medallion status.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express vs American Express® Business Gold Card
Categories
When deciding which is better Amex Business Gold or Delta SkyMiles Gold Business, it's crucial to understand who each card is designed for. Each card excels in a different area, catering to distinct business needs.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is best for business owners, serving as a versatile tool for companies with variable expenses and a desire for flexible rewards.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers, particularly business owners whose work involves regular travel on Delta Air Lines.
Redemption
American Express® Business Gold Card: This card provides access to a highly flexible rewards program, giving you a wide array of redemption choices. Points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or used for travel, statement credits, and more.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Rewards earned with this card are deposited as SkyMiles, tying them directly to Delta's loyalty program. These miles are primarily used for booking award flights with Delta and its partners, but can also be redeemed for upgrades and other travel perks.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the decision easier, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards by analyzing your own spending habits to find the perfect match.
- Test drive a credit card: The platform’s “Test Drive” feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your real spending data before you apply.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
- Detailed approval odds: Get a personalized analysis of your approval chances based on your credit report.
- Personalized recommendations: Receive data-driven card recommendations based on your unique spending history.
- $100 Kudos Kickstart+: You can earn a $100 reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?
The American Express® Business Gold Card is tailored for growing businesses with dynamic spending habits and annual expenses exceeding $50,000. It's particularly beneficial for companies whose expenses vary, as it automatically awards 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two spending categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually, then 1X (Terms Apply). This structure makes it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who want to maximize rewards on their highest spending areas—like advertising, shipping, or travel—without being locked into fixed categories.
Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express card is ideally suited for small business owners who are loyal to Delta but don't travel enough to justify a premium card's high annual fee. It's designed for companies with moderate travel needs and those looking to earn rewards on everyday business spending in categories like U.S. shipping and advertising. For these users, the value comes from practical perks like a free first checked bag (Terms apply), which can easily offset the annual fee after just a couple of trips.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Business Gold vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold Business comparison has you thinking neither card is the right choice, don't worry. Several other excellent business credit cards might be a better fit for your company's spending habits and goals.
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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 - You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
- Confirm your business eligibility - American Express business cards are available to various business structures, including sole proprietorships.
- Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific policies, such as the once-per-lifetime Welcome Offer rule.
Application Strategy
- Analyze your spending patterns - Select a card that best rewards your most frequent business expenses.
- Consider employee cards - Factor in any additional fees if you need cards for your team.
- Evaluate airline loyalty - A co-branded card is most valuable if you frequently fly with a specific airline.
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 hold both the American Express® Business Gold Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Yes, you can hold both cards simultaneously since they are different products. This can be a good strategy if you want to earn both flexible Membership Rewards points and Delta SkyMiles.
Which card is better for flexible travel rewards?
The American Express® Business Gold Card is superior for flexible rewards, as it earns Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card earns SkyMiles, which are primarily used for flights with Delta and its partners.
Do the rewards earned from these cards expire?
American Express Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as you have at least one active Membership Rewards-earning card open. Similarly, Delta SkyMiles do not expire, regardless of account activity.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The American Express® Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 each year after.
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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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