Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed

American Express logo
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
American Express
4.1

Free first checked bag. 2x on Delta, restaurants, supermarkets.

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Discover logo
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover
4.5

Secured card that earns 2% at gas and restaurants (up to $1,000/quarter). Cashback Match year one.

Full review →
WealthSpott Verdict

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. Discover it® Secured Credit Card may still win for your wallet depending on how you spend.

Feature
Delta SkyMiles® Gold
Discover it® Secured
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$0 Best
Sign-up Bonus
40,000 miles
Cashback Match
Rewards Rate
1x-2x
1%-2%
Rewards Type
Miles
Cash Back
0% Intro APR
N/A
N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-29.49% Variable Best
28.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
None Best
Yes
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
300-669
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Pros
  • Free first checked bag on Delta ($60+ per round trip)
  • Priority boarding on Delta flights
  • 2x on Delta, restaurants, and supermarkets
  • No foreign transaction fee
Cons
  • $150 annual fee
  • Miles tied to Delta only
  • Modest everyday earning rate (1x)
Full review
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Pros
  • Earns rewards while building credit
  • Cashback Match first year
Cons
  • Requires refundable security deposit
Full review

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