Delta SkyMiles Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express	Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express
Annual fee	Best: $150 $500/yr less	$650
Ongoing annual value, after fee	$330	Best: $436 $106/yr more
First-year value	$1,373 At the advertised maximum	$709
Authorized user fee	—Unknown	$175

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express	Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express
Current offer	Apply and find out your welcome offer: As high as 80K bonus miles + earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3K in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Terms apply. (Offer Expires 11/4/2026), $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150	Earn two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates and 50K bonus miles after you spend $10K in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months. Certificates are valid on Delta-operated round trips within the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with no blackout dates. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms apply. (Offer Expires 11/4/2026)

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express	Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express
Dining	Best: 2X2.2%	—Unknown
US Supermarkets	Best: 2X2.2%	—Unknown
Delta purchases	2X2.2%	Best: 3X3.3%

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express	Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express
Statement credits	Rideshare: $10 (Monthly) Delta Flight: $200 (Annual Calendar Year) Delta Stays: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)	Rideshare: $10 (Monthly) Resy: $20 (Monthly) Delta Stays: $200 (Annual Cardmember Year) Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Lounge access	—Unknown	American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited) Delta Sky Club (15/yr)
Elite status	—Unknown	Delta SkyMiles Delta SkyMiles Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle
Protections	4	9

The same on both cards (6)

Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
Fact	Delta SkyMiles Gold	Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Issuer	American Express	American Express
Rewards currency	Delta SkyMiles	Delta SkyMiles
Card type	Personal	Personal
Network	American Express	American Express
All other purchases	1X1.1%	1X1.1%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get