United℠ Gateway vs Delta SkyMiles® Blue
Side-by-side comparison
| United℠ Gateway | Delta SkyMiles® Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | Up to 40,000 bonus miles | 10,000 Bonus Miles |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $320 | $322 |
| Points type | Locked to United MileagePlus | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | United℠ Gateway | Delta SkyMiles® Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Up to 40,000 bonus miles | 10,000 Bonus Miles |
| To earn it | $1,000 in 3 months | $1,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $720 | $422 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $320 | $322 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the United℠ Gateway is ahead by roughly $298, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Delta SkyMiles® Blue earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the United℠ Gateway only over the very long haul. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the United℠ Gateway. Planning to keep it for years? The Delta SkyMiles® Blue pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | United℠ Gateway | Delta SkyMiles® Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the United℠ Gateway earns about $320 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Gateway has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The two are effectively tied on value, with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue marginally ahead, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the United℠ Gateway currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the United℠ Gateway if your spending leans toward gas. Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Blue if your spending leans toward dining.