Delta SkyMiles® Gold vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 2x | 1x |
| Groceries | 2x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $373 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*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 | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Up to 90,000 SkyMiles | 50,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points |
| To earn it | $5,000 in 6 months | $1,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,332 | $774 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $432 | $274 |
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*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 | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$200/yr (2 credits) | 1 listed credits |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold carries the heavier credit stack (about $200 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus about $373, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold delivers more total value, about $57 a year more for a typical spender, 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if your spending leans toward dining. Pick the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus if your spending leans toward gas.