American Express® Green Card Review

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First Year Savings: $1,288*
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

The American Express® Green Card comes with great benefits and features for consumers who travel frequently. It can be worth it for those who are willing to pay a $150 annual fee in return for some exceptional rewards on travel and everyday spending. We estimate that the average cardholder can get around $1,288 in value in their first year.

The card comes with benefits like travel and purchase protections, broad spending categories and annual fee credits for CLEAR Plus Credit and LoungeBuddy memberships. However, if you don’t travel regularly, you might not find this card worth the $150 annual fee. For irregular travelers, consider a cash back card or no annual fee rewards card instead.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

This is a lucrative and easily attainable welcome offer to entice new cardmembers to start spending on their card. We typically value American Express Membership Rewards points about 2.2 cents a piece, when transferred to an Amex travel partner.

However, it’s worth noting that other travel rewards cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card for example, charge lower annual fees and offer higher welcome offers.

The American Express® Green Card offers broad earning categories that are applicable for both travel and everyday purchases.

Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. Also earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. Additionally, earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.

These are lucrative categories that give the American Express® Green Card similar earning power to the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. However, the American Express® Green Card‘s annual fee of $150 is nearly 75% less than the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®’s annual fee of $550.

For people on the go, these spending categories could earn you large amounts of valuable Membership Rewards points in no time, without an exorbitant annual fee.

We estimate an earning rate for the average consumer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor data and multiply that by the value of each card’s points or miles.

The Membership Rewards points you earn with the American Express® Green Card can be redeemed for a tremendous variety of rewards. These options make Membership Rewards some of the most valuable points to earn in the credit card space.

Each of these purchasing opportunities will net you different values for your Amex points. To net the greatest value, though, it would be best to save your points for Amex travel partners.

Amex transfer partners

Besides the list of redemption options above, the points you earn with the American Express® Green Card can be transferred to a long list of travel partners — mostly at a 1:1 ratio, to be used for free flights or hotel rooms.

For example, if you transfer 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards to Delta and redeem them for a flight that costs $1,300, the value of those points is 2.6 cents per point — which is even more impressive than the 2.2 cent average.

Amex transfer partners include Delta Air Lines and many other valuable loyalty programs. As you can see, Amex points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to most partners:

• $150 annual fee: This card charges a $150 annual fee, which is about mid-range compared to other travel cards and premium cards. While its additional perks and benefits can easily make up for this fee, if you’d prefer to not to pay an annual fee at all, there are lots of great no annual fee cards to choose from instead.
• Less expensive cards offer higher welcome offers: The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a great example. It has a $95 annual fee and lets you earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. While the American Express® Green Card has a decent welcome offer, it may not be the best offer available.

American Express® Green Card vs. American Express^® Gold Card

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American Express^® Gold Card

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on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

American Express^® Gold Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee $250

Rewards Rate Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

660 720 850

Good/Excellent

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The American Express^® Gold Card is another great card for travelers. The card comes with a $250 annual fee, but makes up for it with its annual dining credit of up to $120 ($10 monthly, enrollment required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 in Uber Cash per month). Your American Express^® Gold Card will need to be added to your Uber app in order to receive this monthly Uber Cash benefit, which can be applied toward U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats purchases.

As you spend on the American Express^® Gold Card, you’ll Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.

The American Express^® Gold Card is the better option for those who spend a significant amount at U.S. supermarkets, and can utilize the annual credits for dining and airline purchases. So if you travel and eat out regularly, the American Express^® Gold Card will likely suit your needs more.

American Express® Green Card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

| Terms Apply

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee $695

Rewards Rate 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

660 720 850

Good/Excellent

Get my free score

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express offers luxurious benefits to travelers looking to step up their level of travel. While it has a steep $695 annual fee, by maximizing its annual credits and the benefits, you could nullify nearly the entire annual fee. Its benefits, which are arguably the best of any travel rewards card, include:

• Credits for airline purchases and enrolling in TSA PreCheck/Global Entry (enrollment required)
• Airport lounge access including Priority Pass (enrollment required) and Centurion Lounges
• Benefits at The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts programs
• Complimentary hotel loyalty program status at Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
• Comprehensive travel insurance²

The largest downside of the card is the limited spending categories. You will earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.

Because the American Express® Green Card offers broader spending categories, it may make sense to use the two cards simultaneously to maximize your point earning potential.

American Express® Green Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

How Does LendingTree Get Paid? How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

| Disclosures

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Apply Now

on Chase's secure site

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 21.49%–28.49% variable

Annual Fee $95

Rewards Rate Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

720 850

Excellent

Get my free score

Show Detailsfor Citi Double Cash Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is widely regarded as the one of the best travel credit cards on the market — and for good reason.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card offers comprehensive travel insurance, outstanding earning categories, airport lounge access and a low annual fee. As you use the card, you’ll enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

There is plenty of debate about which credit card rewards program is best, but it really comes down to which rewards partners you value the most. Chase has a smaller, yet still powerful list of transfer partners — including United, Southwest and Hyatt.

In most cases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card would be a better card than the American Express® Green Card. The only exception is if you personally see more value in Amex’s travel partners.

The American Express® Green Card is a good, but not great, option for those who travel constantly. It offers great benefits for those on the road — including fee credits for CLEAR Plus Credit and LoungeBuddy — but those who aren’t regular travelers may find it difficult to maximize the card.

If you aren’t able to visit airport lounges or take advantage of the CLEAR Plus Credit, the $150 annual fee may be difficult to justify. However, the wide spending categories like transit and travel can be beneficial enough for some spenders to see value in the card.

Compared with other travel cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Citi Premier^® Card, the American Express® Green Card stands as one of the best travel cards with a moderate annual fee. If you’re still not convinced, however, consider a premium credit card or another travel rewards card instead.

The information related to Citi Prestige® Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

1. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

2. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.