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

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express® Green Card Review: An Underrated Travel Rewards Card?

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4
American Express® Green Card
Travel Benefit
$189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
Welcome Offer
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.
Rewards Rate
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 and 1X points on other Purchases.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

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

Citi is an advertising partner.
Our Take: The American Express® Green Card is a lesser-known travel rewards credit card with some fairly valuable perks and a relatively low annual fee ($150), although its value is outmatched by other Amex travel cards.

Pros and cons

  • Excellent earning rate on dining out, travel and transit purchases
  • Credits for CLEAR and LoungeBuddy (enrollment required)
  • Transfer points to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $150 annual fee applies
  • Lacks some travel protections, like trip cancellation/interruption insurance
  • Lounge benefit can only cover a few visits per year
  • No premium travel benefits

Is the American Express® Green Card worth it?

First-year value: $877 versus $636 for the average rewards credit card*
Ongoing value: $477 versus $322 for the average rewards credit card*
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

The American Express® Green Card may not be as popular as other Amex travel credit cards, but it has plenty of redeeming qualities. The card offers a $189 credit toward CLEAR Plus membership annually, along with up to $100 in credits toward LoungeBuddy airport lounge visits each year*. If you use these benefits regularly, that’s more than enough to make up for this card’s $150 annual fee.

Its best feature may be its 3X earning rate on a wide variety of purchases, including travel, transit and dining worldwide. This along with a substantial welcome offer for new cardmembers can add up to a lot of points in your first year.

However, if you’re already sold on the value of Amex’s Membership Rewards program, you may find that it makes more sense to go with the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express.

*Enrollment required.

Not the right card for you? Check out our other top travel credit cards.

Quick facts

  • Annual fee: $150
  • Regular purchase APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign transaction fee: $0
  • Welcome offer: 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.
  • Rewards: 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 and 1X points on other Purchases.
  • Other benefits: $189 CLEAR Plus credit*, up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit*, travel insurance1,2, extended warranty, purchase protection
  • Recommended credit: Good / Excellent

*Enrollment required for these benefits.

How do the American Express® Green Card's benefits rate?

  • Welcome offer (3.6 out of 5 stars)

    New cardmembers can 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 fair-sized offer for a mid-range travel credit card. Considering American Express Membership Rewards value can reach 2 cents per point (approximately) when transferred to airline and hotel partners for a premium redemption, this offer is worth around $800.

    However, if your goal is to score a large sign-up bonus for free travel, you can find similarly priced cards with larger offers, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

    Who’s eligible to apply? According to Amex, you may not be eligible for this offer if you have had this card in the past, or if you have had The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or the American Express® Gold Card. You may also be ineligible if you have had any previous versions of these cards.

    That said, American Express notifies you when you apply if you’re ineligible for a welcome offer, and gives you a chance to cancel before a hard inquiry is performed.

  • Earning points (4.8 out of 5 stars)

    The American Express® Green Card offers a generous earning rate that applies to travel purchases, dining and transit. It’s also worth noting that travel doesn’t have to be purchased through AmexTravel.com to earn bonus rewards in this category.

    How many points can you earn? 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 and 1X points on other Purchases.

    Still, there are more rewarding travel credit cards, including the American Express® Gold Card. For a higher $325 annual fee (see rates & fees), you can earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 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. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply. If you want to earn the most points for travel, the American Express® Gold Card may be the better option.

    Rewards earned per $1 spent*

    *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

  • Redeeming points (4 out of 5 stars)

    A major advantage of American Express Membership Rewards points is their versatility. You can redeem points for travel, cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and more.

    If you want the flexibility to fly with any airline, Membership Rewards points are one of your best bets. You’ll get 1 cent per point on travel with any airline through the Amex Membership Rewards portal, with no blackout dates or restrictions.

    Redemption optionEstimated value
    Transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programsDepends on program (around 2 cents on average)
    Book flights through the Amex Travel portal1 cent
    Book hotels through the Amex Travel portal0.7 cents
    Redeem for gift cards0.5 to 1 cent
    Shop with points0.5 cents
    Pay with your points at checkout0.7 to 1 cents
    Cover your card charges and receive a statement credit0.6 cents

    You can also transfer Membership Rewards points, mostly at a 1:1 ratio, to 15+ hotel and airline loyalty programs. Point transfers give you the potential to get more value for each point, especially if you use points for a luxury hotel stay or a premium airfare redemption. If you want to stretch your points as far as possible, the American Express® Green Card is a good card to have.

    American Express® Green Card transfer partners

    • Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1)
    • Aeromexico Premier (1:1.6)
    • Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1)
    • Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1)
    • ANA Mileage Club (1:1)
    • Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
    • British Airways Executive Club (Avios) (1:1)
    • Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles (1:1)
    • Delta SkyMiles (1:1)
    • Emirates Skywards (1:1)
    • Etihad Guest: (1:1)
    • Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles (1:1)
    • Iberia Avios (1:1)
    • JetBlue TrueBlue (2.5:2)
    • Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
    • Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1)
    • Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1)
    • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1)
    • Choice Privileges (1:1)
    • Hilton Honors (1:2)
    • Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
    Unfortunately, most Membership Rewards redemptions outside of travel — including cash back — are worth less than 1 cent. If you plan to redeem rewards for statement credits or merchandise, for example, you’ll probably be better off with a cash back credit card.

    Learn more about redeeming Membership Rewards points

  • Other benefits (3 out of 5 stars)

    The American Express® Green Card offers additional perks that can more than make up for its annual fee each year, including more than $200 worth of travel credits. It also includes a decent suite of travel and purchase protections. But, it lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access. If you travel heavily and enjoy luxury travel perks, you should consider cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

    • $189 CLEAR Plus credit*: Get an annual credit for CLEAR Plus membership, which helps you move through security and TSA checkpoints faster at eligible airports.
    • Up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit*: This annual credit covers up to $100 worth of day passes into eligible LoungeBuddy airport lounges, which are located in airports throughout the world.
    • Trip delay insurance: Up to $300 per eligible trip on delays of 12 hours or longer. Cardholders are limited to two claims per 12-month period.
    • Car rental insurance: Get secondary auto rental coverage on eligible rental periods of up to 30 days. Coverage is worth up to $50,000 for damage or theft.1
    • Baggage insurance: Up to $1,250 for carry-on luggage and up to $500 for checked baggage. Travel with a common carrier must be charged to the card for coverage to apply.2
    • Purchase protection: Get protection against damage or theft of eligible purchases with your card, up to $1,000 per purchase (annual limit of $50,000).
    • Extended warranty: Adds an additional year of warranty coverage to items that come with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less, up to $10,000 per purchase and up to $50,000 per card.

    *Enrollment required for these benefits.

    See the best credit cards for travel insurance

| Disclosures
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
| Terms Apply
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$325
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
  • Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $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.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

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.


The American Express® Gold Card can be a more rewarding option for people who spend a lot on food and airfare each year, even with its higher annual fee of $325. This card lets you earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 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. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply. It earns Membership Rewards points, so you’ll have the same flexible redemption options as the American Express® Green Card.

Cardholders also get a few benefits that may be easier to use, including up to $120 in Uber cash toward U.S. rides and eats each year and up to $120 in dining credits at eligible eateries*. Note that both annual statement credits are given out in monthly increments of $10, so you have to utilize them often to get the full value.

*Enrollment required.

| Disclosures
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
N/A
21.49%-28.49% Variable
$95
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on
  • Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
  • 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, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent
*The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

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.


The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will only set you back $95 per year with its annual fee, while offering a similarly flexible rewards program with the option to transfer points to Chase’s loyalty programs partners.

It’s a better option for earning points on everyday spending, with bonus categories like dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. It’s also the best card for those who prefer simpler redemption options, since you can redeem points for any travel purchase for 1 cent per point, or through Chase’s travel portal for a 25% bonus.

A huge sign-up bonus is available for cardholders within the first few months of account opening. It also includes a better set of travel protections, including primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and trip delay coverage.

| Disclosures
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$395
2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
720 850
Excellent

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.


The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card annual fee is much higher at $395, but this card includes premium travel benefits. Cardmembers get a Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year upon card renewal and a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. You’ll also get a $300 credit each year for Capital One travel purchases, which can make up for most of the annual fee.

Its miles are more flexible than the American Express® Green Card, since you can redeem them for any travel purchase for a value of 1 cent per mile. You can also transfer points to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners, though — unlike the American Express® Green Card — that list doesn’t include any major U.S. airlines.

Should you get the American Express® Green Card?

The American Express® Green Card is best for individuals who want to earn transferable points without paying more than $150 per year for the privilege. Cardholders who spend a lot on travel, transit and dining can also benefit from this card due to its generous rewards rate in these categories. Frequent travelers will also benefit from its CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy benefits*.

Just remember that there are other cards that earn Membership Rewards points with better rewards and benefits. The American Express® Gold Card may also suit your needs better if you spend a lot on food and airfare. And, if you’re willing to pay $695 per year and you want all the luxury travel benefits you could possibly get, you can even consider The Platinum Card® from American Express.

*To see rates & fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
*Enrollment required.

 

Want to compare more travel card options?

 

Frequently asked questions

The American Express® Green Card is not a metal card. However, the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express are.

This card comes with secondary auto rental coverage on eligible rental periods of up to 30 days that’s worth up to $50,000 for damage or theft.

The American Express® Green Card doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.

The American Express® Green Card lets you carry a balance on some purchases with its Pay Over Time feature. This makes it unlike traditional charge cards that require you to pay the full balance charged to your card every billing period.

American Express doesn’t disclose the minimum or maximum credit limit for this card.

American Express considers its approval process to be proprietary information, thus it doesn’t publish a minimum credit score for this card. However, this card is recommended for people with good / excellent credit.

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.

2. Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. 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.

To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information related to the American Express® Green Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.