The American Express® Green Card is great for frequent travelers and foodies who want an everyday card that's easy to use.
Amex Green Cardholders earn valuable Amex points on travel, transit, and restaurant expenses and receive several perks that easily justify the card's $150 annual fee.
This card isn't as well-known as the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, but it can be just as useful for the right person.
This guide explains the Amex Green Card's benefits and costs to help you decide if it's a good fit for you.
$150
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 40,000 points
Good to Excellent
- Generous welcome bonus on par with pricier travel credit cards
- 3x bonus categories of travel, transit, and restaurants that rival the more-expensive Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Reasonable annual fee compared to many other travel rewards cards
- Annual statement credits with CLEAR and LoungeBuddy won't be useful to everyone
- Maximizing the travel statement credit from the welcome bonus requires $1,000 in spending
The American Express® Green Card might not be as flashy as other premium American Express cards, but it's an affordable starting point for folks who want to start earning credit card rewards for free travel.
American Express Green Card Overview
The Amex Green Card is an underrated choice for people who regularly commute and dine out.
This card earns 3 Amex points per dollar on restaurants, transportation, and travel expenses. While several other cards offer bonus points on travel and dining, it's rarer to earn extra rewards on transit expenses, especially on a card that has a relatively low annual fee.
The Amex Green Card also comes with a yearly credit of up to $199 for CLEAR® Plus expedited airport screening. This private program allows members to skip to the front of the security line, saving you a lot of time when you fly.
Amex Green Card Rewards
Welcome Bonus
New Amex Green Cardholders can earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Earning Rewards
The Amex Green Card earns 3 Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), on transit, and travel, and 1 point on other purchases.
Purchases that qualify for the transit bonus include trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Redeeming Rewards
There are many ways to use Amex points. Some are significantly more valuable than others.
Amex points are worth an average of 1.8 cents apiece, according to Business Insider's valuations of what points and miles are worth. But if you redeem your rewards for gift cards or magazines, you'll get significantly less value per point. You'll get the best value for your rewards when you use points for travel.
Redeeming Points for Travel
The most valuable way to use your rewards for travel is by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to partners such as Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Hilton.
Transferring points to airline and hotel loyalty programs allows you to book travel with your rewards instead of paying for flights and hotel stays in cash.
Alternatively, you can use your points to purchase flights, hotel stays, rental cars, and cruises through the American Express Travel portal.
Redeeming Points for Non-Travel
We don't recommend using your Amex points for the following redemptions because they're significantly less valuable this way. But Amex Green Cardholders can use points to:
- Purchase gift cards with your points, generally at a rate of 1 cent per point
- Pay with points for Amazon purchases and with other stores like Walmart and Best Buy at 0.7 cents per point
- Receive a statement credit for your points at 0.6 cents per point
Amex Green Card Benefits
The Amex Green Card is relatively light on benefits, but offers more yearly value than the cost of its annual fee.
Up to $199 in annual CLEAR Plus statement credits
CLEAR® Plus is an expedited airport security program that lets you skip to the front of the TSA screening line. It also operates at the entrances to certain U.S. stadiums.
A membership to CLEAR® Plus normally costs $199 per year — so this statement credit would lower your yearly out-of-pocket cost to $0.
Travel and Lifestyle Insurance
This card comes with modest benefits for frequent travelers:
- Rental car insurance — This coverage is secondary, so it will pick up what your personal auto insurance doesn't cover. This benefit is triggered when you pay for a car rental with this credit card.
- Trip delay insurance — When your flight is delayed 12 hours or more, you'll get up to $300 per trip, up to a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. You must pay for your travel with this card to be eligible for this benefit.
- Baggage insurance — This benefit reimburses you up to a certain amount if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged on eligible trips paid with this card.
- 24/7 Global Assistance Hotline — This benefit is helpful for getting support during various emergencies, such as cash wire transfers, medical problems, etc. You must be at least 100 miles from home to use this hotline, and you are responsible for paying any costs incurred for service (such as towing services if your car breaks down, for example).
Purchase Protections
Cardholders get purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and Amex return protection when buying certain eligible products such as electronics.
Amex Green Card Fees
Annual Fee
The Amex Green Card has a $150 annual fee.
Other Fees and Costs
This card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so it's a great companion when traveling internationally.
You'll end up paying interest if you carry a balance (See Pay Over Time APR).
The card also charges fees for cash advances, returned payments, and late payments.
Amex Green Card Cardholder Reviews
In addition to compiling our expert feedback on the Amex Green Card, we also reviewed online forums such as Reddit and Facebook to see what everyday cardholders have to say.
'Highly Underrated'
The Amex Green Card has a loyal fan base, with a number of Redditors calling it a highly underrated card. Many people who otherwise would not be able to earn Membership Rewards points celebrate the number of rewards they earn on everyday transactions, and several cardholders have found additional savings by taking advantage of targeted Amex Offers for specific retail purchases.
Made of Reclaimed Plastic
Eco-conscious Redditors love that this card is made from 70% reclaimed plastic. Cardholders also have the option of donating their rewards to nonprofits working to help the environment.
Amex Green Card Alternatives
The Amex Green Card is a great choice for commuters, but there are other options available that may be a better fit for you.
Amex Green Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel credit cards available, and Business Insider's top pick overall for best travel rewards credit card for most people. It has an annual fee of $95, which is good for travelers who are cost-conscious about credit card fees.
This card offers some of the best rental car travel insurance you'll find from a credit card — even better than that of the luxury travel Amex Platinum Card. Cardholders also get up to $50 in annual credit toward hotels booked through Chase Travel℠, and earn up to 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on certain bonus categories, including Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase.
We recommend the Amex Green Card for people who value Amex points and commute on public transit. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better fit for people who value Chase points and take Lyft rides.
Read more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
Amex Green Card vs. Amex Platinum Card
It may seem strange to compare the Amex Green Card and Amex Platinum Card outright since they offer such different benefits. But they have more in common than you'd think — in fact, you can upgrade the Amex Green Card to the Amex Platinum Card and vice versa.
The Amex Platinum Card is one of Business Insider's top choices for credit cards with airline lounge access. Cardholders can visit several lounge networks worldwide including the prestigious Amex Centurion Lounges and the Priority Pass™ network of over 1,500 airport lounges around the world. Cardholders also get well over $1,000 worth of benefits in the form of valuable statement credits each year.
However, the Amex Green Card actually earns better rewards on most expenses. The Amex Platinum Card earns 5 points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1 point on other purchases. As a refresher, the Green card earns 3 Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), on transit, and travel, and 1 point on other purchases.
Both cards come with annual credits for up to $199 on CLEAR® Plus membership.
The Amex Green Card is best if you want a single card for everyday spending with moderate rewards, travel benefits, and a low annual fee. The Amex Platinum Card is better for you if flights comprise the bulk of your travel expenses and you want airport lounge access.
Read more in our American Express Platinum card review.
Amex Green Card vs. Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card
If you don't spend a lot of money on dining out and want to avoid paying an annual fee altogether, the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card is a great fit.
This relatively new credit card earns great rewards on public transit without charging an annual fee. Fitness buffs, pet owners, and earth lovers also come out ahead with the Attune℠ Card.
Cardholders earn unlimited 4% cash rewards on select self-care, planet-friendly, and sports, recreation, and entertainment purchases and 1% cash rewards on other purchases.
We recommend the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card for people who enjoy going to the spa and gym, spend money on their pets, and value live music, sporting events, and public transit. However, the Wells Fargo Rewards program isn't as well-developed as that of either Chase or Amex. If you value transferable rewards such as Amex points, the Amex Green Card is a better fit for you.
Read more in our Wells Fargo Attune card review.
Amex Green Card Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Amex Green Card good for?
The Amex Green Card is good for commuters, travelers, and people who dine out regularly. The card earns 3 Amex points per dollar on travel, transit, and dining expenses. It also comes with an annual statement credit of up to $199 to cover the cost of CLEAR®, which allows members to cut to the front of the line when going through airport security.
Is the Amex Green Card metal?
No, the American Express® Green Card isn't metal. This card is made of 70% reclaimed plastic, unlike the Amex Gold Card and the Amex Platinum Card.
Amex Green Card vs. Gold: Which is better?
The Amex Green Card is better for most people because it has a lower annual fee of just $150, and earns great rewards on travel, transit, and dining expenses. But the Amex Gold Card offers significantly more benefits and better earning rates that can help justify its $325 annual fee.
Is the Amex Green Card hard to get?
The Amex Green Card isn't hard to get if you have good credit. You have the best chance of approval with an excellent credit score of 700 or higher.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Amex Green Card
Business Insider's credit card experts reviewed the Amex Green Card against other travel rewards cards from Amex and other issuers by comparing several important factors, including:
- Ease of use — Does the card come with an easy-to-understand earning structure, or are there lots of complicated categories to memorize? Are there multiple options for redeeming rewards?
- Earning potential — We look at the card's welcome offer and ongoing earning, including the usefulness of bonus categories. We also consider if any bonus categories are limited to a maximum spending cap.
- Benefits — Does the card have useful benefits for travelers, and are they worth paying the annual fee for? These could be things like statement credits, discounts, lounge access, and travel protections.
- Annual fee — When there's a high annual fee, is it offset by the rewards-earning potential and card perks? Is it reasonable compared to similar cards?
Here's our full methodology on how we rate credit cards for a closer look at how we calculate our card ratings.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
