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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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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

Written by
Sophia Mendel
Edited by
Kurt Adams
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
$199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 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: shortenedCCEditorialNote

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.

The American Express® Green Card is a good travel card with valuable benefits for both travel and everyday spending, for a $150 annual fee.

Pros and cons

  • Top earning rate on travel and everyday purchases
  • Attainable welcome offer
  • Foreign transaction fees: $0
  • Excellent travel and purchase protections
  • Valuable travel credits
  • Earns valuable Membership Rewards points
  • Flexible redemption options
  • $150 annual fee
  • Less expensive cards offer higher welcome offers

Is the American Express® Green Card worth it?

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.

Quick facts

    • 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. Plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases made during your first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
    • $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.
    • $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
    • Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
    • Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
    • $150 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
  • 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.
  • Earning 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.
  • Annual fee: $150
  • Foreign transaction fee: $0
  • Other benefits: CLEAR Plus Credit and LoungeBuddy credit

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A

Annual Fee

$150

Cash Advance Fee

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fee

$0

Balance Transfer Fee

N/A

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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.

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.

  How much is it worth? About $1,320 when transferred to an Amex travel partner.
Who is eligible to earn it? New cardholders that are enrolled in the Membership Rewards program when their eligible purchases are made and whose card accounts are not canceled or past due at the time of fulfillment are eligible to earn this offer. If Amex determines that you’ve engaged in abuse, misuses or gaming of your welcome offer, or if you downgrade your account within 12 months of opening it, you may no longer be eligible for this offer and your account may be frozen or canceled.

Earning rate

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 and 1X points on other Purchases.

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.

Redeeming rewards

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.

Redemption optionEstimated value
Transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programsDepends on program (around 2.2 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 1.1 cents
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

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.

Points transfers are generally the most valuable way to redeem your points. By transferring your points and redeeming them for flights with partnering airlines, you can get an average value of around 2.2 cents per point or more.

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:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub: 1,000:1,000
  • Aeromexico Premier: 1,000:1,600
  • Air Canada Aeroplan: 1,000:1,000
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue: 1,000:1,000
  • ANA Mileage Club: 1,000:1,000
  • Avianca LifeMiles: 1,000:1,000
  • British Airways Executive Club (Avios): 1,000:1,000
  • Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles: 1,000:1,000
  • Delta SkyMiles: 1,000:1,000
  • Emirates Skywards: 1,000:1,000
  • Etihad Guest: 1,000:1,000
  • Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 1,000:1,000
  • Iberia Avios: 1,000:1,000
  • JetBlue TrueBlue: 250:200
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer: 500:500
  • Singapore KrisFlyer: 1,000:1,000
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1,000:1,000
  • Choice Privileges: 1,000:1,000
  • Hilton Honors: 1,000:2,000
  • Marriott Bonvoy: 1,000:1,000

Other American Express® Green Card benefits

When traveling through airports, sitting at the boarding area before your flight can be an unpleasant experience. The American Express® Green Card offers a solution to this issue, offering up to a $100 statement credit to LoungeBuddy.

LoungeBuddy is an app that offers one-time passes into airport lounges around the world. Typically, airport lounge access is earned through memberships like Priority Pass or by flying premium class on an airline.

To use LoungeBuddy, simply download the app and type in the airport you plan on visiting. It will then list off the applicable lounges that you can enter. Select a lounge, use the American Express® Green Card to complete the purchase and you’re done. You’ll receive a QR code on your phone to scan at the check-in desk of the lounge.

Lounge access starts at $25 per person per entry, so the credit won’t stretch far. Still, it is a great feature to make a few airport visits more enjoyable.

To avoid the long lines and waits at airport security, you can enroll in an expedited security program like CLEAR. The American Express® Green Card offers a $189 statement credit per year to enroll in CLEAR, which knocks the price of CLEAR down to $70/year. If you travel with family members, you can add up to three adult family members for $50 each per year. Children under 18 can join you for free.

To bring the price of CLEAR membership down even further, you can stack on the following discounts:

Members of Delta SkyMiles receive the following reduced rates:

  • General members pay $119/year
  • Platinum/Gold/Silver Medallion members pay $109/year
  • Delta credit cardholders pay $109/year
  • Delta Diamond Medallion members receive CLEAR membership for free

Members of United MileagePlus receive the following discounts:

  • General members pay $119/year
  • Premier Platinum/Gold/Silver members pay $109/year
  • United credit cardholders pay $109/year
  • United Premier 1K members receive CLEAR membership for free

By simply joining the Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus programs to get a discount on CLEAR membership and using the $189 statement credit from the American Express® Green Card, you could reduce your annual fee for CLEAR to $70/year.

During your travels, you may run into unfortunate situations, like a flat tire or lost baggage. The American Express® Green Card offers an array of travel coverages to help you with any hiccups that happen when you are away from home. By using the American Express® Green Card on your travels, you’ll have the following travel insurance policies:

Travel coverages
Trip delay insuranceYou can get up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms apply.
Car rental loss and damage insuranceSecondary auto rental coverage in covered territories. Terms and limitations apply.1
Baggage insuranceYou can get up to $1,250 for carry-on luggage and up to $500 for checked baggage. For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 max limit for all covered people per covered trip. Exclusions and restrictions apply.

In addition to the travel protections that come with this card, cardholders can also enjoy these purchase protections:

Purchase protections
Purchase protectionYour purchases can be protected up to 90 days from the purchase date, for up to $1,000 per occurrence, $50,000 per calendar year.
Extended warrantyYou can get up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer's warranty for covered purchases. This applies to warranties of 5 years or less. Terms apply.

The American Express® Green Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, which can save you countless amounts of money on transactions made while traveling abroad. Cards with no foreign transaction fees are an essential feature for any travel card, so the American Express® Green Card offers cardholders peace of mind when traveling.

The American Express® Green Card offers users the option to send money and split purchases with consumers using Venmo or PayPal. You can make these transactions directly through the American Express App. Enrollment required.

Drawbacks

  • $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 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. While the American Express® Green Card has a decent welcome offer, it may not be the best offer available.

Alternatives to the American Express® Green Card

The American Express® Green Card has strong competitors in the travel card market. Here’s how it matches up against three other cards.

Credit Cards Our Ratings Rewards RateWelcome OfferAnnual Fee
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card*
Learn More
4.0
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.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.$150
Learn More
American Express<sup>®</sup> Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply
4.3
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 ApplyEarn 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.$325
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply
The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply
4.5
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. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. $695
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
|Terms Apply
Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
4.7
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 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.$95
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
*The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.

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

| 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
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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.


Verdict: Similar rewards with more premium benefits and a higher annual fee

The American Express® Gold Card is another great card for travelers. The card comes with a $325 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 (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

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.

*To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

 

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

| Disclosures
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & Fees
| Terms Apply
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$695
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • 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 through American Express Travel using 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.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
  • $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: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
  • Receive either a $120 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.
  • 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.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
Get my free score

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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.


Verdict: Luxury benefits with a luxury price tag

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.

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

 

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

| Disclosures
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
N/A
20.99% - 27.99% 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
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Verdict: Higher sign-up bonus and similar rewards for a lower annual fee

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.

Should you get the American Express® Green Card?

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 Strata 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.

Frequently asked questions

The American Express® Green Card earns travel rewards based on how much you spend on the card. These rewards can be transferred to Amex travel partners like Delta Air Lines or Marriott Hotels.

The American Express® Green Card requires an Good / Excellent credit score. It’s important to check your credit score before applying to improve your chances of acceptance and avoid damaging your score.

The American Express® Green Card requires an Good / Excellent credit score. If your credit score is below this, it may be hard for you to get approved for the card.

Yes, the American Express® Green Card remains open for new applications and can be a welcome addition to your wallet.

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

*To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are 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 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.

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 above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

The information related to the American Express® Green Card and Citi Prestige® Credit 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.