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Amex Green Card Review: Improved Value for Frequent Travelers

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Offer Details

All information about the American Express® Green Card was gathered independently by Motley Fool Money and was not provided by the issuer. Some details may be out of date. Check the issuer's site for more information.

The American Express® Green Card is the perfect example of a card that benefited from a makeover. It used to be one of many overlooked travel cards on the market due to a modest rewards rate and few useful benefits. Since then, American Express has revamped it with more bonus categories and several money-saving travel perks.

The card has gotten significantly better thanks to those updates, but is it worth it? To help you find out, we're going to cover all the good and the not-so-good points of this card in our American Express® Green Card review below.

Ratings Methodology

American Express® Green Card

American Express® Green Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases.

1x - 3x points

Annual Fee

$150

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

40,000 Membership Rewards® Points

  • Packs in a big welcome offer, lucrative credits, and premium points for travel and restaurants. These perks justify the annual fee for many new cardholders.

    • Restaurant rewards
    • Travel and transit rewards
    • Welcome offer
    • Useful travel points
    • Travel credits
    • Annual fee
    • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • 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.
The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Motley Fool Money and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer's website for more information. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Full Amex Green Card review

This card is a good fit for: Consumers who have high travel and dining spending. Travelers who want an affordable American Express card may like this card's reasonable annual fee (see rates and fees).

Top perks

These are the top perks that come with this card:

40,000-point welcome offer

You'll earn these bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months that you have the card. Terms apply.

Earn up to 3 points per dollar

The American Express® Green Card earns 3 points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, on travel, and on transit expenses, such as rideshares, taxis, and toll roads. On other purchases, it earns 1 point per dollar. Overall, its rewards rate is competitive even with cards that charge much more expensive annual fees. Terms apply.

$100 annual LoungeBuddy credit

You're automatically reimbursed for your first $100 in LoungeBuddy purchases per year when enrolled in the program. LoungeBuddy is a service that lets you pay for single-use passes to airport lounges within its network. The price varies depending on the lounge. One pass typically ranges from $25 to $50, but some lounges charge greater or smaller amounts. Lounge availability varies by airport. Terms apply.

This benefit could be useful if you travel through an airport in LoungeBuddy's network. It will cover only a few visits, though, and it pales in comparison to what other credit cards with airport lounge access offer.

$199 annual CLEAR credit

You'll receive a $199 statement credit every year after using this card to pay your membership fee in the CLEAR program you're enrolled in. As a member of CLEAR, you can scan your eyes and fingerprints at airports where the service is available, and a CLEAR employee will then take you directly to the physical screening process. Terms apply.

American Express Membership Rewards points

The American Express Membership Rewards program is known for its impressive roster of transfer partners. This makes the points your card earns more valuable, because you have so many different ways you can use them. And as a backup, you can redeem your points through American Express Travel to book cash airfare at a respectable rate of $0.01 per point. Terms apply.

Read more: Best American Express Credit Cards

Travel and consumer protections

This card has quite the list of complimentary protections, including:

These protection benefits do have rules and exclusions in place, so be sure to look at the terms and conditions to better understand what's covered.

No foreign transaction fees

When you're outside the United States or making purchases from international merchants, you can use your American Express® Green Card without paying extra (see rates and fees).

See more: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

What could be improved

This card has some areas that could be improved upon:

Welcome offer size

The saying "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" isn't one we apply to credit card sign-up bonuses and welcome offers. There are several cards with lower annual fees and more valuable introductory offers than what you'll get from the American Express® Green Card.

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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Suggested credit score

The American Express® Green Card is for people with good to excellent credit, which translates to a FICO® Score of at least 670. Of course, other factors are considered, and approval isn't guaranteed with a higher score nor is it impossible with a lower score.

Is the annual fee worth it?

Considering its high rewards rate and the spending credits it offers, the American Express® Green Card benefits more than justify its annual fee for many.

If you know that you'll use the LoungeBuddy and CLEAR credits, then you're already getting $289 in value from this card, which lowers the impact of the annual fee. Even if you don't use all of the spending credits this card offers, you can still get plenty of value with the rewards program. In our minds it's not so much is the annual fee worth it but more is this the right annual fee credit card for your needs?

Related: Best Credit Cards

The Amex Green Card is right for you if:

The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice if:

  • You spend a lot of money on travel and dining.
  • You want versatile travel rewards that you can transfer to a variety of airlines and hotels.
  • You visit airport lounges at least a few times per year.

Consumers who like the American Express Membership Rewards program but want a card with more benefits and rewards should look at the aforementioned American Express® Gold Card or even the card issuer's ultra-premium option, The Platinum Card® from American Express. But if you want to keep costs down, the American Express® Green Card still offers more than its fair share of perks for a less expensive annual fee.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The American Express® Green Card doesn't have a credit limit or a preset spending limit. Your spending limit is flexible and can adapt based on purchases, payment, and credit history. To check if a large purchase will be approved, use the Check Spending Power tool that American Express offers in your online account and in its mobile app.

  • The American Express® Green Card usually isn't hard to get for qualified applicants. While American Express uses many factors to evaluate your application, a good credit score gives you a high chance of an approval. Most approved applicants have a FICO® Score of 670 or more.

  • Yes, you can use this card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.