Amex Gold Vs. Amex Green: Which Card Is Better?

I actually find the Dunkin and Resy credits to have been very worthwhile additions to the Amex Gold card. Dunkin credit, as dumb as it originally seemed, is actually pretty easy to maximize with no spoilage each month. A couple of cups of coffee a month. In contrast, the dining credit, you are likely ordering a $50 Grubhub order to access a $10 credit. The Resy credit, at $50 a half, is also pretty easy to access. Those credits made the Gold even more worthwhile.

The Green seems to be most useful for those that spend a lot on transit, and as a downgrade option for the Amex Platinum.

The *rumored* refresh on the Chase Sapphire Reserve will purportedly downgrade "other travel" to 1X. Given the Amex Green's broad "other travel" category, those with a meaningful level of spending on non-portal rental cars, transit, parking, etc., will find it attractive.

The big issue I have with the AMEX Green card is that the bonus categories are almost exactly the same as the categories on the Chase Sapphire Preferred so if you combine those cards together in a wallet, you're splitting your spending. The AMEX Gold card integrates better with other cards. Expensive and I keep thinking about dumping it but keep holding off.

Agreed. Although, I'd use the monthly dining credit in a different way. I've found that GrubHub pricing is about 10 percent higher than DoorDash on the restaurants I use. YMMV.

Nice review. I’ve had the Green Card since 1983. I’ve played the offers to upgrade to Gold then Platinum then back down to Green after at least double dipping on the Platinum fight credits, etc.

Currently have the Green Card since but with 2 Platinum Bix Cards. 😉

Certainly, the analysis is different when talking about a two-card wallet . . . and what that second card is. Another consideration is acceptance of Amex outside the US. Separately, as I note in a prior comment, the rumored CSR refresh will drop "other travel" to 1X. So, perhaps hold off dropping the Amex Green.

I love the AMEX Green card. The annual fee is not that cheap but very doable when compared to the high end premium credit cards. AMEX is very good at calculating the correct points you get for bonus categories. So far, only one problem with the erroneous bonus points but AMEX was able to fix it on the spot while calling it in and hopefully it will always stay that way. The only other error was with the annual credit but AMEX fixed it immediately as well.

With Chase, I had to get them to fix it constantly but it was so annoying as I had to submit receipts (vendor receipt and credit card receipt if possible and screenshots of the transactions posted online (which was fine) but somehow AMEX was able to make it an easy fix by looking over the transactions posted online. I have switched over to AMEX green card as much as possible especially if it relates to dining and transit.

Oh I don't have the CSR, I have the CSP so any changes won't affect me unless they start changing the latter card as well. Don't have the AMEX Green, either; all my "travel" spend goes onto the CSP or a co-brand hotel card.

Agreed on Resy, I've found a place close by that I can actually use it at so that's now face value for me. The Grubhub, Uber, and Dunkin credits are useless for me though. I don't eat at Dunkin, I don't use Grubhub, Uber, or UberEats. If I need quick food I'll walk across the street for a sandwich or to Publix. I could theoretically use one of those credits on Cheesecake Factory but I really don't want to eat at that place once a month and only get a $10 discount. Once I cash out my MR I'm definitely ditching the Gold card unless something changes on the value proposition in the meantime.

Capital One has really improved on its shopping extension where I can get rewards using any card, then flip them for a hotels.com gift card. I also got a surprise credit on a flight price drop. Capital One Travel has come along nicely since its rocky Venture X start. I recently got the CSP for the welcome offer (via the link, thanks Ben), my first Chase card, so we'll see how that goes.

The Green removed the Lounge Buddy credit and never replaced it with anything equivalent. I already get Clear Plus through the Platinum. It works on Grab SE Asia, and Transport for London, but remains limited in its use internationally. The points don't really rack up with Grab being as inexpensive as it is. It's hard to justify holding on to the card. I plan on closing the account when my anniversary date comes around.

Agree. No issue using Resy, since there are lots of Resy restaurants around in my area and when I travel. The Dunkin near me is a combo Dunkin/Baskin Robbins, but it rings up as Dunkin. So, I add $7 a month to my Dunkin account (triggers the credit) and periodically treat my family to ice cream. As far as The Cheesecake Factory, there is one 12 minutes away, and every month I buy one piece of Cheesecake to go. As far as Uber, I can combine the $10 Uber credit with the Platinum $15 Uber credit with the Bonvoy $25 dining credit, so that gives me $50 per month to buy a meal for the family at the local pizza place that I pick up (6 minutes away) to save the delivery fee. All together, Gold is definitely a keeper for me under the current structure.

@Hobbs I do agree that it totally sucks that AMEX removed the Lounge Buddy passes without adding any reasonable replacement for it. Though, I do not think AMEX Green is limited internationally. It depends on what you need for it and how you use it so of course it is different for everyone. It works great for restaurants including Starbucks around the world with its 3x points. Also, the transit 3x points is so broad. It works on hotels, airlines (not only just airfare but anything that codes as airline), transport such as trains, third party travel booking platforms, etc. I have gotten so much more versatile use out of when compared to the co-branded credit cards.

can you double dip the uber credit. $20 from AMEX Platinum plus $10 from gold. Or is it one or the other

yes.

i'm dumping the Amex Gold card. I've had it for the last 7 years; but I just dont spend enough on it to make it worth my while. Why they are jacking up the fee AGAIN is beyond me.

I only keep the Green card so I can still access MR points (I have several) and to hold on to Clear.

Agreed. Although, I'd use the monthly dining credit in a different way. I've found that GrubHub pricing is about 10 percent higher than DoorDash on the restaurants I use. YMMV.

Agreed on Resy, I've found a place close by that I can actually use it at so that's now face value for me. The Grubhub, Uber, and Dunkin credits are useless for me though. I don't eat at Dunkin, I don't use Grubhub, Uber, or UberEats. If I need quick food I'll walk across the street for a sandwich or to Publix. I could theoretically use one of those credits on Cheesecake Factory but I really don't want to eat at that place once a month and only get a $10 discount. Once I cash out my MR I'm definitely ditching the Gold card unless something changes on the value proposition in the meantime.

Agree. No issue using Resy, since there are lots of Resy restaurants around in my area and when I travel. The Dunkin near me is a combo Dunkin/Baskin Robbins, but it rings up as Dunkin. So, I add $7 a month to my Dunkin account (triggers the credit) and periodically treat my family to ice cream. As far as The Cheesecake Factory, there is one 12 minutes away, and every month I buy one piece of Cheesecake to go. As far as Uber, I can combine the $10 Uber credit with the Platinum $15 Uber credit with the Bonvoy $25 dining credit, so that gives me $50 per month to buy a meal for the family at the local pizza place that I pick up (6 minutes away) to save the delivery fee. All together, Gold is definitely a keeper for me under the current structure.

Certainly, the analysis is different when talking about a two-card wallet . . . and what that second card is. Another consideration is acceptance of Amex outside the US. Separately, as I note in a prior comment, the rumored CSR refresh will drop "other travel" to 1X. So, perhaps hold off dropping the Amex Green.

@Hobbs I do agree that it totally sucks that AMEX removed the Lounge Buddy passes without adding any reasonable replacement for it. Though, I do not think AMEX Green is limited internationally. It depends on what you need for it and how you use it so of course it is different for everyone. It works great for restaurants including Starbucks around the world with its 3x points. Also, the transit 3x points is so broad. It works on hotels, airlines (not only just airfare but anything that codes as airline), transport such as trains, third party travel booking platforms, etc. I have gotten so much more versatile use out of when compared to the co-branded credit cards.

yes.