For those looking to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, there are arguably two best personal cards for doing so — the American Express® Gold Card (review) and the American Express® Green Card (review).
These are both fantastic cards, though I’d argue that they’re substitutes for one another, so for a vast majority of people, it only makes sense to have one card or the other. Which card makes the most sense for you? Well, I’m going to address that in this post.
The information and associated card details on this page for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
In this post:
Comparing the Amex Gold Card & Amex Green Card
Below let’s take a look at various aspects of the Amex Gold Card and Amex Green Card. Let’s discuss the approval odds, annual fees, return on spending, general card perks, and more.
For the purposes of this comparison, I’ll be leaving out the excellent welcome offers, since those can change over time. However, in general you’ll find that the Amex Gold Card has a better welcome offer than the Amex Green Card. With that out of the way, let’s get right into it.
Comparing approval odds
The Amex Gold Card and Amex Green Card should be comparable in terms of approval odds:
- Both cards are considered hybrid cards for approval purposes, rather than credit cards
- The cards don’t count toward Amex’s five credit card limit, as hybrid cards are excluded from that
- Anecdotally I find Amex hybrid cards to be pretty easy to get approved for
Comparing annual fees
Annual fees are one of the biggest considerations that people have when deciding on a credit card. There is a significant difference between the fees on these two cards:
- The Amex Gold Card has a $325 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
- The Amex Green Card has a $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
Obviously the Amex Green Card wins in this category, as the card will cost you significantly less every year. However, that largely reflects the difference in value that the cards will offer for many consumers.
Comparing points earning structures
Both the Amex Gold Card and Amex Green Card earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transfered to airline & hotel partners to maximize value. As a benefit of Membership Rewards, you also get access to a limited complimentary version of point.me! Login here to see the reward flight options available with your Amex points, along with step-by-step booking instructions
The main reason you’ll want to pick up either of these cards is because of the return on spending that they offer. Note that both cards have no foreign transaction fees, so are potentially good for purchases abroad.
The Amex Gold Card offers:
- 4x points on dining globally (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year and then 1x)
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year and then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- 1x point on other purchases
The Amex Green Card offers:
- 3x points on dining globally
- 3x points on travel and transit
- 1x points on all other purchases
Which card wins here?
- The Amex Gold Card is one of the very best cards out there for both dining and supermarket spending, and is also great for airfare; if you spend a lot on eating (whether at restaurants or grocery stores), this is the card for you
- The Amex Green Card is extremely well-rounded in offering bonus points on both dining and travel, so in that sense it’s almost comparable to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review)
Comparing benefits & perks
The Amex Gold Card and Amex Green Card offer some perks that can go a long way to offset the annual fees on the cards. Which perks are more valuable to you could help you decide which card is better in terms of justifying the annual fee. (Enrollment is required for select benefits)
The Amex Gold Card offers:
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually, by adding your Amex Gold Card to your Uber account; receive $10 in Uber Cash every calendar month directly to your Uber account, to be used toward U.S. Uber rides or U.S. Uber Eats orders, across one or more multiple transactions. As of 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.
- Up to $120 toward dining annually; receive up to $10 in statement credits each calendar month for purchases in the U.S. with Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys
- Up to $100 in credits through Resy. This comes in the form of a $50 semi-annual credit (January through June and July through December), with eligible purchases being for U.S. Resy restaurants. If you dine at a restaurant that participates in Resy at least twice per year, then this should basically be good as cash.
- Up to $84 in annual Dunkin’ credits. This comes as a $7 monthly Dunkin’ credit, valid for purchases at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
The Amex Green Card offers:
- Up to $199 in CLEAR Plus credits every calendar year; charge an eligible CLEAR purchase to your card, and you’ll receive a statement credit up to $199 (Enrollment required)
- Up to $100 in LoungeBuddy credits every calendar year; charge eligible lounge access purchases through LoungeBuddy to the card, and you’ll receive a statement credit of up to $100
Which card wins here?
- With the Amex Gold Card, I tend to think that most people can get close to full value out of the Uber Cash benefit, since Uber and Uber Eats are widely used by Americans; the dining credit is a bit trickier, and entirely depends on how much you’d otherwise spend with those brands
- With the Amex Green Card, the CLEAR credit could be valuable, though a similar perk is offered with The Platinum Card® from American Express (review), so that will be redundant for many; furthermore, the LoungeBuddy credit could also be largely redundant for those who have a Priority Pass membership through a premium credit card
As you can see, in both cases the annual credits alone can largely justify the annual fees, assuming you can use them. Personally I tend to think the Amex Gold Card credits are a bit more widely useful, especially for those who have other premium credit cards, though it’s a case of “your mileage may vary.”
The information and associated card details on this page for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
The Amex Gold Card and Amex Green Card are two of American Express’ best personal cards for earning points. Generally speaking, I think it only makes sense to have one card or the other, since there is quite a bit of overlap.
As far as picking the right card goes, here’s how I’d think about it:
- If you spend a lot on dining and supermarkets, then the Amex Gold Card is an absolute must-have, as earning 4x points in those categories is awesome; the Uber Cash benefit and dining credits should help with offsetting the annual fee
- If you are committed to the Amex ecosystem and spend a lot on dining out and travel, then the Amex Green Card is Amex’s best competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve in terms of rewards structure
While I don’t think you can go wrong with either card, I think the Amex Gold Card is an especially good Amex card based on many peoples’ spending profiles.
Where do you stand — do you prefer the Amex Gold Card or Amex Green Card?
The information and associated card details on this page for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and American Express® Green Card (Rates & Fees).
The best AMEX combo is:
Business Platinum
Gold
Green
Blue Business Plus
$1,095 in annual fees figure you can take advantage of the following:
$400 Dell
$200 Airline
$109-$189 Clear depending on your status
$120 Wireless
$120 Uber
$120 Grubhub
$25 Global Entry
Which covers all of the annual fees and gets you with the 35% Business Platinum redemption bonus:
3.07% unbonused spend
4.61% non...
The best AMEX combo is:
Business Platinum
Gold
Green
Blue Business Plus
$1,095 in annual fees figure you can take advantage of the following:
$400 Dell
$200 Airline
$109-$189 Clear depending on your status
$120 Wireless
$120 Uber
$120 Grubhub
$25 Global Entry
Which covers all of the annual fees and gets you with the 35% Business Platinum redemption bonus:
3.07% unbonused spend
4.61% non airline travel
6.15% dining and groceries
7.69% airlines
You could drop the Green if you don’t have significant non airline travel expenses.
Which card avoids paying extra commissions and conversion compensations in Australia and New Zealand?
Just my 2 cents: Such comparison should be made side by side / in tabular form.
I think I'm confused. Why is the Gold card better for airfare when the Gold card only offers 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, but the Green card offers 3x points on travel and transit (which includes all airfare)? Isn't the Green card actually better for travel since it is the same 3x points for airfare but also all other aspects of travel?
Agree with Andrew, Amex gives the benefits divided monthly and has all kinds of terms like Green card restaurants at certain establishments but other cards don't. People should not shy away from an annual fee if there is more value than the annual fee. Spending more on that card per month than the credit because you usually need to to get the credit often happens.
If I also have the Platinum card do the Uber credits stack or is it one or the other?
Would there be any benefit over the Chase Ink Preferred and Chase Sapphire Preferred ? With both a 3x globally on dining and travel can be earned with a broad travel insurance included ?
For me the value beyond the signup bonus seems to be for those who prefer Amex cards.
I disagree they are substitutes. They compliment each other very nicely if you look at gold as domestic only and green as international only.
I use gold for food and groceries at home. It almost pays for itself with the $120 Uber Eats bonus, which I only use for pickup orders.
I use green for any travel, regardless of where it's booked (HUGE win over gold and platinum). All bookings and cab rides, parking, and...
I disagree they are substitutes. They compliment each other very nicely if you look at gold as domestic only and green as international only.
I use gold for food and groceries at home. It almost pays for itself with the $120 Uber Eats bonus, which I only use for pickup orders.
I use green for any travel, regardless of where it's booked (HUGE win over gold and platinum). All bookings and cab rides, parking, and food whenever traveling( gold only works on domestic dining). Pays for itself with Clear credits and loungebuddy credit. trip delay insurance is a plus.
I find both together used in the correct context to be stronger for my own needs than the platinum card. I wish Amex could roll both the benefits into one card
Amex Gold is essentially a free fee card for many, so it makes sense to hold it regardless. The question is the Green. Loungebuddy is not useful for most, and the CLEAR credit isn't useful for Platinum holders or many elites, so it is a true $150 card. So the question is - do you spend enough on transit and non brand hotel travel to make the $150 fee worth it over a 2x card...
Amex Gold is essentially a free fee card for many, so it makes sense to hold it regardless. The question is the Green. Loungebuddy is not useful for most, and the CLEAR credit isn't useful for Platinum holders or many elites, so it is a true $150 card. So the question is - do you spend enough on transit and non brand hotel travel to make the $150 fee worth it over a 2x card like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Cap One Venture. I do spend enough on these categories, so I should hold the card. I don't currently, but I have considered adding it. For a while I had an Amex Green instead of the Amex Gold and was surprised that I earned about as much via the Green.
I'm going to put this out there - I hate monthly credits; I want fewer AmEx coupon behavior incentives, not more.
To that end, I've gotten into the habit of "malicious consumption" - I will pay for an entry into an AA lounge with my Amex plat card even though I have access just to make sure AmEx doesn't come out ahead on their crappy $200 airline credit restriction game.
I'm sure I sound like an awful person, but when your company treats customers badly (intentionally making it hard to realize value, not capacity planning lounges adequately, marketing coupons as "premium benefits"), customers will find a way to reciprocate.
"but when your company treats customers badly...." Gee I'm confused by that statement. Your company or Amex? If Amex, one you do not have to take the card out. Second "not capacity planning lounges adequately." Just buy three or four passes (4 over the $200 in most lounges) add them to your wallet (phone) and use anytime you want - expiration one year. You read like a guy who would complain if hung by a new rope! Come on!
Harry, I can appreciate an Amex card that offers 5x on airfare, offers an IAP program, and lounge access. However, I don't like the narrative that the Platinum AF is $695 but gives you $1400 value, which is a point that many, many bloggers and youtubers repeat. I mention it on this page because these benefits are structured very similarly.
Specifically, these benefits are designed to be difficult to claim. Why not an annual $120...
Harry, I can appreciate an Amex card that offers 5x on airfare, offers an IAP program, and lounge access. However, I don't like the narrative that the Platinum AF is $695 but gives you $1400 value, which is a point that many, many bloggers and youtubers repeat. I mention it on this page because these benefits are structured very similarly.
Specifically, these benefits are designed to be difficult to claim. Why not an annual $120 in Uber or $120 for restaurants all at once? Because Amex knows it's hard to use them every month and customers will probably not actually do it.
To your observation, I do complain when I get mistreated. I would vote with my wallet, but I can't find 5x airfare elsewhere, at least until Citi brings the Prestige card back.
A card has to pay for itself over a 2 year period or a SUB so great it's worth it. I say two years as I play it safe with Amex claw backs. Currently I'm evaluating my gold card whether to keep it. Come August AF, I will have had it for three years. Groceries for me @ 4x in itself is not enough to keep it. Dining @ 4x is only one point more...
A card has to pay for itself over a 2 year period or a SUB so great it's worth it. I say two years as I play it safe with Amex claw backs. Currently I'm evaluating my gold card whether to keep it. Come August AF, I will have had it for three years. Groceries for me @ 4x in itself is not enough to keep it. Dining @ 4x is only one point more than my green card. I have to spend another $10K to net $100 to offset the gold's additional AF. Meanwhile the green card knocks-out the gold on travel except as you noted airlines. At the end of the day, a card has to pay its AF or either I won't take it out or it's canceled.
Platinum card, yes you have to work at. I'll give you that for sure. If we're honest with ourselves, how much of the benefit spend would we do if not for being rebated by Amex? That's the true measure of a card's worth on benefits.
???
So you pay for something twice in order to get back at Amex?
Just towards the end of the year when I see that I'm not going to get the full $200 of spend completed.
I don't pay for it. Amex does.