American Express^® Green Card vs. American Express^® Gold Card: Which One Is Better for Your Wallet?

If you’re interested in an American Express rewards card, you’re likely to consider both the American Express^® Green Card and the American Express^® Gold Card. These cards have a few similarities, but you’ll find their differences become apparent very quickly as you start to dig deeper into their benefits.

In this Amex Green vs. Gold comparison, you’ll learn about each card’s strengths and weaknesses as we stack them up against each other. This will help you decide which one would work best for your unique situation.

Amex Green vs. Amex Gold

The Amex Green and Gold are considered travel rewards cards because they both earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back on purchases. This plays a part in the earning categories associated with each card, as well as many of their benefits.

However, it becomes clear that the specific benefits on each card will align better with certain cardholders’ spending preferences. For example, Amex Gold benefits are more focused on dining, while the Amex Green focuses more on travel. Use the table below to quickly compare the rewards and benefits between both cards.

	American Express® Green Card	American Express® Gold Card
Card type	Travel	Travel
Credit card issuer	American Express	American Express
Credit card network	American Express	American Express
Annual fee	$150 (terms apply)	$250 (terms apply)
Welcome bonus	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months (plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases during the first 6 months, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit) months of card membership	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership months of card membership
Earning rate	3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases	4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases
Redemption methods	Points can be redeemed for: Travel Gift cards Online shopping To cover card charges Points can also be transferred to travel partners such as: Delta JetBlue Marriott	Points can be redeemed for: Travel Gift cards Online shopping To cover card charges Points can also be transferred to travel partners such as: Delta JetBlue Marriott
Annual credits	Up to $189 annual statement credit for CLEAR Plus membership Up to $100 annual statement credits for airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy	Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders Up to $120 in annual dining credits with participating partners such as Grubhub, Milk Bar, and The Cheesecake Factory Enrollment required for select benefits
Travel perks	Trip delay insurance to cover additional expenses on eligible travel delays Baggage insurance to cover lost, stolen, or damaged baggage Car rental loss and damage insurance to cover damage to or theft of covered rental vehicles Global assistance services available 24/7 when traveling Exclusive presale ticket access to different events in select cities through American Express Experiences	$100 credit for qualifying activities at The Hotel Collection hotels booked through Amex Travel Personalized Travel Service available with up-to-date information to help you book your entire trip Trip delay insurance to cover additional expenses on eligible travel delays Baggage insurance to cover lost, stolen, or damaged baggage Car rental loss and damage insurance to cover damage to or theft of covered rental vehicles Global assistance services available 24/7 when traveling Exclusive presale ticket access to different events in select cities through American Express Experiences Access to premium seats for select events with American Express Preferred Seating
Other benefits	Purchase protection to cover theft of or damage to new purchases Extended warranty coverage to extend eligible manufacturer’s warranties on purchases Complimentary ShopRunner membership for free two-day shipping and returns at over 100 stores (enrollment required)	Purchase protection to cover theft of or damage to new purchases Extended warranty coverage to extend eligible manufacturer’s warranties on purchases Complimentary ShopRunner membership for free two-day shipping and returns at over 100 stores (enrollment required)
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Credit needed	Good, Excellent	Good, Excellent

What both cards excel at

Two cards from the same card issuer that earn the same rewards are likely to have a few similarities. Here are the areas where both the Amex Green and Amex Gold cards overlap:

• American Express Membership Rewards points: Both cards earn valuable Membership Rewards points on purchases, which gives you plenty of options for redemptions. Choose between travel, gift cards, online purchases, covering card charges, and more. Travel redemptions include flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays, cruises, car rentals, and vacations.
• Transfer partners: Membership Rewards points can also be transferred to Amex transfer partners. This includes loyalty programs from major airlines and hotel chains like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Delta SkyMiles. (Loyalty program accounts required.)
• Foreign transaction fee: If you frequently travel abroad, it’s well worth it to have a card on hand that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. This can help you save money on unnecessary expenses as you make purchases in other countries. Neither the Amex Green nor Amex Gold have foreign transaction fees.
• Purchase protection: Both cards offer purchase protection, which could cover eligible purchases against damage or theft. Note that the limits are different between the Amex Green and Amex Gold:
  • Amex Green: Receive up to $1,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per year.
  • Amex Gold: Receive up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per year.
• Extended warranty benefits: Both cards offer extended warranty coverage of up to one year on eligible purchases with manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
• American Express Experiences: Receive exclusive access to ticket presales for select events in nearby cities. This could include Broadway shows, concerts, sporting events, and more.

4 important differences between Amex Green vs. Amex Gold

An easy way to compare credit cards and choose the right one for you is to look at the differences between them. In the Amex Green vs. Gold debate, both cards focus on different types of benefits, so their differences become apparent fairly quickly. Here are important ways the Amex Green and Amex Gold differ:

1. Travel benefits

While both may be considered travel cards, the Amex Green tends to focus more on travel-related benefits than the Amex Gold. For example, its earning rates include 3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases. The Amex Gold’s travel earning category is more specific, which could limit its usefulness. You can earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com.

In addition, the Amex Green also offers up to $189 in annual CLEAR Plus credits and up to $100 in annual LoungeBuddy credits to help make your airport travel experiences easier and more enjoyable. If you already have a card that offers Priority Pass lounge access, the up to $100 LoungeBuddy credit can help increase your airport lounge options when traveling through airports that don’t have Priority Pass lounges.

Learn more about this card in our American Express Green Card review.

2. Dining benefits

If the Amex Green leans more toward travel benefits, the Amex Gold leans more toward dining benefits. The Amex Gold earns 4X points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

For comparison, the Amex Green earns 3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

In addition, the Amex Gold also provides up to $240 in total credits that could be used at restaurants. That’s up to $120 in Uber Cash, which can be used for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, and up to $120 in dining credits at participating partners. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Learn more about this card in our American Express Gold Card review.

3. Annual fee

Annual fees immediately subtract from the overall value of any card, so it’s important to weigh each card’s features and benefits against its fees to see if a card is worth applying for. The Amex Green has a $150 annual fee while the Amex Gold has a $250 annual fee. Comparing these numbers alone, the Amex Green is the clear winner because it costs less for cardmembers.

However, it makes sense to dig a little deeper. If you can take advantage of the annual credits on both cards, both annual fees are nearly or completely negated. The Amex Green offers up to $289 in annual credits, while the Amex Gold offers up to $240 worth of annual credits. This puts both cards on more level terms when it comes to how much you’re actually paying for their annual costs. Though, the eventual winner will depend on which card’s credits you’ll use more.

4. Welcome offer

A rewards card’s welcome offer is often a major factor when you’re choosing a card because you could potentially earn thousands of bonus points quickly, depending on the offer.

Amex Green: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months (plus, earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases during the first 6 months, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit).

Amex Gold: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.

Since 10,000 Membership Rewards points are worth $100 for flights through American Express Travel, getting a higher welcome offer could provide a big boost to any future travel plans. The same number of points might be worth even more if you transfer them to a travel partner and find a good deal.

Which card should you choose?

The best card for you between the Amex Green vs. Gold depends on your preferences and goals. Overall, the Amex Green might make sense if you want a travel-oriented card that can also earn you rewards on dining purchases. Likewise, the Amex Gold could make sense if you want a dining-oriented card that also has travel benefits and can earn you rewards on specific travel purchases.

Both cards could suit frequent travelers, but their benefits are narrow enough for specific preferences. If you want a better airport experience, the CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy credits on the Amex Green can be useful. But if you like the idea of having dining credits, whether traveling or not, the Amex Gold is the more straightforward choice.

It’s also important to consider how both cards stack up in spending scenarios. For example, which card has the potential to earn more rewards on purchases throughout the year? If you spend $500 on restaurants, $500 on groceries, $500 on flights, and $500 on hotel stays on an annual basis, here’s how many points you could earn on each card:

• Amex Green: You would earn 5,000 points on these purchases. That’s 3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Amex Gold: You would earn 6,000 points on these purchases. That’s 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.

The Amex Gold proves the victor in this example, but keep in mind that how many points you can earn with these cards depends on your typical purchases. If you spend a lot on different types of travel purchases, the Amex Green might offer higher earning potential. But if groceries and dining are typical expenses for you, the Amex Gold is likely the better option due to its bonus categories.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Amex Gold and Amex Platinum cards are often considered some of the best travel credit cards available from American Express because of their hefty perks and benefits. But the Amex Green should be thrown into the mix as well, especially if you don’t need the dining benefits on the Amex Gold.

However, be sure to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each card equally before making your decision. The key to which new card might suit you better lies in the specific benefits of each card and how they align with your lifestyle and preferences.

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American Express^® Gold Card

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American Express^® Gold Card

Learn How to Apply

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership

Annual Fee

$250

Rewards Rate

4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
• Choose your color: gold or rose gold
• Up to $120 in dining credits per year
• Up to $120 in Uber Cash per year
• $250 annual fee
• Select benefits require enrollment.

Drawbacks

• No lounge access benefit
• Has annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
• 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases
• Terms apply