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American Express® Green Card review: Are there enough rewards?
Editors’ take: This card is a solid choice for earning rewards on travel and dining, but the relatively high annual fee compared to benefits might not justify the cost for many travelers.
Great for travel and restaurants
Annual Fee: $150
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their American Express® Green Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $3,939, with $300 being the most common.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their American Express® Green Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 677, with 820 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
Member stats
Updated daily
29.9%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
47 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
$90,941
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesSolid sign-up bonus
Image: yesValuable rewards program
Image: yesUseful travel benefits and credits
Image: ConAnnual fee is high compared to benefits
Image: ConNo TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit
American Express® Green Card review
Updated June 4, 2025
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: Clint Proctor
Is the American Express® Green Card worth it
If you frequently travel or dine out, the American Express Green Card can be a solid choice. You’ll earn three points per $1 spent on restaurants and travel through the Membership Rewards® program, which offers flexibility and valuable transfer partners. All other purchases earn one point.
You’ll also receive an annual credit of up to $199 for Clear Plus membership, which can help you move through airport security lines more quickly (enrollment required). For travelers who can take advantage of this benefit, the credit can more than offset the card’s $150 annual fee. While the American Express® Green Card offers compelling value, frequent travelers prioritizing top-tier perks like lounge access or higher rewards rates may find a more premium travel card to be a better fit.
American Express® Green Card at a glance
- Sign-up bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening
- Editors’ estimated welcome bonus value: $508
- Standout benefit: Clear Plus membership statement credits of up to $199 per calendar year
- Standout rewards rate: 3 points per $1 spent on all eligible travel and transit purchases, including car rentals, hotels and flights
- Foreign transaction fee: None
American Express® Green Card best perks and features
Good welcome bonus
New cardholders will get 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. Membership Rewards points are worth an estimated 1.27 cents, according to Credit Karma’s standard value. If you transfer your points to a participating travel partner, the welcome bonus could be worth as much as $508.
Earn Membership Rewards points through spending on travel and dining
You could earn a lot of points for your next trip from travel, transit and restaurant spending.
With this card, you’ll earn …
- 3 points for every $1 spent on all eligible travel and transit purchases, including airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises
- 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide
- 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Travel perk could enhance your trip
If you use your American Express® Green Card to purchase a Clear Plus membership, you’ll receive statement credits of up to $199 per calendar year.
Clear uses biometrics — including your eyes, fingers and face — to validate your identity and help you get to the airport security line faster.
Benefits offer security and flexibility
The American Express® Green Card primarily features rewards and benefits for travelers. Here are a few additional travel benefits the card offers.
- Trip delay insurance — You can get reimbursed for certain expenses if a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours.
- Baggage insurance — This provides coverage for lost, damaged or stolen baggage.
- Global Assist Hotline — Receive 24/7 emergency assistance when you travel 100 miles or more away from home.
What are the drawbacks of the American Express® Green Card?
The annual fee is relatively high
The $150 annual fee is on the high side, especially when compared to other travel cards that offer similar benefits at a lower cost.
The annual fee may be hard to justify if you don’t take full advantage of the card’s credits and rewards.
Weigh the travel perks
The American Express® Green Card offers up to a $199 annual credit for Clear Plus membership, but its usefulness depends on your travel habits. If you don’t frequently use Clear Plus, this benefit might not provide significant value.
Unlike a number of other travel cards, the American Express® Green Card doesn’t offer a credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. This omission could be a drawback for frequent travelers who value the expedited security and customs processes these services offer.
How to redeem points for the American Express® Green Card
Spending with the American Express® Green Card earns Membership Rewards points. Here are a few of the ways you can redeem your Membership Rewards points.
- Pay with points at checkout (with select merchants)
- Buy gift cards
- Book travel
We calculated your points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed through American Express Membership Rewards. But you may get a better value if you redeem through an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner like Delta Air Lines. Enrollment in a participating program is required.
Though you can redeem Membership Rewards points for statement credits, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to — statement credits redeem at only 0.6 cents per point.
Other cards to consider
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: If you’re looking for a premium travel card with a lot of perks, this card could be a great fit.
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: If you rent a car to travel often, this card could be a good choice.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: This card offers flexible redemption options and simple rewards.
Credit Karma’s methodology
Credit Karma uses qualitative and quantitative measures to review travel and premium credit cards. Our goal is to help you understand a card’s most useful features — and where it may fall short compared to other options.
We take into account factors such as unique rewards and benefits, ease of redeeming rewards, fees and rates, transfer partners, lounge access and rewards rates.
Credit Karma editors have also built some proprietary metrics to measure the value of rewards credit cards.
Our point valuations estimate how much rewards programs are worth. We look at both the value you could get by redeeming your points directly through a credit card issuer, as well as the value you could get by transferring your points and miles to an airline or hotel rewards program.
Instead of just telling you how many miles you could earn, the editors’ estimated bonus value multiplies the sign-up bonus by the reward program’s point valuations to tell you how much we believe they’re worth.
Our goal is that these metrics will help you decide whether the card’s rewards and benefits are worth it for you.
FAQs about the American Express® Green Card
We’ve found that Credit Karma members who report having the American Express® Green Card or similar cards tend to have good or excellent credit scores.
But keep in mind, your credit scores are just one of many factors card issuer American Express may look at when determining your eligibility.
The American Express® Green Card doesn’t have a traditional credit limit. The card’s spending limit is flexible based your card usage and credit history. If you’re not sure whether a purchase will be approved, you can review the company’s Check Spending Power tool online or through the American Express app.
The American Express® Green Card doesn’t offer complimentary airport lounge access. If that’s a priority, you may want to consider the Platinum Card® from American Express.
Member reviews
Most helpful positive review
July 31, 2023
Underrated Card
— Credit Karma Member
I have been very impressed with having this iconic card! The clear and LoungeBuddy benefit offset the AF. I got a great intro offer and you can’t go wrong with American Express’s customer service!
Most helpful negative review
November 12, 2019
Beware of American INDIA Express!
— Credit Karma Member
The epitome of a scam card, and try to get anything done when you call customer service you can't get anybody you can understand because they're based out of India