The American Express Green Card is one of Amex’s oldest products, first launched in 1969, and it still occupies a specific, useful spot in the lineup: a real travel card for people who aren’t ready for the Gold’s $325 fee or the Platinum’s $895, but want more than a no-fee card offers. This review covers whether the $150 fee makes sense for your spending.
In This Review
- The Card at a Glance
- Earning Rates
- Credits & Other Benefits
- Who This Card Is For
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Card at a Glance
| Annual Fee | $150 (See Rates & Fees) |
| Welcome Offer | 40,000 points after $3,000 spend in 6 months |
| Rewards Currency | American Express Membership Rewards points |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Issuer | American Express |
Terms current as of this writing (July 2026). Always confirm current terms directly with American Express before applying.
The CLEAR Plus credit alone can be worth more than the entire $150 annual fee if you already use CLEAR — that single benefit does most of the heavy lifting for this card’s value proposition.
Earning Rates
- 3x points on travel, including flights, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and campgrounds
- 3x points on transit purchases
- 3x points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1x point on everything else
Credits & Other Benefits
- Up to $199/year in CLEAR Plus membership credits
- Up to $100/year in LoungeBuddy credits, providing pay-per-visit lounge access without needing elite status or a first-class ticket
- No foreign transaction fees
- Car rental loss and damage insurance and baggage insurance
- Global Assist Hotline access while traveling
Between the CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy credits, cardholders who use both can offset nearly $300 in value against the $150 fee — a genuinely strong ratio if you actually use either service regularly.
Who This Card Is For
- Urban travelers who use rideshare, transit, and eat out often — the 3x categories cover real everyday spending for this lifestyle, not just occasional big trips.
- Frequent flyers who use CLEAR at their home airport, since that credit alone can offset most of the fee.
- Anyone not ready to commit to the Gold’s $325 or Platinum’s $895 fee but wanting more than a no-fee card offers.
Worth pausing before applying if: most of your spending goes to groceries and gas rather than travel and dining, in which case the Amex Gold Card or a dedicated cash-back card would likely serve you better — or if your home airport doesn’t have CLEAR lanes, since that removes one of this card’s strongest value props.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Green Card worth the $150 fee?
For frequent travelers who use CLEAR and dine out regularly, yes — the CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy credits alone can offset most or all of the fee. If you wouldn’t use either, the math is less compelling.
How does the Green Card compare to the Gold Card?
The Green Card has a lower $150 fee and simpler, no-monthly-tracking benefits, earning 3x broadly across travel, transit, and dining. The Gold Card costs more ($325) but earns a stronger 4x specifically on dining and groceries — the right choice depends on where your spending actually concentrates.
Can I get a welcome bonus if I’ve had this card before?
Generally no — American Express applies a “once in a lifetime” bonus rule to most of its cards, including the Green Card. If you’ve previously received a Green Card welcome offer, you typically won’t be eligible for another one.