Amex® Green vs. Gold Cards
5 Min Read | Published: December 15, 2025
Amex® Green vs. Gold Cards: Compare rewards, fees, and perks to find the right American Express® Card for dining, travel, and everyday spending.
At-A-Glance
- The Green Card® is a strong entry point for travelers who want flexible rewards on dining, transit, and trips, along with lifestyle credits that help you purchase more of the items you love for less.
- The American Express® Gold Card delivers high rewards on groceries and dining, paired with statement credits that pump more value into your daily routine.
- Whichever you choose, each Card earns Membership Rewards® points with every transaction, helping you turn daily spending into travel, dining, and other experiences.
If you’re both a frequent traveler and a culinary adventurer, the American Express Green Card® could be your go-to Card for flexible rewards on trips, transit, and dining. But if most of your budget goes to groceries and meals out, the American Express® Gold Card might deliver more value. Since both earn powerful Membership Rewards® points, it really comes down to where you spend most.
Let’s compare the perks side by side and see which Card fits your lifestyle. Terms apply to all benefits listed below. Benefits are subject to change.
American Express Green Card Benefits
The Amex Green Card, with a $150 annual fee1, packs dining and travel perks for food lovers and adventurous travelers alike.
Here’s why: 2
- You can earn 3X Membership Rewards points on travel: airfare, hotels, tours, campgrounds, car and vacation rentals, cruises, and more.
- You’ll receive 3X points when you dine out at restaurants worldwide.
- Hopping on public transit? You’ll get 3X points for every train, bus, ferry, or subway ride you take with your Green Card.
- Earn 1X points on other eligible purchases.
Plus, Card Members can enjoy a $209 CLEAR®+ Credit – an annual statement credit that effectively covers up to $209 of a CLEAR+ Membership when charged to your American Express Green Card (excluding any applicable taxes, subject to auto-renewal)—a boon for frequent travelers.
American Express Gold Card Benefits
The Amex Gold Card is designed for elevated experiences when it comes to travel, restaurants, and everyday spending, with a $325 annual fee3. Earn extra rewards on groceries and dining when you use your Card, plus the ability to access over $500 in value annually:4
- You can earn 3X Membership Rewards points on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- You’ll receive 2X points on prepaid hotel bookings and reservations made through AmexTravel.com plus a $100 credit toward eligible charges when you book a prepaid stay of two nights or more at any property within The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com. Please note the credit use varies by property.
- You’ll get 4X points when shopping at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases each year.
- Earn 4x points on restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.
- Earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
While your points stack up behind every transaction, don’t forget that Gold gets you additional statement credits on select dining and travel purchases, such as:
- $120 Uber Cash: Get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when an Amex Card is selected for the transaction.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: up to $7 in monthly statement credits when you use your Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: up to $50 available semi-annually when you dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at participating partners. Enrollment required.
Amex Green vs. Gold Benefits Side-by-Side
| Amex Green Card | Amex Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $1501 | $3253 |
| Dining & Restaurant Rewards | 3X worldwide | 4X worldwide on up to $50K annually |
| Supermarkets | 1X nationwide | 4X on up to $25K annually |
| Travel Rewards | 3X on all travel and transit | 3X on flights booked directly or through amextravel.com + up to $100 back for eligible hotel charges |
| Credits | $209 CLEAR+ Credit (receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership) | 120 Dining Credit, $120 Uber Cash, $84 Dunkin’ Credit, and $100 Resy Credit |
| Best For | Travelers, frequent commuters, and frequent diners | Foodies and big grocery and dining spenders |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Green Card leans toward travel and transit rewards, while the Gold Card shines on travel and everyday spending like groceries and restaurants.
If you want to make the most out of grocery runs, ordering in and dining out, Gold may give you more value. You’ll still get some of the travel perks you get from Green while earning 4X points on supermarket trips and restaurants.
Forgetting to take advantage of Green Card benefits, like Clear+ credits or dining and transit rewards, could leave a lot of Green value on the table. The Card rewards frequent use in those categories, but Gold may work better if you spend more on dining and groceries than transit and travel.
Higher credit scores often mean better approval odds, but American Express considers your full financial picture when making lending decisions. Paying on time, keeping balances low, and limiting new applications could improve your chances.
The Takeaway
Both the Green and Gold Cards earn Membership Rewards points for every purchase while fitting different spending styles, whether you lean toward travel and commuting costs or everyday dining and groceries. Either way, you’ll tap into valuable perks and the trusted service that comes with being an Amex Card Member. And if these two aren’t the right fit, you could match with an Amex Card that is.
1 For more on Rates and Fees for The American Express Green Card®, click here
2 For more on Offer and Benefit terms for The American Express Green Card®, click here
3 For more on Rates and Fees for The American Express Gold Card, click, click here
4 For more on Offer and Benefit terms for The American Express Gold Card, click here
Liv Gillespie is a Philadelphia-based writer with a double M.A. in English Linguistics & Literature and Secondary Education. Her work focuses on personal finance.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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