Amex® Green vs. Gold Cards®
5 Min Read | Last updated: April 30, 2026
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 fee.3
See how you can earn Membership Rewards when you use your Card, plus the ability to access over $500 in value annually:4
- 4X points on restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 in purchases each year.
- 4X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases each year.
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.
- 3X points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ or purchased directly with airlines.
- 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- 1X points on all other purchases.
Find out how your points stack up behind every transaction, with additional statement credits on select dining and select travel purchases, such as:
Dining Benefits
- $120 Dining Credit - Earn up to $10 monthly in statement credits when you use your Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit - Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit - Enjoy up to $7 monthly in statement credits when you use your Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
Travel Benefits
- $120 Uber Cash - Earn $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account. Uber Cash can be used for eligible rides and orders in the U.S. To redeem Uber Cash from this benefit, an American Express® Card must be selected as the payment method for the transaction.
- American Express® Gold Card Members can receive complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Save time by skipping the counter at select locations, you can go directly to the lot, select your vehicle, and get on the road to your destination. You can also add an additional driver for no additional cost5 and receive access to a wider selection of vehicles for more personalized choices based on your needs.6 Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required.
- With more than 1,300 properties worldwide, The Hotel Collection offers Gold Card Members a valuable suite of benefits when they book a two-night minimum stay through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App(TM), such as a $100 credit towards eligible on-property charges, as well as 12pm check-in, late check-out, and a room upgrade upon arrival—all when available.8
Amex Green vs. Gold Benefits Side-by-Side
| Amex Green Card | Amex Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150 | $325 |
| 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 |
|
| Credits | $209 CLEAR+ Credit (receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for a CLEAR+ 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
5 Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees.
6 Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
7 Eligible charges vary by property.
8 Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
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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