American Express Green vs American Express Gold Card

When it comes to iconic and popular credit cards, the American Express Green card and American Express Gold card are two of the forerunners. Offering excellent benefits and points-earning opportunities, these Amex cards are two of the most competitive credit card options on the market. But which is the best fit for you and your spending lifestyle?

In our review of the Amex Green Card vs American Express Gold card benefits, we will give you all the information you need to make this decision. In general, you will find that the Green card is more suited to those who travel frequently, while the Amex Gold offers valuable rewards for dining out and grocery purchases. Read below for our detailed breakdown of the perks available with each option.

Amex Green Card vs Gold Card Review of Benefits

Before we start comparing the cards, here is a breakdown of all the essential information you need to know about the fees and parks of each option.

American Express Green Card Benefits and Fees

· $150 Annual Fee

· No Foreign Transaction Fees.

· 40,000 points welcome bonus after you spend $3,000 within the first six months of opening your account.

· 20% back in statement credit on travel and transport purchases in the first six months (up to the value of $200.)

· 3x points for each dollar spent on travel (flights, hotels, transit, etc.)

· 3x Amex points for each dollar you spend with your card in restaurants.

· 1x rewards points per dollar for all other purchases made with your Amex card.

· Free 2-day Shipping on eligible ShopRunner items.

· Extended warranty and purchase protection.

Travel Benefits

· $189 Clear Plus membership annual statement credit.

· $100 LoungeBuddy annual statement credit.

· Car Rental damage and loss insurance.

· Baggage Insurance.

· trip cancellation/interruption insurance

American Express Gold Card Benefits and Fees

· $325 Annual fee

· No Foreign Transaction Fees.

· 90,000 AmEx points welcome bonus after you spend $6,000 within the first six months of opening your account.

· 4x points for each dollar spent in US Supermarkets (up to a limit of $25,000 per year and 1 point per dollar after this.)

· 4x points at restaurants worldwide (not just US supermarkets) up to $25,000 per year, then 1x points per dollar after that.

· 3x points per dollar on your booked flights purchased directly from the airline or through the Amex Travel hub.

· 1x points for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

· $120 annual credit for dining at selected restaurants (split into $10 monthly payments.)

· Free 2-day shipping on eligible ShopRunner items.

· Extended warranty and purchase protection.

Travel Benefits

· $120 Uber Cash credit each year (split into $10 monthly payments.)

· $100 credit towards a stay of at least two nights at The Hotel Collection.

· Car Rental damage and loss insurance.

· Baggage Insurance.

· trip cancellation/interruption insurance

The eligibility for benefits will vary according to the card, and to access some benefits you will need to enroll with companies directly and then link your account (for example, to access your Uber cash benefit.) You should also note that if you have held either of these cards previously, you will be unlikely to qualify for the welcome bonus offer for either option.

As you can see, both cards offer a lot of benefits to justify their annual fee. Deciding which card is the best option for you will depend on assessing which card gives you the most value for the fee and will reward you more generously for your spending habits.

Comparison of Amex Green Card vs. American Express Gold Card Benefits

Below you will find a more detailed breakdown of the benefits and fees of each card to help you decide which card is the better option for you.

Welcome Offers

Both of these Amex cards have generous welcome offers for new cardholders. The Amex Green card will reward you with 40,000 Amex membership rewards and 20% back credit on your eligible travel and transit spending after you spend $3,000 within the first six months.

The Amex Gold card will reward you with 90,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months and doesn’t include the 20% back offer. So, you could potentially net an extra $200 worth of credit if you reach the spending limit on the Green card.

Amex Rewards Points Earning

If you are a frequent traveler who dines out a lot while on trips, then the Green card will reward you with 3x points per dollar on your eligible spending. You will also earn a base amount of 1x points per dollar on all other spending with the card.

The Gold card offers an increased 4x points per dollar for your restaurant and grocery purchases, as well as 3x points for direct airline purchases or those made through the Amex travel hub. Again, other purchases will be rewarded with 1x per dollar.

If you are a regular traveler looking to rack up points with frequent travel and transit purchases, then the Green card is a good choice (particularly if you don’t regularly shop in US supermarkets.) However, in most other cases the Amex Gold card will allow you to earn more points with your everyday spending.

Amex Green Card vs American Express Gold Cards benefits for Travel

With the Amex Green card, you can take advantage of a $189 annual Clear Plus membership and a $100 LoungeBuddy credit. If you are a regular flier who uses these products, then this credit will cover your annual fee and present a $139 benefit on top!

The American Express Gold Card offers you $10 monthly Uber Cash credit which you can put towards both transport and food delivery costs. Most people will easily spend this much on transport and food deliveries within a year, meaning that $120 is saved right away, nearly half of the value of the annual fee.

The Gold card also offers a $100 credit for bookings of two nights or more at the Amex Hotel Collection accommodations. If you travel each year and stay in hotels this represents a further $100 from the cost of the fee. (But you should only take this into account if you think you will be taking advantage of this benefit annually.)

Both Amex cards also offer insurance for baggage loss and trip delays. If you are delayed by more than 12 hours, you are eligible to be reimbursed for up to $300 to cover the costs involved such as accommodation, food, and toiletries purchases.

Most travelers will find that the American Express Green card offers the most valuable travel benefits, particularly if you are not planning to make any bookings with The Hotel Collection.

Shopping and Restaurant Benefits

If you regularly dine out, then the Amex Gold card will give you an annual credit of $120 to spend at eligible locations such as Shake Shack, Wine.com, GrubHub, and The Cheesecake Factory. Because of the wide range of options available, this $120 will easily be utilized in most cases each year and can be added to your valuation of the card benefits.

Both cards also offer purchase protection and extended warranty benefits, however, the limits for these differ slightly. The Gold Card purchase protection extends to 90 days with a limit of $10,000 per claim (up to $50,000 annually.) In contrast, the Green Card has a claim limit of $1,000 per claim ($50,000 annually,) with the same 90-day limit.

If you regularly spend in restaurants and delivery then the Amex Gold will present more value to you in this benefits category.

Takeaway - American Express Green vs American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold card may be the best fit for most general spenders, with the American Express Green card being more suitable for those who travel frequently.

The Gold card has a higher fee but this can be offset by the value of the discounts, points earned, and credits available to card users. The Green card has a lower annual fee, which is covered by credit for Clear Plus membership and LoungeBuddy membership alone.

The right choice for you will depend on your current spending habits, and which card offers you the most value for your lifestyle.