The American Express Green Card is one of Amex's oldest products, first launched in 1969. The 2026 version targets a different traveler: younger, urban, transit-heavy, and not yet ready for the Platinum's $695 fee. This Amex Green Card review covers what you actually get for $150 a year and whether the math works for your spending. For a wider view of how Amex's lineup compares, our guide to the best American Express card lays out every option in one place.
Quick Facts (as of May 2026)
- Annual fee: $150
- Welcome bonus: 40,000 Membership Rewards points after $3,000 in spend within the first 6 months
- Rewards: 3X Membership Rewards on travel, transit, and restaurants worldwide. 1X on everything else
- CLEAR Plus credit: Up to $199 per year as a statement credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- APR: Variable, with a 29.99% penalty APR for at least 6 months after a late payment
Terms and conditions apply. APRs vary by creditworthiness.
Who the Green Card Is For
The Green is built for someone who spends meaningfully on travel, transit, and dining, but does not yet want to pay $325 for the Gold or $695 for the Platinum.
If you live in a city, take Uber or the subway regularly, eat out a few times a week, and book a few trips a year, the 3X categories cover real spending. If you mostly drive, cook at home, and rarely travel, the Green probably does not fit.
It is also a card for people who value Membership Rewards points. Amex MR points transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners, often at much better redemption rates than cashback, and our roundup of the best ways to use American Express points walks through where each transfer partner shines.
The Welcome Bonus Math
The 40,000 point welcome offer requires $3,000 of spend in six months, which is achievable for most cardholders without stretching.
Membership Rewards points are valued at roughly 2 cents each when transferred to airline partners, so the bonus is worth around $800 in travel. Even at the lower 1 cent per point cash redemption, you net $400 in value, which more than pays the first-year fee.
Higher welcome offers of 60,000 to 75,000 points have appeared in the past and may return. If you can wait without missing your travel window, watching for an elevated offer pays off.
The 3X Categories
This is the card's strongest feature. The Green earns 3X on:
- Travel: flights, hotels, vacation rentals, cruises, trains, car rentals, and tour bookings worldwide
- Transit: subway, bus, ride-shares like Uber and Lyft, taxis, tolls, parking, trains, and ferries
- Restaurants worldwide: including takeout and delivery, with no U.S.-only restriction like the Gold has
The transit category is uncommon. Many travel cards only count flights and hotels. The Green covers daily commuting, which adds up fast for city dwellers.
There is no spending cap on these categories, unlike the Sapphire Preferred's bonus structure on some categories.
CLEAR Plus Credit
The up to $199 annual fee credit for CLEAR Plus essentially zeroes out the $150 annual fee if you use CLEAR at airports.
CLEAR is a biometric security line shortcut available at 50+ U.S. airports and many stadiums. The retail price is $199 a year. If you fly even four to six times a year through a CLEAR-equipped airport, the time savings alone are real.
If you do not use CLEAR, this credit is worthless. Be honest about whether you will actually sign up and use it.
Travel Insurance and Protections
The Green includes meaningful travel protections.
- Trip delay insurance: Up to $300 per trip if your covered trip is delayed more than 12 hours.
- Baggage insurance: Up to $1,250 for carry-on and $500 for checked baggage.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Secondary coverage when you pay with the card.
- Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 help with passport replacement, emergency translation, and medical referrals abroad.
These are quietly useful and the kind of perks you only appreciate when something goes wrong on a trip.
What the Green Does Not Include
No lounge access. The Green is not a premium card, and no Priority Pass or Centurion access is included.
No TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. The $189 CLEAR credit partially covers this gap, but not fully.
No dining credits. The Gold offers monthly Uber Cash and Dunkin' credits totaling around $20 a month. The Green does not.
No extended warranty or purchase protection at the same tier as the Platinum. Lower-end Amex purchase protection still applies, but the limits are smaller.
Green vs. Gold vs. Platinum
Here is the simplified comparison.
- Green: $150 fee, 3X on travel, transit, and dining, $199 CLEAR credit. Best for transit-heavy spenders who want a starter Amex travel card.
- Gold: $325 fee, 4X at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, $120 in Uber Cash, $84 in Dunkin' credits, plus other monthly credits. Best for foodies and grocery spenders. Our breakdown of Amex Gold benefits covers each credit in detail.
- Platinum: $695 fee, lounge access, $200 hotel credit, $200 airline credit, $189 CLEAR, $200 Uber Cash, $300 Equinox, and more. Best for frequent travelers who will use the credits, as our breakdown of Amex Platinum benefits explains.
For an apples-to-apples comparison of the two upgrade paths, our writeup on Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold lays out the spending profile each one rewards. The Green is the entry point. Many cardholders use it for a year or two, then upgrade to the Gold or Platinum once they understand their spending patterns.
Build Credit First
The Amex Green requires good to excellent credit, generally a FICO score of 690 or higher. Amex is also strict on income and existing relationships. If you would rather start with something fee-free while building, our roundup of the best no annual fee American Express cards is a useful detour.
If your credit is still growing, applying now is likely a wasted hard pull. Build first.
The Self Visa® Credit Card builds credit with no hard credit check at application. Many users see noticeable score gains within 6 to 9 months of on-time payments. Read our full Self Credit Builder Card review for a deeper look.
The Current Build Card is one of the few cards that does not require an SSN to start, useful for international students and recent immigrants.
OpenSky is a secured option with no credit check at application. Multiple readers have reported moving from a 550 score to over 700 within a year on OpenSky.
The Kikoff Secured Credit Card reports to all three credit bureaus, keeps monthly costs low, and is a solid stepping stone toward an Amex Green.
Firstcard's own credit-building card is designed to take a no-credit or low-credit user from zero to qualifying for premium cards like the Green.
What Real Cardholders Say
On r/AmexPlatinum and r/CreditCards, the Green gets defensive fans. One user wrote, "The 3X on transit alone earns me 30,000 points a year just from my subway and Uber spending. Easy keep."
Another offered a counterpoint, "After I tried the Gold for a year, the Green felt thin. The Gold's monthly credits made the higher fee feel cheaper, not more expensive."
A WalletHub reviewer noted, "Without using the CLEAR credit, the math just barely works. With CLEAR, it is a great card."
Should You Get It?
Get the Green if you spend at least $5,000 a year across travel, transit, and dining, you will use the CLEAR credit, and your credit score is 690 or higher. The card pays for itself within months under these conditions.
Skip it if you do not value Membership Rewards points, do not use CLEAR, or do most of your spending on groceries and gas. The Gold or a cashback card likely fits better.
Next Steps
If you are ready, apply directly through American Express. Watch for elevated welcome offers, which Amex runs periodically.
If your credit is not yet there, start with a credit-builder card and aim for 12 to 18 months of clean history. By then you will both qualify for the Green and have the spending discipline to make it pay off.
Amex Green sits in the 690+ FICO band with a $150 annual fee — within reach for prime applicants, out of reach for everyone else. If your file isn't Amex-ready yet, the Aspire Mastercard is the most-used on-ramp: 580+ FICO accepted, no deposit, three-bureau reporting, and 3% back on gas, grocery, and utility categories while you build.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for the Amex Green Card?
Most approved applicants have a FICO score of 690 or higher. Amex also weighs income, existing card relationships, and recent credit applications.
Is the $150 annual fee worth it?
If you use the CLEAR Plus credit and spend meaningfully on the 3X travel, transit, and dining categories, the card more than pays for itself in the first year, especially with the 40,000 point welcome bonus.
Can I get the Amex Green with limited credit history?
Usually not. Amex prefers applicants with at least one year of clean credit history. If you are new to credit, start with a credit-builder card and reapply once your score and history are stronger.
Do Amex Green points transfer to airlines?
Yes. Membership Rewards points earned on the Green transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners, including Delta, British Airways, Air Canada Aeroplan, Marriott, and Hilton, often at much better redemption value than cash back.
