We recently paid the $150 annual fee for my wife Sharon’s American Express Green Card. I’d usually take this time to evaluate if it’s worthwhile keeping the card, but I know that there’s no chance Sharon will ever let me cancel this card (and since it’s in her name, I’d need her to call AMEX to cancel) (Note from Sharon: And I’d never do that. I love my AMEX green card. I know the number by heart. He’d tell me to call and cancel it and you know what I’d do? I’d say no).
The Green Card’s $150 annual fee is the most reasonable among AMEX’s family of charge cards, especially when you consider how much higher the Gold and Platinum cards cost each year. That makes it worthwhile to see exactly what you get for your money.
Bonus Points Earning Categories
The Green Card earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on a wide range of travel purchases—everything from airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals, campgrounds, trains, rideshares, taxis, tolls, ferries, buses, and subways to bookings made through amextravel.com. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery services.
Statement Credits
The standout benefit that helps offset the AMEX Green Card’s $150 annual fee is the CLEAR Plus credit. Cardholders receive up to $209 per year in statement credits when paying for CLEAR Plus with the Green Card. Since the standard membership is $199, and many travelers can reduce their out-of-pocket expense further by stacking airline or partner discounts.
Travel Coverage
The AMEX Green Card includes several types of travel protections when you use the card to pay for your trip:
- Trip Delay Insurance – Up to $300 per trip for eligible expenses if your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more, or if an overnight stay is required.
- Baggage Insurance Plan – Coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage when travel is booked with the card.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance – Provides secondary coverage for theft or damage to most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
Other Coverage
The Green Card also provides purchase and warranty protections for items bought with the card:
- Purchase Protection – Covers eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft, up to $1,000 per claim (90 days from the purchase date).
- Extended Warranty – Extends the manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items with warranties of 5 years or less.
Is It Worth It?
At $150 per year, the AMEX Green Card sits between lower-fee travel cards and premium rewards cards. Its real strength is the 3x earnings on both travel and dining, combined with the annual CLEAR credit and access to AmEx Offers.
But how does it compare with strong competitors in the $95 annual fee range?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ($95)
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 2x on other travel purchases
- 3x on dining, streaming, and online grocery store purchases
- Annual $50 hotel credit through Chase Travel
- Robust travel protections, including primary rental car coverage
Citi Strata Premier® Card ($95)
- 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions through Citi Travel
- 3x on air travel, hotels, dining, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging
- $100 annual hotel discount on a stay of $500+ booked through Citi Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
The AMEX Green Card offers a broader travel definition for its 3x points, which can make it a better fit if you have varied travel expenses beyond airfare and hotels. The CLEAR credit can also offset much of the $150 annual fee if you use it.
On the other hand, if you want to keep fees lower while still earning strong rewards on travel and dining, both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Strata Premier give you excellent value at $95 per year, with extra perks that may outweigh the Green Card depending on your travel and spending habits.
Final Thought
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Strata Premier both deliver strong value at a lower $95 annual fee, the AMEX Green Card stands out as the least expensive American Express personal card that unlocks access to Membership Rewards transfer partners. If you value the ability to move points to airlines and hotels in the AmEx ecosystem, that benefit alone can justify the higher $150 fee compared to its competitors.
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