Is the Amex Green Card worth the annual fee?
Editor's Note
Typically, when credit cards undergo changes, those changes come with a higher annual fee.
However, that's not the case for the American Express® Green Card. While the card has experienced multiple updates in recent years, its reasonable $150 annual fee has remained the same.
But what do you get for that $150? Let's break down the card's benefits to help you decide if it's worth adding to your wallet.
The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Welcome offer
Currently, new Amex Green applicants can earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.
TPG's January 2025 valuations peg Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making this bonus worth $800.
You have a wide range of options when you're ready to redeem your Membership Rewards points, including cashing out your points (not the best value) or redeeming with hotel and airline partners (can provide incredible value, depending on the partner).
Excellent uses of Membership Rewards points include domestic flights on Delta Air Lines, flights to South America with LATAM and flights to Japan on Virgin Atlantic for redemptions with ANA.
Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards
Clear Plus statement credit
Clear is a security program that can help you speed through airport and sporting event security checkpoints by using biometrics to prove your identity.
Membership costs $199 per year, which you can get reimbursed for in full by paying for your Clear Plus membership with your Amex Green card (subject to auto-renewal).
There's no prior enrollment required with Amex to use this benefit, but you will need to register with Clear Plus and complete your enrollment to use Clear security lanes at a growing number of venues and airports. Terms apply.
Even better, select Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus cobranded credit card holders can get a Clear Plus membership at a reduced price of $159. Since your annual benefit maximum on the Amex Green is $199, that's enough to cover this reduced price and some of the cost of adding a loved one.
If you don't already have a Clear Plus membership, this perk alone will more than make up the $150 annual fee cost.
Related: Why your family may want to get Clear Plus before your next flight
Earning rates
One of the best features of the Amex Green may be its earning structure.
Cardmembers earn 3 points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery services in the U.S.), 3 points per dollar on transit (including trains, buses, ferries and subways), 3 points per dollar on travel and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
With broad travel and transit categories, this is one of the best cards for travel purchases and dining expenses. Since TPG's January 2025 valuations peg Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, this is an effective 6% return on spending for your travel, commuting and dining expenses.
While the Amex Green earns less at restaurants worldwide than the 4 points per dollar (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar) provided by the American Express® Gold Card and doesn't offer bonus points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, 1 point per dollar thereafter) as the Amex Gold does, the Amex Green provides much better earning rates for commuting and travel.
Related: Card showdown: Amex Gold vs. Amex Green
Additional benefits
Cardmembers also have access to Amex Offers, which can provide rebates or bonus points on your upcoming purchases through targeted promotions.
The card also comes with built-in shopping and travel protections that can provide both peace of mind and security during mishaps at home and abroad. Terms apply.
Related: Everything you need to know about credit card merchant offers
Bottom line
As cardmember benefits have improved on the Amex Green in the past few years, the annual fee has remained steady at a moderate $150. If you can use the Clear Plus benefit, you can easily offset the annual fee.
However, you might not use these perks if you already have another credit card that reimburses your Clear Plus membership. The question at that point would be whether the earning structure on the Amex Green provides enough extra Membership Rewards points each year to make keeping the card worthwhile.
Learn more: American Express Green
Related: Who should (and who shouldn't) get the Amex Green card?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees