American Express Gold Rewards Card®

American Express® Green Card

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American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs American Express® Green Card

Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.

4.3

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2.8

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Welcome bonus

Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.

The offer

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points
New American Express^® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards^® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

What each card is worth

Rewards, the welcome bonus and any Finly rebate in, the annual fee and FX fees out, all on your spending.

Worked out on a typical $2,000 a month of spending. Enter yours to see your own numbers.

$1,427

First-year value

$611

$287

Every year after

$421

Amex Gold is worth $816 more to you in year one.

From year two, Amex Green pulls ahead by $134 a year.

How the first year adds up

Annual rewards

$536.71

28,248 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $1,140

first year only

Annual fee

− $250

First-year value

$1,426.71

1.9¢ a pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards, redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners

Annual rewards

$420.66

22,140 points a year

Welcome bonus

+ $190

first year only

Annual fee

− $0

no annual fee

First-year value

$610.66

1.9¢ a pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards, redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners

Where each card earns

A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.

2xGas, Groceries, Pharmacy

9,804 pts

$186.28

2xTravel

2,400 pts

$45.6

1xAll other purchases

16,044 pts

$304.84

1xAll other purchases

22,140 pts

$420.66

Fees, rates and eligibility

What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.

$250

Annual fee

1st free, $50 thereafter

Additional cards

Interest rates

Purchase:

21.99%¹

Cash Advance:

21.99%¹

¹ Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.

Purchase:

21.99%²

Cash Advance:

21.99%²

² If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.

Recommended credit score

300

Poor

693

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

300

Poor

693⁎

Fair

743⁎

Good

790⁎

Very Good

833⁎

Excellent

⁎Estimates based on TransUnion scoring

Income required

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

How each card earns

The earn rates and caps, as each issuer sets them.

2x points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and drugstore purchases
2x points per $1 spent on travel (eligible flights, hotels, tours and more)
1x point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Points and how we value them

Points become dollars at each card's best redemption. Here's the value we used, and every other way to spend them.

Loyalty program

American Express Membership Rewards

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

American Express Membership Rewards

We count each point at 1.9¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Airline Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.

Point redemption options

Most Optimal

Transfer to Airline Partners

1.9¢ / point

Fixed Point Travel Program

1.16¢ / point

Transfer to Hotel Partners

1.08¢ / point

Flexible Points Travel Program

1¢ / point

Statement Credits (Cash)

1¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.91¢ / point

Amazon.ca

0.7¢ / point

Merchandise

0.63¢ / point

Most Optimal

Transfer to Airline Partners

1.9¢ / point

Fixed Point Travel Program

1.16¢ / point

Transfer to Hotel Partners

1.08¢ / point

Flexible Points Travel Program

1¢ / point

Statement Credits (Cash)

1¢ / point

Gift Cards

0.91¢ / point

Amazon.ca

0.7¢ / point

Merchandise

0.63¢ / point

Insurance and perks

What both cards include comes first in each list.

Insurance

Extended Warranty

Up to 1 year

Purchase Protection

90 days

Lost or Stolen Baggage

$500

Baggage Delay

$500

Car Rental Damage & Theft

yes

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

$500,000

Hotel Burglary Insurance

$500

Travel Medical Insurance (64 & under)

15 days

Trip Cancellation

$1,500 per person, $3,000 combined

Trip Interruption

$1,500 per person, $6,000 combined

Flight Delay

$500

Extended Warranty

Up to a year

Purchase Protection

90 days

Perks

Extra points

Earn 2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases and extra points on American Express offers

American Express® Experiences

Status lift

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® loyalty program

Travel Credit

$100

Nexus Program Rebate

$50 statement credit every 4 years

Complimentary Hotel Benefits

Hotels booked American Express Travel

Airport Lounge - Priority Pass

Pass only. No Complimentary visits!

Airport Lounge - Plaza Premium

4 Free complimentary visits

Extra points

2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

Amex Experiences™

With Amex Experiences™ and Front Of The Line® Amex Presale Tickets, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada

Our take

Why we like it

The American Express® Gold Rewards Card is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an entry-level card that offers a strong balance of generous travel benefits without excessive costs. With a relatively low annual fee, this card provides flexibility and a range of perks that make it stand out among other options. It’s ideal for those who want to maximize their travel rewards without being tied to a specific airline or compromising on the benefits offered.

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Pros

Flexible rewards
Travel perks
Comprehensive insurance
Multiple redemption options
Instant decision. No credit impact.

No spending limits
Flexible redemption options
VIP perks
Eco-friendly plastic
Instant decision. No credit impact.

Cons

High annual fee
Foreign transaction fees
Limited senior travel insurance
Limited acceptance

Lower reward rates
Limited travel perks
Limited acceptance

American Express Gold Rewards Card® vs American Express® Green Card: When to go for one over the other

Comparing the Annual Fees and Requirements

The American Express Gold Rewards Card has a higher annual fee compared to the Green Card. However, both cards do not specify any strict minimum income requirements, making them accessible to a broad range of applicants. The Green Card stands out as the more budget-friendly option, with no annual fee, while the Gold Rewards Card offers additional perks that may justify the cost for frequent travelers.

Rewards Comparison

The Gold Rewards Card offers significantly higher rewards rates, particularly in categories like groceries, gas, and travel, compared to the Green Card, which provides a flat rewards rate on all purchases. Additionally, the welcome bonus for the Gold Rewards Card is much larger, providing more upfront value. For those who spend heavily in reward categories, the Gold Rewards Card will offer greater long-term value, while the Green Card remains a solid choice for general spending without category limitations.

Benefits and Insurance

The Gold Rewards Card includes a more comprehensive insurance package, covering trip cancellation, car rental damage, and emergency medical insurance, among other protections. It also offers additional travel perks like a $100 travel credit and access to airport lounges. On the other hand, the Green Card provides fewer travel benefits, focusing more on basic purchase protection and extended warranty. The Gold Rewards Card is ideal for frequent travelers, while the Green Card is better suited for those looking for simple, no-frills coverage.

Conclusion

The American Express Gold Rewards Card is ideal for those who travel frequently, offering higher rewards in travel-related categories and additional benefits like travel insurance and lounge access. However, if you don't travel much and prefer a no-fee option with straightforward rewards, the American Express Green Card will be a better fit. It provides decent rewards on all purchases without the higher costs associated with premium travel perks.

More comparisons

Other cards we've put each of these up against.

Legal

*Terms and conditions apply.

Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 29.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

*Terms and conditions apply.

If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 29.99%.