American Express® Green Card vs Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Which one is better? Both cards worked out on the same spending: rewards, welcome bonus, fees and perks, line by line.
Welcome bonus
Each offer as the issuer words it. The numbers below show whether your spending reaches it.
The offer
The offer
Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.
- Earn up to 70,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points
- New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® Points after you spend $3,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
- Plus, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership
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.
$611
First-year value
$779
$421
Every year after
$263
Amex Marriott Bonvoy is worth $168 more to you in year one.
From year two, Amex Green pulls ahead by $158 a year.
How the first year adds up
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
Annual rewards
$382.98
44,532 points a year
Welcome bonus
+ $516
first year only
Annual fee
− $120
First-year value
$778.98
Where each card earns
A year of your spending at each card's own reward rates, most first.
1xAll other purchases
22,140 pts
$420.66
5xhotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
420 pts
$3.61
2xAll other purchases
44,112 pts
$379.36
Fees, rates and eligibility
What each card costs to hold and to use abroad, and who it's for.
Annual fee
Additional cards
Interest rates
Interest rates
Purchase:
21.99%1
Cash Advance:
21.99%1
1 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%.
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
Recommended credit score
Income required
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.
- 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases
- 5 points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- 2 points per $1 on all other purchases (i.e. dining, groceries, online shopping, etc.)
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
Loyalty program
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.
We count each point at 0.86¢ a point, what it's worth redeemed for Transfer to Hotel Partners, its best value. Every dollar figure above uses that value.
Point redemption options
Point redemption options
Most Optimal
Transfer to Airline Partners
1.9¢ / point
Transfer to Hotel Partners
1.08¢ / point
Fixed Point Travel Program
1.16¢ / point.svg)
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 Hotel Partners
0.86¢ / pointTransfer to Airline Partners
0.81¢ / pointTravel
0.44¢ / point
Charity
0.4¢ / point
Insurance and perks
What both cards include comes first in each list.
Insurance
Insurance
Extended Warranty
Up to a year
Purchase Protection
90 days
Extended Warranty
1 yearPurchase Protection
90 days
Lost or Stolen Baggage
$500
Baggage Delay
$500.svg)
Car Rental Damage & Theft
yes
Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance
$500,000
Hotel Burglary Insurance
$500Flight Delay
$500
Perks
Perks
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
American Express® Experiences
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Status lift
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite StatusStatus lift
Upgrade to Gold Elite status when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your card
Free Extra Night at Hotels
Enjoy an Annual Free Night Award after your Card anniversary each yearFree Extra Night at Hotels
Enjoy 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year to use towards attaining the next level of Elite status with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
Our take
Why we like it
Why we like it
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.
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is a standout for frequent travelers who value luxury and flexibility in their rewards. With access to over 7,000 participating hotels, cardholders can earn generous points on both Marriott Bonvoy bookings and everyday purchases. The card's annual free night award and complimentary Silver Elite status make it even more appealing, offering service upgrades and extra points on eligible stays. For those who frequently stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize their travel perks, this card is a top choice.
Pros
Pros
- No spending limits
- Flexible redemption options
- VIP perks
- Eco-friendly plastic
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
- High hotel optimization
- Annual free night certificate
- Automatic Silver Elite status
- Generous welcome bonus
- Instant decision. No credit impact.
Cons
Cons
- Lower reward rates
- Limited travel perks
- Limited acceptance
- Low acceptance
- Relatively weaker insurance
More comparisons
Other cards we've put each of these up against.
vs Amazon Rewards Mastercard
vs Amex Aeroplan Reserve
vs Amex Aeroplan®
vs Amex Cobalt
vs Amex Gold
vs Amex Platinum
vs Amex SimplyCash
vs Amex SimplyCash™ Preferred
vs BMO CashBack World Elite
vs CIBC Costco Mastercard
vs MBNA Rewards World Elite
vs PC World Elite Mastercard
vs Rogers Red World Elite
vs Scotia Amex Gold
vs Scotia Momentum Visa
vs Scotiabank Passport
vs Simplii Financial Visa Card
Legal
*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%.
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%.
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.
