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- The three top consumer cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards points are The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the American Express® Green Card.
- The Platinum card is best for frequent travelers who want luxury benefits like airport lounge access.
- The Amex Gold card is great if you love to eat out, since it offers bonus rewards and statement credits for dining.
- If you’re new to travel rewards, the Amex Green card could be the best option, since it has the lowest annual fee.
- See Business Insider’s list of the best travel rewards credit cards »
When you’re looking for a new credit card, it can be useful to compare similar cards. I know for me, it helps to have the information for similar cards all in one place so it’s easy to see the similarities and differences.
If you’re researching credit cards that earn travel rewards, you’ll come across the lineup of American Express cards that earn the issuer’s Membership Rewards points. Amex points, along with Chase points, are some of the most valuable rewards for booking travel, and today we’ll look at three cards at three cards at various price points that earn this loyalty currency.
We’ll compare the Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card, and Amex Green Card, highlighting their similarities as well as their differences to help you decide which might be right for you.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold vs. Amex Green: points earning
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of the Platinum, Gold and Green cards, let’s lay it all out side by side in a table for easy comparison:
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express® Gold Card | American Express® Green Card | |
| Annual fee | $550 | $250 (See Rates) | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 60k points after you spend $5k in the first 3 months from account opening | 35k points after you spend $4k in the first 3 months from account opening | 30k points after you spend $2k in the first |
| Bonus categories |
5x points on airfare purchased directly through the airline 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels reserved through the Amex Travel portal |
4x points at restaurants worldwide and at US supermarkets* 3x points on flights booked directly through the airline or through Amex Travel
|
3x points on all eligible travel purchases 3x points at restaurants worldwide |
*4x points on the first $25,000 spent at US restaurants per year, then 1x
Amex Platinum vs. Amex Gold vs. Amex Green: card benefits
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express® Gold Card | American Express® Green Card | |
| Annual airline fee credit | Up to $200 | Up to $100 | X |
| Monthly credits | Up to $15 for Uber (up to $25 in December) | Up to $10 at participating restaurants** | X |
| Other credits |
Up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Up to $100 at Saks Fifth Avenue |
X | Up to $100 toward CLEAR membership |
| Hotel elite status |
Hilton Honors Gold Marriott Bonvoy Gold |
X | X |
**get up to $10 back as a statement credit each month when you use the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, or pariticipating Shake Shack locations
American Express Platinum card details
Let’s start with American Express’ flagship card, the Platinum Card. This is an extremely premium card, and comes with a $550 annual fee. That fee is quite hefty, but there’s no denying that this card provides plenty of benefits for frequent travelers.
Here are the highlights:
- 5x points on airfare if you purchase it directly through the airline
- 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels reserved through the Amex Travel portal
- Up to a $200 annual airline fee credit — you do have to choose your airline each year, and your airline credit is only good for that airline. This credit is based on the calendar year, so during your first cardmember year you’ll be able to get this $200 credit twice, which helps to offset the $550 annual fee.
- Up to $200 in Uber credits each year — $15 each month and an extra $20 (for $35 total) in December
- Up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years
- Up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue
- Marriott Gold status
- Hilton Gold status
- Access to the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program
- No foreign transaction fees
Read more:American Express Platinum card review
Another huge benefit of the Platinum Card is access to a wide array of airport lounges. Here are a few of the airport lounges that you can access with your Platinum card:
- American Express Centurion lounges, which are in my experience by far the best lounges in the United States. There are currently eight Centurion Lounges open in the US, with additional lounges planned for this year.
- Delta Sky Clubs (but only when you’re flying on Delta)
- Priority Pass Select membership — with over 1,200 lounges all over the world, you’ll find a Priority Pass lounge in most airports you visit.
- Airspace Lounges — currently only in 2 US airports: Cleveland (CLE) and San Diego (SAN)
- Escape Lounges — currently in 12 US airports
Annual Fee
$550
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Excellent
A five pointed star
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Editor’s Rating
Annual Fee
$550
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Excellent
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
Editor’s Rating
Featured Reward
60,000 points after your spend at least $5,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
Intro APR
N/A
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,000 properties. Learn More.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
Cons
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired (no bonus rewards on general travel or dining)
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
Read Our Review
American Express Gold card details
With a $250 annual fee, the Amex Gold Card falls somewhere between a mid-level card and a premium card.
Read more:Amex Gold card review
The card’s top benefits include:
- 4x Membership Rewards at restaurants worldwide
- 4x points at US supermarkets (on up $25,000 spent per calendar year, then 1x)
- 3x points on flights booked directly through the airline or through the Amex Travel portal
- Up to a $100 airline fee credit — Similar to the airline credit on the Platinum Card, you must first select an airline to use it on, and you’re able to take advantage of this credit each calendar year (so twice in your first cardmember year).
- A $10 statement credit each month at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. Personally, my wife and I use this offer to take monthly dessert dates to the Cheesecake Factory (up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year, after enrollment)
- No foreign transaction fees (See Rates)
Annual Fee
$250
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
Editor’s Rating
Annual Fee
$250
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
Editor’s Rating
Featured Reward
35,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Airline Fee Credit: up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees at one selected qualifying airline.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
Cons
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
- Annual airline fee statement credit comes with many restrictions
Read Our Review
American Express Green card details
The Amex Green Card has an annual fee of $150, which is slightly more than the $95 annual fees of other mid-tier cards. Still, with the relaunch of the Amex Green Card in late 2019, the benefits make for an intriguing option for earning Membership Rewards points.
Read more:Amex Green card review
Here’s a look at the Amex Green card’s main benefits:
- 3x Membership Rewards on all eligible travel
- 3x points at restaurants worldwide
- Up to a $100 statement credit toward CLEAR membership (which generally goes for $179) for easier airport security transit
- Up to $100 in statement credits per year on LoungeBuddy purchases
- No foreign transaction fees (a welcome change that came with the card’s recent update)
Annual Fee
$150
Regular APR
See Rates & Fees
Credit Score
N/A
A five pointed star
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A five pointed star
A five pointed star
Editor’s Rating
Annual Fee
$150
Regular APR
See Rates & Fees
Credit Score
N/A
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
A five pointed star
Editor’s Rating
Featured Reward
30,000 points after you spend at least $2,000 in your first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide.
- Receive up to $100 per year in statement credits when you use the American Express® Green Card to pay for your CLEAR® membership at select airports and stadiums across the U.S. and Permissible Biometric Scanning Technology terms: eye scanning, irises scanning and fingerprints scanning.
- Use the American Express® Green Card to purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy to any of the lounges in the LoungeBuddy network – no memberships, elite statuses, or first class tickets required. Earn up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year on your LoungeBuddy purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $150 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- 3x bonus categories of travel and restaurants that rival the more-expensive Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Reasonable annual fee compared to many other travel rewards cards
Cons
- Annual statement credits with CLEAR and LoungeBuddy won’t be useful to everyone
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Read Our Review
Still not sure which card is right for you?
One of the easiest ways to decide which card is the best fit for you is to decide what level of annual fee you’re comfortable paying. The Platinum Card can get you well over $550 in value, but that’s only if you put its many travel-centric benefits to use. The same logic applies to the other two cards; take a look at their perks and try to estimate how many you’ll actually be able to use on a regular basis.
If you’re still unsure which card is right for you, think about where you spend the most. The Platinum Card is a great option for maximizing your flight purchases, while the Amex Gold Card is the most rewarding at restaurants and US supermarkets. The Amex Green Card gives you a good mix of bonus categories, with 3x points on eligible travel and at restaurants.
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