Think of the American Express Green Card as the entry-level ticket to the Amex Membership Rewards universe — without the premium price tag. For $150/year, you get 3X points on travel, transit, and restaurants worldwide, which is a lot of everyday spending covered at a solid rate. It sits below the Gold ($325) and Platinum ($695) in both cost and perks, and that's exactly the point.

Amex relaunched this card in 2019 after it spent years collecting dust as a forgotten product, and the new identity is clear: it's a streamlined travel-and-dining earner for people who want MR transfer partners without selling a kidney. It won't dazzle you with dining credits or grocery bonuses like the Gold, but its travel and transit earning combined with a CLEAR+ credit make it surprisingly competitive for commuters and frequent flyers.

• 3X Membership Rewards points on travel worldwide (flights, hotels, car rentals, home shares)
• 3X points on transit worldwide (taxis, rideshares, trains, buses, tolls, parking)
• 3X points on restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 1X points on all other eligible purchases
• $209 CLEAR+ Credit: Annual statement credit covering a CLEAR+ membership for expedited airport security
• No foreign transaction fees
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Global Assist Hotline for travel emergencies
• Baggage insurance plan covering lost, damaged, or stolen luggage

Annual Fee: $150

Additional Card Members: $35 per card

Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Late Payment Fee: Up to $40

Pay Over Time APR: 21.99%–29.99% variable

Here's the fun math: the $209 CLEAR+ credit literally exceeds the $150 annual fee. If you use CLEAR, this card pays you $59/year to hold it. That's rare. But — and this is a big but — CLEAR is only useful if you fly through airports that support it. If CLEAR isn't your thing, you're evaluating this card purely on its 3X earning structure against $150, which is a tighter call.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Six months to spend $3,000 is about as relaxed as welcome bonus requirements get — that's $500/month, which most people hit without trying. The 40,000 points is on the modest side, though. The card has historically offered up to 60,000 points during promotions, so it's worth checking CardMatch or Amex's pre-qualified offers before you apply. You might get lucky with a higher targeted bonus.

At 1.5–2 cents per point, 40,000 MR points are worth roughly $600–$800 toward travel. Send them to the right partner (ANA or Virgin Atlantic, for example) and you can squeeze out even more.

All 3X earning is uncapped — no limits, no quarterly activations, no nonsense. The transit category is where this card quietly shines. It covers rideshares (Uber, Lyft), subway systems, commuter rail, parking garages, tolls, and even bike-share programs. If you're commuting in a major city, your daily spend is racking up points on autopilot.

Compared to the Amex Gold (4X on dining, 4X on groceries), the Green earns less on food but more on travel and transit. If your wallet leans toward transportation rather than takeout, the Green is your card.

You get the full Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner network — the same partners whether you hold the Green, Gold, or Platinum:

• Airline transfers (1:1): Delta, ANA, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Air France/KLM, JetBlue, Avianca LifeMiles, Emirates, Etihad, and more
• Hotel transfers: Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio) and Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)
• Amex Travel: Book at 1 cpp through the portal, or use Pay with Points
• Statement credits: Generally 0.6–0.7 cpp (not recommended)
• Gift cards and merchandise: Variable rates, typically poor value

The real value is in airline transfers — always. Sweet spots include ANA round-trip business class to Japan for 75,000–88,000 points, Virgin Atlantic partner awards on ANA or Delta, and Avianca LifeMiles for Star Alliance flights. Having access to this network for just $150/year is genuinely a great deal.

Practical perks, nothing flashy — which is fine at this price:

• $209 CLEAR+ Credit: Covers a CLEAR+ membership for expedited identity verification at airport security and select stadiums/venues. Automatically triggered when you charge CLEAR to the card.
• No foreign transaction fees: Use freely abroad without surcharges
• Car rental loss and damage insurance: Secondary coverage for collision damage or theft on eligible rentals
• Baggage insurance: Up to $1,250 for carry-on, $500 for checked baggage
• Travel accident insurance: Up to $100,000 in coverage for common carrier travel
• Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 emergency assistance when traveling 100+ miles from home

What you won't get: no airport lounge access (no Centurion Lounges, no Priority Pass), no airline fee credit, no hotel status, no TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit. For any of that, you're upgrading to the Platinum — and its $695 fee.

Let's be blunt: the Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 is the biggest threat here. It gives you 3X dining, 2X travel, a $50 hotel credit, and Chase's transfer partners for $55 less. The Green fights back with transit earning and the CLEAR credit, but for most people, the Sapphire Preferred is the better bang for the buck — unless you specifically value Amex's partner network or commute heavily.

• City commuters whose transit spending (rideshares, subway, parking, tolls) adds up fast
• CLEAR members who turn the $209 credit into a card that pays them $59/year
• MR point collectors on a budget who want Amex's transfer partners at the cheapest annual fee
• International travelers who want no foreign transaction fees and worldwide 3X earning
• Amex Gold or Platinum holders who want a dedicated transit/travel earner in their rotation

Not your card if: you spend heavily on groceries (get the Gold), you want lounge access or premium perks (you need the Platinum), or the Sapphire Preferred's $95 fee just makes more sense for your wallet.