American Categorical Inexperienced Card overview
The American Categorical® Inexperienced Card is suited to fashionable vacationers. It earns bonus factors on journey, transit and eating at eating places and gives precious assertion credit that assist offset its annual price. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Till I wrote this overview, I would by no means actually thought-about the Amex Inexperienced. As I realized about this card, I noticed it is a surprisingly robust mid-tier journey card for anybody who prioritizes journey, dines out continuously and incurs journey prices.
It has an annual price of $150, and TPG recommends candidates have a credit score rating of 670 or greater to have the perfect likelihood of getting accepted.
For those who can make the most of the Clear Plus assertion credit score, the cardboard can simply be a worthwhile addition to a traveler’s pockets. Let’s take a more in-depth look to see if it may additionally be a great match for you.
The data for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: What’s Clear airport safety — and is it value it?
Amex Inexperienced execs and cons
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Amex Inexperienced welcome supply
New Amex Inexperienced cardmembers can earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuation of Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, the welcome supply is value $800 — a stable worth proposition.
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The historic excessive for this card’s welcome supply (now not obtainable) is 60,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months. This supply additionally included 20% again on eligible journey and transit purchases within the first six months (as much as $200 again).
You is probably not eligible for Amex Inexperienced’s welcome supply when you maintain or beforehand held sure higher-tier American Categorical playing cards, together with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and the American Categorical® Gold Card.
Fortunately, Amex will let you know whether or not you are eligible for the Amex Inexperienced’s welcome supply earlier than you submit your utility.
Associated: The perfect American Categorical bank cards
Amex Inexperienced advantages
Strong earnings and advantages make the Amex Inexperienced a severe competitor when you’re on the lookout for a mid-tier journey rewards card.
$199 Clear Plus annual assertion credit score
One good thing about the Amex Inexperienced card I have not seen on many different playing cards is an as much as $199 Clear Plus assertion credit score every calendar 12 months. With Clear, your eyes and fingertips will help you get by safety quicker at choose airports and stadiums nationwide.
Because the regular charge for this membership is $199 per 12 months, this assertion credit score covers the complete annual value. Nevertheless, remember the fact that on July 1, the price of Clear Plus went as much as $209. Enrollment required; topic to auto-renewal.
Associated: Clear is newest TSA PreCheck enrollment supplier
Journey and procuring protections
The Amex Inexperienced gives prolonged guarantee** and buy safety** whenever you buy eligible objects together with your card. These protections can prevent severe cash if one thing goes mistaken with a latest buy.
You will even be protected whenever you’re on the highway. The Amex Inexperienced gives a baggage insurance coverage plan** and secondary automobile rental loss and harm insurance coverage***, with the choice to improve to main protection by Amex’s Premium Automotive Rental Safety.
**Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: All the things you should find out about American Categorical buy safety
Incomes factors on the Amex Inexperienced
The Amex Inexperienced earns:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on journey and transit
- 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases
Primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuation of Amex Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, you will get an approximate 6% return on spending within the prime two classes and a pair of% on all the things else.
It is vital to notice that these classes are broad. For instance, “journey” consists of airfare, lodges, excursions, campgrounds and trip leases, whereas “transit” consists of trains, taxicabs, ride-hailing companies, ferries and tolls.
A lot of your spending might fall inside these classes, relying in your way of life.
Associated: Getting began with factors, miles and bank cards to journey
Redeeming factors on the Amex Inexperienced
The Amex Inexperienced offers Membership Rewards factors, which might be redeemed in a number of methods.
Apart from journey, choices embody assertion credit for latest, eligible purchases, procuring on Amazon and procuring with Membership Rewards. Nevertheless, these choices present much less worth than redeeming your factors for journey.
Utilizing your factors on Amazon gives poor worth, at solely 0.7 cents per level; redeeming factors to cowl eligible fees will get you 0.6 cents per level; and procuring with Membership Rewards is the worst possibility, offering a meager 0.5 cents per level.
On condition that TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents per level, redeeming your factors for journey is by far your best option. The best technique to get at the least 2 cents per level is through the use of Amex’s switch companions.
Associated: Learn how to redeem American Categorical Membership Rewards factors
Transferring factors on the Amex Inexperienced
The Membership Rewards factors you earn with the Amex Inexperienced might be transferred to 21 journey companions: 18 airways and three lodges. Noteworthy switch companions embody Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.
Some glorious candy spots embody one-way business-class flights to Europe and stays at collaborating Most well-liked Motels and Resorts worldwide with Alternative Motels factors.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson recurrently transfers factors to Avianca LifeMiles and has gotten transatlantic flights to Europe for as little as 17,000 factors in economic system class. Avianca LifeMiles has loads of nice redemptions with Star Alliance companions, making it an particularly precious switch accomplice.
Associated: Bank card switch bonuses working this month
Which playing cards compete with the Amex Inexperienced?
The Amex Inexperienced is a aggressive mid-tier card with robust incomes charges and helpful advantages, however different issuers have some comparable choices:
For added choices, take a look at our checklist of the perfect starter journey playing cards.
Associated: Amex Inexperienced Card vs. Chase Sapphire Most well-liked: Which card is best for you?
Backside line
The Amex Inexperienced’s assertion credit can greater than offset the $150 annual price, making this card a compelling possibility for younger professionals and others who allocate a lot of their price range towards journey, eating and commuting.
For those who’ll use the annual Clear Plus assertion credit score and might maximize the broadly outlined bonus classes, the Amex Inexperienced is a card to significantly think about including to your pockets.
Associated: Is the Amex Inexperienced Card well worth the annual price?
