Is the Amex Green Card worth the annual fee?

Typically, when credit cards undergo changes, those changes come with an annual fee.

However, that’s not the case for the American Express® Green Card. While the card has experienced multiple updates in recent years, its reasonable $150 annual fee has remained the same.

But what do you get for that $150? Let’s break down the card’s benefits to help you decide if it’s worth adding to your wallet.

The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Welcome Offer

Currently, new Amex Green applicants can earn 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, making this bonus worth $800.

You have a wide range of options when you’re ready to redeem your Membership Rewards points, including cashing out your points (not the best value) or redeeming with hotel and airline partners (can provide incredible value, depending on the partner.)

Excellent uses of Membership Rewards points include domestic flights on Delta Air Lines, flights to South America with LATAM and flights to Japan on Virgin Atlantic for redemptions with ANA.

Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards

Clear Plus credit

Clear is a security program that can help you speed through airport and sporting event security checkpoints by using biometrics to prove your identity.

Membership costs $189 per year, which you can get reimbursed for in full by paying for your Clear Plus membership with your Amex Green card. There’s no prior enrollment required with Amex to use this benefit, but you will need to sign up with Clear Plus and complete your enrollment to use Clear security lanes at a growing number of venues and airports.

Even better, select Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus cobranded credit cardholders can get a Clear Plus membership at a reduced price of $149. Since your annual benefit maximum on the Amex Green Card is $189, that’s enough to cover this reduced price and some of the cost of adding a loved one.

If you don’t already have a Clear Plus membership, this perk alone will more than make up the $150 annual fee cost.

Related: Why your family may want to get Clear Plus before your next flight

LoungeBuddy credits

LoungeBuddy is a lounge network of more than 200 lounges around the world. You can book a lounge visit in advance, a great feature to beat long lines at overcrowded lounges.

Use your Amex Green to pay for LoungeBuddy visits, and you’ll receive up to $100 in statement credits to offset these purchases each calendar year. There’s no need to enroll for this benefit in advance with Amex, though you do need to enroll with LoungeBuddy for a membership.

While this feature doesn’t provide the complimentary unlimited access you get with a Priority Pass Select membership offered on other credit cards, it’s a great way to dip your toes into the world of airport lounges before committing to a card with a higher annual fee that offers for extensive perks.

Related: Maximizing LoungeBuddy passes with the Amex Green

Earning rates

One of the best features of the Amex Green Card may be its earning structure.

Cardmembers earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, 3 points per dollar on takeout and delivery services in the U.S., 3 points per dollar on transit (including trains, buses, ferries and subways), 3 points per dollar on travel and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

With broad travel and transit categories, this is one of the best credit cards for travel purchases and dining expenses. Since TPG values Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, this is an effective 6% return on spending for your travel, commuting and dining expenses.

While the Amex Green Card earns less at restaurants than the 4 points per dollar provided by the American Express® Gold Card and doesn’t offer bonus points at U.S. supermarkets(up to $25,000 per year in purchases) as the Gold Card does, the Green Card provides much better earning rates for commuting and travel.

Related: Credit card showdown: Amex Gold vs. Amex Green

Additional benefits

Cardmembers also have access to Amex Offers, which can provide rebates or bonus points on your upcoming purchases through targeted promotions.

The card also comes with built-in shopping and travel protections that can provide both peace of mind and security during mishaps at home and abroad.

Related: Everything you need to know about credit card merchant offers

Bottom line

As cardmember benefits have improved on the Amex Green in the past few years, the annual fee has remained steady at a moderate $150. If you can use the Clear Plus benefit and LoungeBuddy passes each year, you can easily offset the annual fee.

Related: Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?

However, you might not use these perks if you already have another credit card that provides lounge access and/or a card that reimburses your Clear Plus membership. The question at that point would be whether the earning structure on the Green Card provides enough extra Membership Rewards points each year to make keeping the card worthwhile.

Learn more in our full review of the Amex Green card.