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Amex Platinum Card vs. Amex Green Card [Detailed Comparison]

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Lori Zaino,Stephen Au
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
& Juan Ruiz
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Key Takeaways

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com.
  • The American Express® Green Card is also designed for travel enthusiasts, earning 3x points on dining worldwide, travel, and transit.
  • The Amex Platinum card far exceeds the Amex Green card in travel and lifestyle perks, offering lounge access, statement credits, and hotel and car rental elite status upon enrollment, but does carry a higher annual fee (rates & fees).

The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Green Card are 2 of American Express’ most well-known cards and offer easy ways to earn points.

While both of these cards share some attractive benefits, such as no preset spending limit* (to reduce the risk of getting declined for purchases) and no foreign transaction fees (to help you minimize costs when traveling abroad), there are massive differences in the rest of their features. In this guide, we’ll compare and contrast the benefits of the Amex Platinum card with the Amex Green card to see which one’s right for you. 

The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided or reviewed by the issuer.

Overview

If you don’t have enough time for a deep dive into of each card’s features and benefits, check out the table below that compares both cards at a high level.

Note that some benefits for both cards require enrollment through your American Express account, so be sure to get the most out of your card.

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Feature

Welcome Offer

Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months.

Earning Potential

  • 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com, up to $500,000 per calendar year (then 1x)
  • 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
  • 1x points on all other purchases
  • 3x points on eligible travel purchases
  • 3x points at restaurants worldwide
  • 3x points on transit
  • 1x points on other purchases

Redemption Options

  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners 
  • AmexTravel.com bookings (including Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings for 1 cent per point)
  • Gift cards, online purchases, entertainment, statement credits, and more
  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners
  • AmexTravel.com bookings
  • Gift cards, online purchases, entertainment, statement credits, and more

Airport Lounge Access

  • Access to the Global Lounge Collection (more than 1,550 airport lounges globally), including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying with Delta), Plaza Premium Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges upon enrollment, and more

None

Hotel and Rental Car Program Benefits

  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold, Leaders Club Sterling, and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status after enrollment
  • Access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection
  • National Emerald Club Executive Elite status, Hertz President’s Circle status, and Avis Preferred status upon enrollment

None 

Statement Credits

  • Up to $200 in airline fee credits per year
  • Up to $600 in hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through AmexTravel.com
  • Up to $120 Global Entry statement credit or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit (up to every 4 years)
  • Up to $200 Uber Cash per year
  • Up to $209 CLEAR Credit
  • Up to $120 Uber One credit per year
  • Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits per year
  • Up to $300 in Equinox credits per year
  • Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits per year 
  • Up to $300 in digital entertainment credits per year
  • Up to $200 Oura Ring credit per year
  • Up to $209 CLEAR Plus credit per year
  • Up to $300 lululemon per year
  • Up to $400 Resy credit per year
  • Enrollment is required for some benefits
  • Up to $209 CLEAR Plus credit per year

Dining & Entertainment Benefits

  • Access to global dining by Resy
  • Access to Platinum Nights by Resy
  • Access to Premium Events Collection™
  • Access to tickets and presales for events

None

Travel Benefits and Protections

  • Access to the Platinum Card Concierge
  • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
  • Trip delay insurance
  • Secondary rental car insurance (plus the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance)
  • Emergency transportation and evacuation coverage
  • Access to Premium Global Assist® Hotline
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Trip delay insurance
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Secondary rental car insurance (plus the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance)
  • Access to Global Assist

Shopping Benefits and Protections

  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty
  • Return protection
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • No preset spending limit*
  • Access to Amex Offers
  • Cell phone protection
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No preset spending limit*
  • Access to Amex Offers

Annual Fee

$895 (rates & fees)

$150

Authorized Users

  • No additional annual fee

The Value of a Welcome Offer

One of the best reasons to apply for a new card is an enticing welcome bonus offer. Indeed, even if you’re totally onboard with a card’s benefits, rewards, and features, applying at the right time can ultimately mean the difference between a large or small windfall of points.

Welcome bonus offers are awarded to new cardmembers after completing a minimum spending requirement within the first few months after you are approved.

We recommend you only apply for a card if you can comfortably meet the spending requirements and earn that awesome welcome bonus offer.

+ NEW BENEFITS
Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $3,850
$895
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Cons
  • $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
  • More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
  • More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
  • More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
  • More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
  • More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
  • Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
  • New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
  • $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • $895 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

American Express® Green Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 points
Up to $880
$150
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
  • Up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership with the Card.
  • Access to American Express transfer partners
Cons
  • $150 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
  • $209 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
  • Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The general consensus is that the minimum your welcome offer would be worth is 1 cent per point. That’s because you can redeem Amex Membership Rewards points for flights through AmexTravel.com at a fixed value of 1 cent apiece.

However, you can transfer your points to Amex’s transfer partners and potentially receive far more value. On average, we think Amex points are worth about 2.2 cents each. So the offers above are worth up to $3,850 for the Amex Platinum, and up to $880 for the Amex Green.

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Earning Potential Comparison

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Earning Category

Amex Platinum Card

Amex Green Card

Airfare Purchased Directly With the Airline or Through AmexTravel.com

5x points (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x)

3x points

Prepaid Hotels Purchased Through AmexTravel.com

5x points

3x points

Other Travel Purchases

1x points

3x points

Restaurants Worldwide

1x points

3x points

Transit

1x points

3x points

Other Purchases

1x points

1x points

The Amex Platinum card only outperforms the Amex Green card on airfare purchased directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com, as well as prepaid hotels purchased through AmexTravel.com.

So if you book lots of flights and hotels, the Amex Platinum card might be the best bet for you. Just remember that going through AmexTravel.com ensures you get rewarded as much as possible — but if you plan on doing a lot of your travel bookings outside of AmexTravel.com, the Amex Green card might end up earning you more points in the long run.

If you frequently eat out, the Amex Green card could be a great addition to your wallet since it earns 3x points on restaurants worldwide. However, if you take advantage of the $400 Resy credit for the Amex Platinum card, you might save a lot of money on dining.

Bottom Line:

If you’re interested in maximizing your rewards on travel purchases, the Amex Platinum card offers industry-leading returns as long as you book travel through the AmexTravel.com portal.

Redemption Options

Both the Amex Platinum card and Amex Green card earn coveted Membership Rewards points, which allow for a wide variety of redemption options.

Both cards have the ability to transfer points to airlines and hotels, including Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, British Airways, Air Canada Aeroplan, Hilton Honors, and more.

However, there are a few subtle distinctions in how much value you can get from specific redemptions through each of these cards.

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Redemption Option

Amex Platinum Card

Amex Green Card

Transfer to Airline and Hotel Partners

Yes

Yes

Flights Booked Through AmexTravel.com

Yes (1 cent per point)

Yes (1 cent per point)

Hotels Booked Through Fine Hotels + Resorts

Yes (1 cent per point)

N/A

Hotels Booked Through The Hotel Collection

Yes (0.7 cents per point)

N/A

Other AmexTravel.com Bookings (Hotels, Car Rentals, etc.)

Yes (0.7 cents per point)

Yes (0.7 cents per point)

Amazon.com Purchases

Yes

Yes

Gift Cards

Yes

Yes

Online Shopping

Yes

Yes

Statement Credits

Yes

Yes

On the other hand, if you plan on using airline and hotel partners only, the Amex Green card should suffice. 

It’s important to call out that in our opinion, the most lucrative way to use Amex points,is to transfer them to hotel and airline partners.

For example, if you want to book a flight from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) on Air France business class, you can redeem as few as 55,000 Amex points for a one-way ticket by transferring them to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, as opposed to paying hundreds of thousands of points to book the same flight through AmexTravel.com. 

Hot Tip:

If you want to know more ways to maximize the value of your Amex points, read our in-depth guide on the best ways to use your Membership Rewards points for luxury travel.

How Do Statement Credits Compare?

Man looking at departure board at airport
Image Credit: Erik Odiin via Unsplash

The Amex Platinum card is an amazing card for benefits, and some of its statement credits return money directly to your wallet. Here’s what you can expect to get in statement credits with the Amex Platinum card in comparison with the Amex Green card:

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Statement Credits

Amex Platinum Card

Amex Green Card

Airline fee credits

Up to $200 per year

$0

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit

Up to $120 Global Entry statement credit or up to $85 TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit every 4 years

$0

Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits

Up to $100 per year ($50 semi-annually)

$0

CLEAR Plus credit

Up to $209 per year

Up to $209 per year

Equinox credit

Up to $300 per year

$0

Prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays

Up to $600 per year ($300 back in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection booked via Amex Travel)

$0

Walmart+ credit

Up to $155 per year (up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership)

$0

Digital entertainment credit

Up to $300 per year (up to $25 in statement credits each month for  Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV)

$0

Uber Cash

Up to $200 per year ($15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December)

$0

Uber One credit

Up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year after you purchase an auto-renewing Uber One membership with your card

$0

Oura Ring credit

$200 in statements credits when you use the card to purchase an Oura Ring at Ouraring.com

$0

lululemon credit

You can receive up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com.

$0

Resy credit

Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you make eligible purchases with Resy

$0

When you maximize all of these benefits, you can easily offset the annual fee on the Amex Platinum card multiple times. Don’t forget to enroll for the ones that require enrollment.

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Airport Lounge Access

One of the most valuable benefits of a travel card is access to airport lounges — so much so that we’ve devoted an entire section to discussing this.

New Delta Sky Club SEA Two Floors
Access the Delta Sky Clubs with your Amex Platinum card and a same-day Delta boarding pass. Image Credit: Stella Shon

Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card is probably the single best card available for airport lounge access. With it, you can access over 1,550 airport lounges around the world through the Global Lounge Collection.

This includes:

Amex Green Card

Unfortunately, the Amex Green card doesn’t offer any lounge access.

Hotel Program Benefits

Another area where the Amex Platinum card clearly outshines the Amex Green card is the benefits at hotels and rental car companies.

Conrad Orlando room view
Image Credit: Chris Hassan

In this section, we’ll walk you through all of these benefits from A to Z.

Elite Status: Marriott Bonvoy, Leaders Club, and Hilton Honors

The Amex Platinum card offers automatic elite status upon enrollment with Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite), Leaders Club (Sterling status), and Hilton Honors (Gold).

These benefits allow you to enjoy perks like quicker accrual of hotel points, room upgrades, late checkout, and even continental breakfast (with Hilton Honors Gold only).

Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection

In addition, you will have the ability to book stays at properties that are a part of Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

Here are the benefits you get when booking a Fine Hotels + Resorts stay:

  • Room upgrade (subject to availability)
  • Complimentary breakfast for 2 guests per room daily
  • Early check-in (subject to availability)
  • Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
  • A special amenity, valued at a minimum of $100, once per stay
  • Free Wi-Fi

And when you book a stay at The Hotel Collection, you will receive a room upgrade (when available) and a $100 property credit once per stay. Note that The Hotel Collection requires a minimum booking of 2 nights.

The Amex Green card doesn’t offer any hotel benefits.

Rental Car Program Benefits

When you’re on the road and renting a car, the Amex Platinum card offers you elite status upon enrollment with multiple car rental programs, including:

With these status levels, you can enjoy perks like complimentary upgrades to more premium vehicles, guaranteed reservations, bonus points earning, and more.

The Amex Green card doesn’t partner with any rental car companies for status or privileges.

Travel Insurance and Protection Comparison

Another key area where the Amex Platinum card offers tremendous value over the Amex Green card is travel protection.

Man standing next to car
Image Credit: Matthew Brodeur via Unsplash

Access to the Platinum Card Concierge

One of the most useful features of the Amex Platinum card is the ability to access Platinum Card Concierge service, which can help you make restaurant reservations in foreign countries, get connected to reputable tour providers, arrange to send flowers or gifts to loved ones, and so much more.

All you need to do is call the number on the back of your card and ask to be connected to a Platinum Card Concierge.

The Amex Green card doesn’t offer access to the Platinum Card Concierge.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Both the Amex Platinum card and Amex Green card offer secondary rental car insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance, starting from $12.25 to $24.95 per rental.

The key difference here is that the Amex Platinum card offers up to $75,000 in coverage, while the Amex Green card offers up to $50,000 in coverage.

Trip Interruption and Cancellation Insurance

The Amex Platinum card is one of the few cards that offers trip interruption and cancellation insurance — if your trip is disrupted for covered reasons, you can get reimbursed for up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 every rolling 12 months.

The Amex Green card doesn’t offer trip interruption or cancellation coverage.

Trip Delay Reimbursement

If your trip is delayed for covered reasons, you may file a claim for reimbursement of certain expenses incurred during your delay — the Amex Platinum card gets you up to $500 per trip if your covered delay is 6 or more hours.

The Amex Green card doesn’t offer trip delay reimbursement.

Concierge and Travel Assistance

When you hold the Amex Platinum card, you have access to Premium Global Assist — meanwhile, the Amex Green card provides access to Global Assist.

Both Global Assist and Premium Global Assist include:

  • Credit card cancellation
  • Emergency cash wire transfer that can be charged to your card
  • Embassy and consulate referral
  • Emergency legal and medical referral
  • Emergency transportation
  • Lost passport replacement
  • Medical prescription replacement assistance
  • Missing luggage assistance
  • Translation services
  • Urgent message relay to family and friends

Premium Global Assist also includes emergency medical evacuation services for the cardholder and covered family members, as well as repatriation of mortal remains, unaccompanied minors/visitors to bedside, and travel assistance post-evacuation.

Baggage Insurance

Your Amex Platinum card covers you with baggage insurance if your bags are lost, damaged, or stolen. Coverage comes with a maximum of $2,000 for checked baggage and $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage.

Meanwhile, the Amex Green card’s baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.

Baggage insurance for both cards comes with a lot of fine print, so make sure to read the terms and conditions here.

Comparing Shopping Benefits

Woman grocery shopping
Image Credit: Dollar Gill via Unsplash

Purchase Protection

Both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Green card offer purchase protection, which will come in handy if an item you purchased gets damaged, stolen, or lost shortly after you bought it.

In the case of the Amex Platinum card, you be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 in total reimbursements per calendar year if the occurrence happens 90 days or sooner after the date of purchase.

The Amex Green card also covers incidents that occur up to 90 days after purchase, but you can only get up to $1,000 per item in reimbursements and up to $50,000 per calendar year in reimbursements.

Extended Warranty

The Amex Platinum card entitles you to extended warranty protection, which covers up to 2 additional years in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty of up to 5 years, for eligible purchased items. This coverage is limited to $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per calendar year.

The Amex Green card covers you for up to 1 additional year in addition to the original manufacturer’s warranty of up to 5 years. The coverage amount is also limited to $10,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per calendar year.

Return Protection

If you make a purchase, aren’t satisfied with it, and attempt to return your purchase with the original merchant, only to get denied a return, the Amex Platinum card could help you get coverage for this rare event.

Currently, the Amex Platinum card’s return protection policy includes up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per calendar year in return protection coverage.

The Amex Green card doesn’t carry any return protection.

Cell Phone Protection

If you’re prone to damaging or getting your phone stolen, the Amex Platinum card comes with complimentary cell phone protection, which kicks in as long as you charge your monthly cellular bill to the Amex Platinum card.

Currently, the Amex Platinum card allows you to get up to $800 in reimbursements per claim with a $50 deductible per claim and up to 2 approved claims every rolling 12 months.

Therefore, you can get up to $1,500 in cell phone protection reimbursements every year!

The Amex Green card doesn’t offer this benefit.

No Preset Spending Limit

Another feature we love about these 2 cards is no preset spending limit*, which means both cards don’t have a traditional credit limit or credit ceiling.

Instead, based on your spending habits and other information about your ability to pay your balances, Amex may adjust your spending limit from month to month. This can reduce the likelihood that your purchase will get declined at the register.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Both the Amex Platinum card and Amex Green card have no foreign transaction fees.

Amex Offers

Amex Offers is one of the best ways you can get additional rewards or savings at specific merchants. You can take advantage of amazing offers like earning +5 bonus points per dollar or 20% back on specific purchases, such as Marriott bookings or eating out at restaurants.

Both the Amex Platinum card and Amex Green card enjoy access to Amex Offers upon enrollment.

Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual Fees

The Amex Platinum card is an ultra-premium travel rewards card with a ton of benefits, so it only makes sense that it has an ultra-premium price tag to go along with it.

Specifically, the Amex Platinum card has a $895 annual fee, while the Amex Green card has a $150 annual fee.

Adding Additional Users

Both of these cards allow you to add additional cards for friends and family.

With the Amex Platinum card, you can add additional Platinum cardholders for $195 per card. These cards will still confer travel benefits to additional users, like lounge access and the ability to book stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.

If you want to add additional users without an additional annual fee, you can add companion Platinum cards, though these won’t come with the same travel benefits as the primary Amex Platinum card.

With the Amex Green card, there is no additional charge per authorized user.

As always, the primary cardholder is liable for all charges made by authorized users.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card and Amex Green card share a surprising number of similarities. Both of them offer the ability to earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for luxury travel.

In addition, both of these cards have no preset spending limit*, no foreign transaction fees, and other benefits like purchase protection and extended warranty.

However, the Amex Platinum card blows away the Amex Green card when it comes to travel and lifestyle benefits thanks to its lounge access perks, numerous statement credits, automatic hotel elite status, and even rental car privileges!

If you’re looking for a high-end card with robust travel benefits, the Amex Platinum card will suit you best. But if just want a card that earns Membership Rewards points without requiring you to pony up for a large annual fee, the Amex Green card can serve you well.

*No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
 
For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit  americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the premium global assist hotline benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by premium global assist hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Platinum Card® from American Express, with return protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the credit limit for an Amex Green card?

The Amex Green card doesn’t have a preset spending limit unlike a traditional credit card. Instead, its spending limit adjusts over time based on your purchasing habits and what Amex believes is your ability to pay your balances.

What Amex card is higher than the Amex Platinum card?

The card that’s more prestigious than the Amex Platinum card is the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known informally as the Amex Black card. All information about the Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Upgraded Points, and this card is available by invitation only.

Can you upgrade Amex Green card to the Amex Platinum card?

Yes, you can upgrade from the Amex Green card to the Amex Platinum card. Just make sure your Amex Green card is at least 1 year old before attempting to upgrade to the Amex Platinum card. You can call the number on the back of your card to process the upgrade.

What income do you need for Amex Green card?

There isn’t a specific income number — rather, Amex wants to know that your balances can be paid off. For this reason, you need to at least have a good credit score before applying for the Amex Green card.

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About Lori Zaino

Lori is an intrepid traveler who loves creating itineraries that exude “luxe on a budget.” She’s written for CNN, NBC, The Infatuation, and Forbes and has taken points-fueled trips to Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Myanmar.

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