How To Upgrade Your Amex Green Card to the Amex Gold Card [2026]

The American Express Green Card^® and the American Express^® Gold Card are among the top cards in the American Express Membership Rewards ecosystem, and both have a lot to offer to cardholders.

If you’re considering upgrading, it’s important to understand whether you are eligible, the process, and whether taking an upgrade offer or a new welcome offer is more lucrative for you. Be sure to review the offers section and the card comparison table before making your final decision.

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

Quick Overview: Amex Green to Gold Upgrade

If you want to upgrade your Amex Green Card to the Amex Gold card, you can easily do so by calling the number on the back of your Amex Green card or using the chat feature on the American Express website, so long as your account has been open for at least 12 months already.

When you apply for an upgrade, it does not add a hard credit inquiry to your account and instead is treated as a product change.

While you might receive, or have been targeted, for an upgrade offer to move from the Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card, doing so means you would not be eligible for the standard publicly available Amex Gold card welcome offer, which might offer significantly more points.

If you have never held the Amex Gold card before, it’s worth comparing an upgrade offer against applying for a new card and earning the standard welcome bonus offer.

Comparing the Amex Green Card to the Amex Gold Card

While both the Amex Green card and Amex Gold card are great cards, the value proposition of each is quite different. Here is a full breakdown of the top benefits of each card.

Amex Green Card Benefits

American Express Green Card^®

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.

American Express Green Card^®

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

Welcome Offer

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's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $880

Annual Fee

$150

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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 card application.

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

Read Full Review

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 Amex Green card is very well-rounded and gives you multiple bonus categories to earn 3x points without a large annual fee.

Amex Gold Card Benefits

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

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 is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points per dollar on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• New! As an American Express^® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• 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.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Gold card can be significantly more lucrative when it comes to point-earning given its bonus categories, but the card also comes with a higher annual fee.

Comparison Summary Table

If you’re trying to decide whether the Amex Green card or the Amex Gold card is a better fit for you, here is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.

As you can see, there is some benefit overlap between the Amex Green card and the Amex Gold card, but the primary driver in deciding which is best for you likely comes down to the difference in bonus categories and credits.

The Amex Gold card wins when it comes to restaurant and supermarket purchases, while the Amex Green card wins when it comes to travel and transit purchases, though it still offers 3x on restaurant spending. Those who travel often can make use of the annual CLEAR+ credit of up to $209, while those who order out often or use Uber might prefer the annual dining credit of up to $120 and annual Uber Cash of up to $120 offered on the Amex Gold card.

How To Upgrade Your Amex Green Card to the Amex Gold Card

Requesting an upgrade for your Amex Green card is a simple process.

All you need to do is call the customer service number on the back of your Amex Green card and tell the customer service representative that you’d like to upgrade your Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.

You could also use the chat feature on the American Express website. American Express might still ask you to call the customer service line to finalize the upgrade so that they can go over the disclosures of your new card with you.

Once you’ve upgraded, your account number will most likely remain the same, making it easier for any recurring bills you had set to your account, and any points you’ve earned carry over and remain in your overall Amex Membership Rewards balance.

You’ll be charged a prorated annual fee increase for the remainder of your card membership year, and you pay the new annual fee starting on your account anniversary (Source: American Express).

Who Should Upgrade Their Amex Green Card?

Here are the top things to consider when deciding whether or not you should upgrade your Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.

1. Your Amex Green Card Has Been Open for More Than 1 Year

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 prevents credit issuers from increasing the annual fee on your account if your account is less than 12 months old, even if you give them permission by upgrading to a new card product (Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). Given that, if your Amex Green card has not been open for at least 1 year, then you will not be eligible to upgrade your card.

2. Amex Gold Card Is a Better Fit for You

If you’ve weighed the benefits of each card and decided that the bonus categories and perks of the Amex Gold card are a better fit for you, then it might make sense for you to upgrade your Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.

3. You’ve Previously Earned a Welcome Bonus Offer for the Amex Gold Card

When you upgrade from one card to another, you are not eligible to receive the welcome offer that the card gives to new applicants.

Given that, if you’ve never had the Amex Gold card before, you might be better off applying for the card instead of upgrading, as this can earn you a large number of points if you meet the minimum spending requirement.

Hot Tip: Remember, with Amex, you do not qualify for the welcome offer on a card if you change from one card to another.

4. You’ve Been Given an Upgrade Offer

In order to entice members to upgrade to new card products with higher annual fees, sometimes American Express targets cardmembers for an upgrade offer that includes potential bonus points. Upgrade offers can typically appear on the homepage of your Amex account and via targeted emails, if you’ve opted into marketing emails from Amex.

In the past, we’ve seen offers as high as 40,000 Membership Rewards points (valued at $880) to upgrade from the Amex Green card to the Amex Gold card.

You are eligible to take advantage of an upgrade offer even if you have already received the welcome offer on the Amex Gold card in the past.

5. You Don’t Want To Add a Hard Pull to Your Credit

An overlooked benefit of upgrading a card with American Express is that they do not perform a hard credit pull, nor does it add a new account to your credit report. This can be especially useful for those looking to stay on the safe side of Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Hot Tip: The 5/24 rule works like this: To be approved for a Chase credit card, you must have fewer than 5 approvals for credit cards from anyone within the last 24 months.

Final Thoughts

The process of upgrading your Amex Green card to an Amex Gold card is a simple one. All you need to do is call the number on the back of your card and request the upgrade. The only tricky part is deciding whether or not you should upgrade in the first place.

You should know which of the benefits and perks of each card make more sense for your lifestyle and spending habits.

Be sure to check your account to see if you are eligible for an upgrade offer. However, if you have never held the Amex Gold card before, you might be better off applying for the card outright instead of upgrading to take advantage of the often large welcome offer, such as the Amex Gold’s 90,000-point referral offer.