Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
Amex Green vs Wyndham Earner Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025

Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is a strong choice for earning flexible rewards on broad travel and dining purchases worldwide. Terms apply.
- The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is best for Wyndham loyalists looking to maximize rewards on hotel stays, gas, dining, and groceries.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "120", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Travel Rewards", "headerHint" : "Best for Frequent Travelers" } ]]
Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
- It earns bonus rewards on an exceptionally broad range of travel and dining purchases worldwide.
- The points you earn are highly flexible and can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Cardholders receive valuable statement credits that can cover the cost of popular travel services.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. 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.
Pros
- Features a valuable Welcome Offer for new cardmembers to jumpstart their points balance.
- Comes with useful travel benefits, including trip delay insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
- Provides payment flexibility, with options to pay for purchases over time.
Cons
- The annual fee is relatively high for a card in its class.
- Maximizing the value of your points requires effort, as some redemption options are less valuable than others.
- Some of the card’s travel credits are for niche services or have expiration dates, which could limit their usefulness.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Breakdown
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7579", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Wyndham Loyalists"} ]]
Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the specific benefits and perks that make the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card a standout option.
- The card offers generous rewards on everyday spending categories, including gas, dining, and groceries.
- Cardholders automatically receive valuable Platinum elite status in the Wyndham Rewards program, which comes with perks like early check-in and late checkout.
- You'll get closer to your next vacation with bonus points awarded each anniversary year and a discount when redeeming points for free nights.
Pros
- Earn accelerated rewards on common spending categories, including gas, dining, and groceries.
- Automatic Platinum status in the Wyndham Rewards program provides valuable travel perks like early check-in and potential upgrades.
- Receive a yearly anniversary bonus and get a discount when redeeming points for award nights, helping you earn free stays faster.
Cons
- Unlike many competing hotel cards, this card charges an annual fee but doesn’t offer a complimentary anniversary night award.
- Points are most valuable when used for Wyndham stays, limiting redemption flexibility for those who aren’t loyal to the hotel brand.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
Deciding which is better Amex Green or Wyndham Earner Plus depends entirely on your spending habits and travel style, as one is a flexible travel card while the other is tailored for hotel brand loyalists.
- American Express® Green Card: This is a travel and dining rewards card. It is best suited for people who spend frequently on a wide variety of travel purchases and at restaurants around the world.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: This is a hotel rewards card. It is designed for those who want to earn rewards on stays at Wyndham properties and on everyday spending categories like gas, dining, and groceries.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Points are flexible and can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Cardholders can also redeem points directly for travel booked through American Express Travel.
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: Rewards are redeemed for stays across Wyndham's extensive portfolio of hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. This offers a direct path to free or discounted nights for brand-loyal travelers.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Green Card: This card provides a broader travel ecosystem. Cardholders receive an annual credit for CLEAR Plus membership and a credit for LoungeBuddy to purchase lounge access. Points are redeemed through the flexible American Express Travel portal or can be transferred to partner programs. It also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travel. Terms apply.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: The travel perks are centered entirely on the Wyndham brand. The primary benefit is automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold status, which includes perks like late checkout when available. This card does not offer travel credits or lounge access and charges a foreign transaction fee.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
If you're still unsure which card is right for you, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards based on your actual spending.
- Manage all of your credit cards, monitor your credit score, and track transactions in one dashboard.
- Use the Test Drive feature to simulate your potential earnings with any card using your real spending data—no application or credit pull required.
- Receive personalized card recommendations that match your actual spending habits.
- Get access to incentives like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward and a welcome offer guarantee.
- See a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who spend heavily on dining and are willing to put in the effort to maximize their rewards. Its generous 3x points on travel and restaurants worldwide make it ideal for those who want to turn everyday spending into high-value travel redemptions through Amex's transfer partners. Cardholders who can take full advantage of the annual credits, such as up to $209 for a CLEAR+® membership, will find that the benefits can easily outweigh the $150 annual fee (Terms apply).
Who Should Choose the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus?
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is tailor-made for travelers who are loyal to the Wyndham family of hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares. This card is a strong choice for those looking to maximize their earnings on Wyndham stays and gas purchases, while also benefiting from automatic Platinum elite status perks like early check-in. Ultimately, if your travel plans consistently involve Wyndham properties, this card offers a straightforward way to accumulate points and enjoy enhanced benefits within that ecosystem.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Green vs Wyndham Earner Plus comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["510", "509"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Annual Travel Credit", "Exceptional Value"]} ]]
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can meet the welcome offer requirement naturally, without carrying a balance.
- Understand the rules, especially issuer-specific policies like the American Express once-per-lifetime bonus rule that can impact eligibility.
Application Strategy
- Time your application with a large planned purchase to help meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
- Choose the right card that aligns with your spending habits to maximize rewards and benefits.
- Decline a subpar offer if possible, as some issuers let you reapply without impacting your credit.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the annual fees for the American Express® Green Card and the Wyndham Earner® Plus Card?
The American Express® Green Card has a $150 annual fee (Terms Apply), while the Wyndham Earner® Plus Card has a $75 annual fee. You should always confirm the current fees before applying for either card.
Which card offers better hotel-specific benefits?
The Wyndham Earner® Plus Card provides direct hotel benefits, including automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum status and anniversary bonus points. The Amex Green card offers broader travel credits but lacks hotel-specific perks like elite status.
Can I transfer points from the Amex Green card to Wyndham Rewards?
Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points earned with the Amex Green card to the Wyndham Rewards program. It is wise to check the current transfer ratio on the American Express portal before moving your points.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.














.webp)





.webp)

