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Amex Platinum vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- American Express Platinum Card®: This card is designed for frequent travelers who want to maximize luxury perks like extensive airport lounge access, hotel benefits, and various statement credits.
- American Express® Green Card: This card is best for earning rewards on a wide range of travel purchases and for dining at restaurants worldwide.
American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees) a standout choice for luxury travelers.
- It provides unparalleled access to a global network of airport lounges, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges.
- Cardmembers receive automatic elite status with major hotel loyalty programs and access to premium benefits at luxury properties worldwide.
- The card unlocks a suite of premium lifestyle perks, including exclusive dining reservations, personalized concierge services, and a variety of valuable statement credits.
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
- Access to the most comprehensive airport lounge network of any premium card, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges.
- Complimentary Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, plus access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program for elite-like perks.
- A suite of valuable statement credits for travel, dining, entertainment, and retail purchases.
Cons
- A high annual fee that requires cardholders to maximize the card's benefits to justify the cost.
- Many of the card's valuable statement credits require manual enrollment and strategic use, adding a layer of complexity.
- Bonus rewards are primarily focused on travel, with limited earning potential on everyday spending categories.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
From its flexible rewards to its valuable travel credits, here’s a breakdown of why we like the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees).
- The card earns bonus points on a broad spectrum of purchases, including travel, transit, and dining worldwide.
- Cardholders can take advantage of annual statement credits for airport services like expedited security screening and lounge access; terms apply.
- Membership Rewards® points are transferable to a variety of airline and hotel partners, providing excellent redemption flexibility; terms apply.
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
- Earns bonus points on a wide array of purchases, including travel, transit, and dining.
- Offers valuable annual statement credits for travel services and has no foreign transaction fees; terms apply.
- Generous welcome offer and flexible points that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners; terms apply.
Cons
- The card has an annual fee that may not be justified for cardholders who don't fully utilize its benefits.
- Maximizing the value of Membership Rewards® points can require extra effort, as some redemption options offer lower value than others; terms apply.
- Some of the card's travel credits are for specific services that may not appeal to all travelers, and certain benefits are being discontinued; terms apply.
American Express® Green Card vs American Express Platinum Card®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Platinum or Amex Green, comes down to your personal spending habits and what you value in a travel card.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express is the gold standard for frequent travelers seeking premium rewards and exclusive experiences. It is best suited for those who can take full advantage of luxury travel perks like extensive airport lounge access and hotel elite status.
- American Express® Green Card is ideal for individuals whose spending is concentrated on travel and dining worldwide. This card is well-suited for earning flexible rewards on a broad range of purchases, including transit and takeout.
Redemption
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Points are best redeemed by transferring them to airline and hotel partners, which often provides the highest value for luxury travel experiences. You can also use points to book travel directly through the American Express travel portal.
American Express® Green Card: Rewards offer great flexibility and can be redeemed for travel through the Amex portal, transferred to travel partners, or used for gift cards and statement credits.
Travel Perks
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: This card is built for the premium traveler, offering an extensive global airport lounge access program. It has no foreign transaction fees, making international travel more seamless. Miles can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners or used to book travel directly through the American Express travel portal.
- American Express® Green Card: Geared toward flexible travel, this card also has no foreign transaction fees. It provides an annual credit for airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy and a statement credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership to speed through airport security. Miles can be transferred to travel partners or redeemed through the Amex travel portal.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
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- Test drive a credit card: See your potential earnings based on your actual spending history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
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Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?
The Platinum Card® from American Express is tailored for the frequent traveler who prioritizes luxury and premium perks over simple rewards. This cardholder is someone who regularly takes to the skies and can fully leverage the extensive airport lounge access and elite hotel status benefits. Furthermore, they have spending habits that naturally align with the card's various statement credits—from digital entertainment and Uber to Saks Fifth Avenue—ensuring they can easily offset the annual fee. Terms apply.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is tailored for frequent travelers who enjoy optimizing points and perks to get the most value from their spending. Its ideal user spends significantly on travel and dining to capitalize on the 3X points categories and is savvy enough to transfer those points to airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions. This card is a strong choice for someone who will use the annual statement credits for services like CLEAR® Plus, which can help offset the $150 annual fee.
Alternatives to Consider
So, you've weighed the Amex Platinum vs Amex Green comparison and neither card feels quite right for your wallet. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and there are several other top-tier options that could be a better match.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Premium travel cards typically require a good to excellent credit profile for approval.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Review the benefits - Understand which perks require enrollment to ensure you can maximize the card’s value.
Application Strategy
- Define your goals - Know whether you prioritize luxury travel perks or flexible rewards.
- Explore the rewards ecosystem - Learn about transfer partners to maximize the value of your points.
- Time your application - Apply when you can find an elevated Welcome Offer and meet the spending requirements.
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
Can I have both the Amex Platinum and Amex Green card?
Yes, it is possible for eligible card members to hold both the Platinum and Green cards at the same time. This allows you to access the unique set of benefits that each card provides.
Do the Platinum and Green cards earn the same rewards?
Both cards earn points in the American Express Membership Rewards® program. While the type of point is the same, the cards feature different bonus spending categories and earning structures.
Can I upgrade my Green card to a Platinum card?
Upgrading from the Green card to the Platinum card, or downgrading in the other direction, is often possible through targeted offers from American Express. You can check your account for eligibility for a product change.
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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.
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