These days, American Express seems to have a credit card for every color of the rainbow.
They’ve got their notorious Black Amex, the Platinum Card, the Clear Card, the Plum Card (it’s a color too), and of course, the classic Green and Gold cards.
Oh, and let’s not forget the company’s range of Blue cards, such as the Blue Cash Everyday Card, or the Blue Sky travel rewards card.
The possibilities seem to be endless, which makes it difficult to narrow down a selection.
Fortunately, I’ve gone through all the features to make it a lot easier to discern which card is better for you, and why.
The American Express Green Card
Let’s start by taking a closer look at the “Green Card,” which for some reason reminds me of the 1980s.
It has certainly been around a long time, largely because it’s the company’s default charge card. That’s right, it’s a charge card, not a credit card.
So you must pay off your balance in full each month, or you’ll be penalized. There is no interest rate (APR) because charge cards aren’t assessed interest.
In other words, you should only select this type of card if you want the security and convenience of a credit card, but have the cash to actually pay off all your purchases each month.
If you’re looking for a revolving credit card, check out the Blue series instead.
Anyway, the Green Card is pretty no frills as most credit cards go. It comes with a $95 annual fee, though it’s waived for the first year.
Additionally, you get a single Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent using the card, which can be redeemed for all types of stuff like gift cards, travel, merchandise, etc.
The points have no expiration date, and there’s no limit to how many you can earn. Pretty basic rewards program here.
The Green Card also comes loaded with a number of insurance features, including baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and travel accident insurance.
It also provides free roadside assistance (if your 50 miles or more from home) and access to a 24/7 “Global Assist Hotline.”
Along with that, Green Card holders get purchase protection, return protection, extended warranty, and easy dispute resolution.
Oh, and you can Sync your American Express card to receive access to all types of deals on Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare.
Sadly, all of these features are generally available on all American Express cards, including those with no annual fee, so nothing really stands out.
The American Express Gold Card
Now let’s look at the “Gold Card,” which is not much different from the Green Card. In fact, the cards are pretty much exactly the same, barring a few details.
For one, the roadside assistance with the Gold Card does NOT have a mileage limit, so you get free access to tows and other services regardless of how close you are to home.
It’s good for those who want to ditch their AAA membership, assuming they were only using it for roadside assistance.
Another feature of the Gold Card is access to the “Exclusive Gold Hotel Collection.” In short, you get a $75 hotel/resort credit and a room upgrade (if available) when you stay two consecutive nights at a Gold Hotel Collection destination.
Hotel brands include Conrad, DoubleTree, Fairmont, Hilton, Loews, MGM, Omi, Radisson, Thompson, Waldorf Astoria, and more. So this is certainly a plus for the occasional (or frequent) traveler.
Another difference is the $125 annual fee, which exceeds the Gold Card fee by $30, and it too is waived for the first year.
Lastly, the Gold Card comes with a discounted membership to Equinox, which is a chichi gym, along with some exclusive benefits like a free training session.
So all in all, the differences are fairly minute, though you could easily make the argument to opt for the Gold Card for an extra $30 annually.
In summary, the American Express Gold Card offers everything the Green Card offers, but also the following:
- Roadside assistance with NO mileage limits
- $75 hotel credit and upgrade at participating hotels
- Equinox gym membership discounts and benefits
- $125 annual fee vs. $95 annual fee
So if you’re weighing the benefits of each, now you know the differences. If you favor roadside assistance and/or hotel benefits, then the Gold Card is the winner here.
Otherwise, the Green Card should be sufficient, and will save you a few dollars each year. Oh, and I suppose gold looks fancier than green, so you’ll impress more people when you whip it out.
If you’re interested in the American Express Gold Card, you can apply here.
