AMEX Green Review 2026: Is the Cheap MR Entry Card Worth It?
Honest AMEX Green review 2026: 10,000 MR bonus, €5/month (free from year 2), 1 MR per euro. Who the cheapest AMEX MR card is worth it for.
Quick answer: The AMEX Green (€5/month, free from year 2 onward at €9,000 annual spend) is the cheapest card with full access to the AMEX Membership Rewards system. 10,000 MR welcome bonus with €2,000 spend in 6 months, 1 MR per euro - the same earn rate and the same 10 airline transfer partners as Gold and Platinum. No free lounge access, no mobility credit. Ideal for anyone who wants a cheap and flexible way into MR.
Want to get into the AMEX Membership Rewards system but not pay €240 for the Gold right away? Then the AMEX Green is worth a look. It’s the cheapest real MR card - and from the second year, under certain conditions, even completely free.
In this review I’ll show you what you get for €5 a month, why the earn rate is identical to the expensive Platinum - and who the Green is actually the smart choice for.
AMEX Green at a glance
Here are the key facts about the AMEX Green Personal:
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Card fee | €5/month (€60/year) |
| From year 2 | free at €9,000 annual spend in the previous year |
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 MR points |
| Spend requirement | €2,000 in 6 months |
| Points earning | 1 MR per euro |
| Transfer partners | 10 airlines + hotels (full MR system) |
| Priority Pass | Only at special rates (no free access) |
| Mobility credit | No |
| Hotel status | No |
| Travel insurance | Yes (basic) |
| Supplementary card | 1 included |
| Material | Recycled Plastic |
Important: The Green is the entry card in the AMEX portfolio. If you want a bigger welcome bonus and credits, take a look at the AMEX Gold Personal* (€240, 50,000 MR, €290 mobility credit) or the AMEX Platinum Personal* (€720, 85,000 MR, lounge access). The crucial point: all three earn the same Membership Rewards points with the same transfer partners.
AMEX Green costs: €5 a month - even free from year 2
The Green costs €5 per month, so €60 a year. That’s the lowest price for a full-fledged MR card. But the real trick is in the fine print:
From the second year, the Green is free - provided you made at least €9,000 in card spend in the previous year (that’s €750 a month).
If the Green is your main card for everyday spending, you’ll easily hit the €9,000. Then you have a permanently free credit card with full MR access - and you won’t find that anywhere else.
The math in the first year
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus (10,000 MR) | ~€100-200 (with transfer redemption) |
| Travel insurance | ~€30-50 |
| Total (year 1) | ~€130-250 |
| Minus annual fee | ~€70-190 profit |
Even in the first year the math is positive. And from the second year - when the fee drops away - you’re earning points basically for free.
The welcome bonus: 10,000 MR points
You get 10,000 Membership Rewards points with €2,000 spend in the first 6 months. That’s a moderate but realistic entry bonus - and above all: these are real MR points with full transfer flexibility.
| Redemption option | Value |
|---|---|
| Transfer to British Airways (Avios) | 8,000 Avios = building block for short-haul Europe |
| Transfer to Flying Blue | 8,000 miles = toward a Europe award flight |
| Transfer to Hilton Honors | 10,000 Hilton points = building block for a hotel night |
| Pay with points | ~€40 |
10,000 MR isn’t enough yet for a complete long-haul flight - but as a foundation, combined with your ongoing everyday points, it’s a solid start. All redemption options in detail: Redeeming AMEX points: The complete guide
How to hit the €2,000 spend requirement
€2,000 in 6 months is very relaxed - that’s just ~€333 per month:
- Supermarket & drugstore: EDEKA, dm, Rossmann
- Fuel: Aral, Shell
- Online shopping: Amazon, Zalando, Otto
- Recurring expenses: insurance, streaming, mobile phone
Tip: Check AMEX acceptance at your most important merchants first. Online it’s available almost everywhere.
Pro tip: How to pay rent, insurance and all other recurring expenses by credit card and earn thousands of points per year, we show you in the Premium Handbook.
Earning points in everyday life
The AMEX Green earns 1 MR point per euro - exactly the same rate as the Gold and the Platinum. That’s the crucial point: when it comes to pure everyday earning, the cheapest MR card is just as strong as the most expensive.
| Monthly spending | MR per year | Value (Business Class) |
|---|---|---|
| €500 | 6,000 MR | ~€60-120 |
| €750 | 9,000 MR | ~€90-180 |
| €1,000 | 12,000 MR | ~€120-240 |
| €1,500 | 18,000 MR | ~€180-360 |
At €750 spending per month you not only reach 9,000 MR per year, but also the spend threshold for the free following-year fee. More on the topic: Earning miles without flying: The ultimate guide
[TIP] With the optional AMEX Punkteturbo (€15/year) you earn 1.5 MR per euro instead of 1 MR - on all AMEX cards, including the Green. Details: Activating the AMEX Punkteturbo
What the AMEX Green does NOT have
To keep the comparison honest - these are the limits of the entry card:
- No free lounge access. The Green offers the Priority Pass only at special rates (paid), no free access. If you want lounges, you need the AMEX Platinum*. Everything on the topic: The complete lounge guide 2026
- No mobility credit. The €290/year for SIXT and FREENOW only comes with the AMEX Gold* and up.
- No hotel status. Neither GHA DISCOVERY (Gold) nor Marriott/Hilton/Radisson (Platinum).
- Smaller welcome bonus. 10,000 MR instead of 50,000 (Gold) or 85,000 (Platinum).
AMEX Green vs. Gold vs. PAYBACK AMEX
The most important question: Green, Gold, or rather the free PAYBACK AMEX?
| Feature | AMEX Green (€60/year) | AMEX Gold (€240/year) | PAYBACK AMEX (€0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 MR | 50,000 MR | 4,000 PAYBACK points |
| Points per euro | 1 MR | 1 MR | 1 point/€3 |
| Transfer partners | 10 airlines + hotels | 10 airlines + hotels | Only Miles & More |
| Mobility credit | No | €290/year | No |
| Travel insurance | Yes (basic) | Yes | No |
| Free from year 2 | Yes (at €9,000 spend) | No | Always free |
The takeaway:
- The Green is the bridge between the free PAYBACK AMEX and the expensive Gold: triple the earn rate compared to PAYBACK (1 MR/€ instead of 1 point/€3) and full MR flexibility with 10 airline partners - for minimal cost.
- The Gold* is worth it if the 5x bigger welcome bonus (50,000 MR) and the mobility credit (€290/year) appeal to you - then you’ll easily recoup the €240.
- The PAYBACK AMEX* is permanently free but earns more slowly and only for Miles & More.
All cards at a glance: Credit cards with a welcome bonus 2026
Downsides of the AMEX Green
No review would be honest without the downsides:
1. Limited AMEX acceptance
The same issue as with all AMEX cards: not every merchant accepts AMEX. Online it’s hardly a problem, but at smaller shops it can get tight. A Visa/Mastercard as a backup is a must.
2. Small welcome bonus
10,000 MR is a nice start, but no big leap. If you want the maximum bonus, you’re much better served with Gold or Platinum.
3. Few extras
No lounges, no mobility credit, no hotel status. The Green is a pure earning card - but cheap for that.
4. Charge card
Like all AMEX cards, the Green is a charge card: the full balance is debited at the end of the month. No installment payments possible.
Who is the AMEX Green worth it for?
Yes, the card is worth it for you if:
- You want to get into the AMEX MR system cheaply
- You’re looking for a card for all everyday spending (1 MR per euro)
- You reach the €9,000 annual spend and want to earn for free from year 2
- You want the MR flexibility (10 airline partners) but don’t need a lounge package
- You want to test first and can upgrade to Gold/Platinum later
No, the card is NOT worth it if:
- You want the maximum welcome bonus (then Gold with 50,000 MR or Platinum with 85,000 MR)
- You need lounge access (then Platinum)
- You’d use the mobility credit (SIXT, FREENOW) (then Gold)
- You really want zero fee and slow earning is okay (then the free PAYBACK AMEX)
My experience: When I recommend the Green
The Green is the card I recommend to everyone who wants to get to know the AMEX system without committing to the €240 Gold. What makes it strong:
1. Same earn rate as the expensive cards: 1 MR per euro - identical to the Platinum. If you’re just earning, you give up nothing with the Green.
2. Free from year 2: If the Green is your main card and you spend over €9,000 a year on it, the fee drops away. A permanently free MR card is a strong argument.
3. Full transfer access: The same 10 airline partners as Gold and Platinum. So the Green is not a “stripped-down” MR card, just a cheaper one.
4. Clean upgrade path: If you find there’s more to get, you can switch to Gold or Platinum at any time - keeping your card number and points.
My verdict: The Green is the smart choice for budget-conscious beginners and for anyone who simply wants to earn MR cheaply. You grab the big bonus with Gold or Platinum - but for low cost with full flexibility, the Green is unbeatable.
How to apply for the AMEX Green
The application process takes about 10 minutes:
- Apply online - fill out the form
- Verify your identity - via Video-Ident or PostIdent
- Receive the card - by mail in 5-7 business days
- Earn points - from the very first euro
[TIP] How many points does the Green earn you? Our earn calculator calculates, based on your monthly spending, how many miles and points you earn per year.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the AMEX Green worth it?
Yes, especially for budget-conscious beginners. For €5 a month you get full access to the Membership Rewards system with 1 MR per euro and 10 airline transfer partners - the same earn rate as the Platinum. From the second year the card is even free at €9,000 annual spend.
What does the AMEX Green cost?
The AMEX Green costs €5 per month (€60/year). From the second year the fee drops away if you made at least €9,000 in card spend in the previous year.
How much welcome bonus does the AMEX Green give?
You receive 10,000 MR points with €2,000 spend in the first 6 months. That’s a moderate entry bonus with full transfer flexibility.
AMEX Green or Gold - which is better?
The Green (€60) is cheaper and earns just as fast at 1 MR per euro as the Gold. But the Gold* (€240) offers a 5x bigger welcome bonus (50,000 instead of 10,000 MR) and €290 mobility credit. If you use the big bonus and the credits, you’re better off with the Gold; if you just want to earn cheaply, with the Green.
Does the AMEX Green have a Priority Pass?
The AMEX Green offers the Priority Pass only at special rates (paid), no free lounge access. Free access to lounges only comes with the AMEX Platinum*.
Is the AMEX Green really free from the second year?
Yes, provided you reached at least €9,000 in card spend in the previous year (about €750 a month). Then American Express waives the monthly fees in the following year.
Can I upgrade from the AMEX Green to Gold or Platinum?
Yes, an upgrade is possible at any time. You keep your card number and earned points. The welcome bonus of the higher card is usually not given with an upgrade - for that, a separate new application makes more sense.
Do AMEX Green points expire?
No, AMEX Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as your card account is active. If you cancel, you have to transfer the points to a transfer partner first, otherwise they’re lost.
Conclusion: AMEX Green - The cheapest way into the points world
The AMEX Green is the most affordable card with full Membership Rewards access. For €5 a month - free from the second year under certain conditions - you earn 1 MR per euro and have access to the same 10 airline transfer partners as Gold and Platinum.
It has no big welcome bonus and no lounges - but for budget-conscious beginners and anyone who simply wants to earn cheaply and flexibly, it’s the right card. And if you want more later, you can upgrade at any time.
My tip: If the welcome bonus appeals to you, compare the Green with the AMEX Gold* first - 50,000 instead of 10,000 MR can make the difference.
Further articles:
- AMEX Gold Review 2026 - The next bigger MR card
- Redeeming AMEX points: Transfer partners & value - How to get the most out of it
- Which AMEX card suits me? - The decision guide
Want to know how to optimally combine the AMEX Green with a Miles & More card and the PAYBACK AMEX? In the Premium Handbook you’ll find the complete card setup guide and the 6-month master plan for over 500,000 points.
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MEILENKÖNIG
Expert for miles, points, and credit card strategies. Helps travelers fly business & first class for a fraction of the price.