AMEX Green vs Gold vs Platinum US: Which Tier Fits Whom? (2026)

Quick answer: The three AMEX MR tiers in the US — Green ($150/year), Gold ($325), Platinum ($895) — serve three different collector profiles. Green: Until July 2026 the classic Global Transfer entry card for Germans, low welcome bonus (typ. 40,000 MR), 3x on travel + dining, no lounge access, no FX surcharge — but closed to new applications since 23 July 2026 (existing cardholders: “Classic Green”). Gold: Best dining champion with 4x dining worldwide + 4x US supermarkets (up to $25k/year), welcome bonus up to 100,000 MR (targeted), $120 Uber + $120 Dining + $100 Resy Credits, no lounge access. Platinum: Premium all-rounder with welcome up to 175,000 MR, Centurion Lounge + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club, $200 Airline + $200 Uber Cash + $600 Hotel + $400 Resy + $300 Digital Entertainment + $300 lululemon Credits plus Walmart+/CLEAR+/Equinox/Oura. Recommendation: GT entry today via the Hilton Honors AMEX ($0) or straight to the Gold, Gold as the dining power collector, Platinum as the premium traveler. Maximizer: Gold + Platinum in parallel — all points land in the same MR account.

Update September 2026 — the AMEX Green US is closed: Since 23 July 2026, American Express in the US no longer accepts new applications for the Green Card. Existing cardholders keep the card, which has been called “Classic Green” since 20 August 2026 (a pure rebranding, conditions unchanged). A successor product has been announced but is not yet official — rumors point to an annual fee of $195 to $250. For German applicants this means: the Global Transfer entry currently runs through the Hilton Honors AMEX ($0 annual fee) or straight through the Gold. As soon as the Green successor is official, we will update this article.

AMEX in the US has three MR tiers: Green, Gold, Platinum. Which fits whom? Is the Platinum always better? Are the lower tiers even worth it — and what do you do now that the Green is gone for new customers?

This article is the head-to-head comparison with verified values as of September 2026.

Disclaimer: As of September 2026, source: americanexpress.com/us. Conditions change, check before applying. Annual fees and credits cross-checked on americanexpress.com/us on 5 September 2026; welcome bonuses are not displayed from an EU session and come from the July check.

The Table: AMEX Green vs Gold vs Platinum US

Property	AMEX Green US (existing cardholders only)	AMEX Gold US	AMEX Platinum US
Annual fee	$150	$325	$895
New applications	❌ Closed since 23 July 2026	✅	✅
Welcome bonus	typ. 40,000 MR / $3,000 in 6M (historical)	up to 100,000 MR (varies) / $8,000 in 6M	up to 175,000 MR (varies) / $12,000 in 6M
MR earn rate	3x travel + dining worldwide	4x dining + 4x US supermarkets (up to $25k/year)	5x flights & hotels (via AMEX Travel), 1x otherwise
Credits	$189 CLEAR	$120 Uber + $120 Dining + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin	$200 Airline + $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One + $600 Hotel (FHR/THC) + $400 Resy + $300 Digital Entertainment + $300 lululemon + $219 CLEAR+
Lounge access	❌ None	❌ None	✅ Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club (with Delta ticket)
Hotel status	❌ None	❌ None	Marriott Bonvoy Gold + Hilton Honors Gold
Mobility credit	(commuter benefit limited)	$120 Uber Cash	$200 Uber Cash
0% FX fee	✅	✅	✅
Travel insurance	basic	good	comprehensive
Charge or credit?	Charge Card (Pay-in-Full)	Charge Card	Charge Card
Welcome bonus value	$400-1,600	$600-4,000	$800-7,000+

Which Card for What? — Profiles

Profile 1: The GT Sprinter (First US Card as a German)

Recommendation until July 2026: AMEX Green US ($150). Recommendation since August 2026: the Hilton Honors AMEX ($0) as a no-fee entry — or straight to the AMEX Gold US ($325) if you have dining and supermarket spend anyway.

• For years, the Green was the typical entry card for Global Transfer (German AMEX → US AMEX): lowest fee, 3x on travel + dining, 0% FX
• Since the application freeze, the Hilton Honors AMEX fills the same role: $0 annual fee, earns Hilton points instead of MR, but builds a US credit file just the same and is accessible via GT
• If you want to earn MR from day one, start directly with the Gold — the higher fee is largely offset by $240 in credits
• No lounge access needed (you already have Priority Pass via DE Plat)

Who you are: You have a German AMEX (e.g. DE Platinum), want a first US card via GT, and use it primarily as a credit-history springboard, not for welcome-bonus stacking. Low fee = low risk.

More on this: US Credit Cards for Germans 2026 — Sprint vs Stack vs Empire

Profile 2: The Dining Collector

Recommendation: AMEX Gold US ($325)

• 4x dining worldwide is the highest earn rate for dining spend among US MR cards
• 4x US supermarkets (up to $25,000/year) → anyone spending $25k annually at US supermarkets pulls 100,000 MR per year from groceries alone
• $120 Uber + $120 Dining + $100 Resy Credit = $340 back (more than the $325 fee)
• Welcome bonus up to 100,000 MR (targeted) at just $8,000 spend

Who you are: You live in the US or visit regularly (real-world travel value of dining/groceries > $20,000/year). Paying restaurant bills with the Gold = a passive earning machine.

Spend example: $1,500/month dining + $1,000/month US groceries × 12 months = $30,000 → at 4x = 120,000 MR/year.

Profile 3: The Premium Traveler / Maximizer

Recommendation: AMEX Platinum US ($895)

• Highest welcome bonus of all US AMEX cards (175,000 MR targeted)
• Centurion Lounges + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
• According to AMEX over $3,500 in credits/year (hotel, Resy, Uber, Digital Entertainment, lululemon, CLEAR+, Walmart+, Equinox, Oura) — realistically usable for DE residents is usually $600-1,200
• Hotel status (Marriott Gold + Hilton Gold)

Who you are: Frequent traveler with US ties. You want lounges, hotel status, premium travel insurance. You fly premium-cabin long-haul and collect welcome bonuses for Avianca/ANA awards.

More on this: AMEX Platinum US vs DE

Profile 4: The Maximizer (Gold + Platinum)

For new customers, two MR tiers remain that can be held in parallel:

Card	Main purpose	Welcome bonus
Gold ($325)	Dining + US groceries (4x)	100,000 MR (targeted)
Platinum ($895)	AMEX Travel (5x) + lounges + status	175,000 MR (targeted)
Total fees		$1,220/year
Total welcome		275,000 MR
Total earn rates		dynamic per spend

275,000 MR is worth roughly $2,750 (Travel Portal) to over $30,000 (Avianca transfer for Lufthansa First Class) depending on redemption — the combined welcome bonuses pay back the fees several times over. Anyone who still holds the Green from before July 2026 simply keeps its 3x categories as a third pillar.

The Most Common Questions About the Tier Decision

Which card has the best welcome-bonus-per-spend ratio?

AMEX Gold US with 100,000 MR (targeted) at just $8,000 spend = 12.5 MR per dollar of welcome bonus. Platinum: 175k at $12k = 14.6 MR/$. The Green historically sat at 40k for $3k = 13.3 MR/$. Gold is usually the card with the best balance of fee and bonus.

How do I start Global Transfer without the Green?

Until July 2026 the GT path typically started with the Green. Today AMEX essentially offers Hilton Honors ($0), Gold and Platinum via GT. For a pure credit-history springboard the Hilton Honors is enough; anyone who wants the Gold welcome (100k) applies for the Gold directly. A later upgrade within the MR family is possible after 6-12 months, but does not bring a new welcome bonus.

Do the earn rates overlap with multiple AMEX cards?

Yes, all MR from Green/Gold/Platinum land in the same MR account. Which card you use determines the multiplier (1x-5x), but the pot is shared.

Who benefits more from the $325 Gold fee than from the $150 Green?

For new customers the question no longer arises — but for existing Classic Green holders: anyone who spends more than $5,000/year on dining or US groceries. 4x on Gold = 20,000 MR/$5k. 3x on Green = 15,000 MR. Difference: 5,000 MR/year = ~$50-100 value. Plus $340 credit value (Uber + Dining + Resy) = $390-440 benefit → beats the $175 fee difference.

Is the Classic Green still worth keeping for existing cardholders?

Yes, as a keeper card. If you have it, don’t cancel it hastily: it is one of the oldest accounts in your US credit file (important for account age in the FICO score), and the CLEAR credit of $189/year more than covers the $150 fee. For new customers the question is moot — the card is closed.

Which card is best for welcome-bonus stacking?

Platinum first, Gold second (6 months later). As of September 2026, both cards have separate welcome bonuses — you can grab both within a year. Whether the announced Green successor will get its own bonus is still open.

What about AMEX Business Platinum US and Business Gold US?

The business counterparts often have even higher welcome bonuses (Business Platinum up to 300,000 MR at $20,000 spend in 3 months, Business Gold up to 200,000 MR) and don’t count toward 5/24 (relevant for Chase). Requirement: US LLC with EIN. For the self-employed with a US setup, the Business Stack is the better path.

Which card has the longest welcome-bonus deadline?

Gold and Platinum have 6 months to meet the spend (as of September 2026). That’s the longest deadline in the US AMEX lineup — the business cards only give 3 months.

Comparison: Cents per Point by Tier

Welcome bonus	Card	$ value via Travel Portal (1 cent/MR)	$ value via Avianca transfer LH First (12-15 cents/MR)
40,000 MR (Green, historical)	Green	$400	$4,800-6,000
100,000 MR (Gold targeted)	Gold	$1,000	$12,000-15,000
175,000 MR (Plat targeted)	Plat	$1,750	$21,000-26,250

→ Even a small welcome bonus can deliver $6,000+ in value with optimal redemption — Gold and Platinum correspondingly more.

More on this: 175k MR Welcome Bonus: 5 Dream Trips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a “Charge Card”?

AMEX MR cards (Green, Gold, Platinum) are charge cards — you have to pay the balance in full every month (no revolving credit). That’s different from US Visa/MasterCard (credit cards with APR). Advantage: no interest risk. Downside: you don’t build any credit utilization (important for the FICO score).

Which cards are in “AMEX Refresh” mode?

Green and Gold were refreshed in 2024-2025 (higher fees + new credits). The Green was closed to new applications in July 2026 and renamed “Classic Green” in August — the announced successor is the next refresh candidate. Platinum got its refresh in September 2025: $895 annual fee and new credits for hotels ($600), Resy ($400), Digital Entertainment ($300), lululemon ($300) and Oura ($200).

Who benefits from the Platinum’s Walmart+ credit?

Walmart+ is US-only. Anyone who lives in the US or regularly makes Walmart orders pulls $155/year in value. For DE-resident cardholders it’s usually $0 value.

Are the Platinum US lounge benefits worth the fee?

It depends. Centurion Lounges are premium-league, but the DE Platinum has the same access (see AMEX Plat US vs DE). For frequent fliers through the US: Yes, clearly. For DE-resident travelers: a marginal benefit.

Who has the highest earn rate at US restaurants?

AMEX Gold US with 4x dining worldwide (not just the US). Plat US is 1x otherwise, Reserve gives 3x dining. Gold is the dining specialist.

Is the Punkteturbo worth it on US cards?

US AMEX has no Punkteturbo (only DE AMEX has that). Earn rates in the US are higher by default (4x dining vs 1x in DE), so there’s no need.

Which card is the most expensive per effective net cost?

Card	Fee	Credits used	Effective cost
Green (existing cardholders)	$150	$189 (CLEAR)	-$39 (Plus!)
Gold	$325	$424 ($120 Uber + $120 Dining + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin)	-$99 (Plus!)
Platinum	$895	$600-3,500 depending on use	$295 to well into the plus

With full credit usage, any of the three cards can effectively be free or in the plus.

Conclusion: Three Cards, Two of Them Still Open

There is no “best” AMEX MR card in the US — there is only the best for your profile:

• Green ($150): Was the GT entry card until July 2026 — closed to new customers, a good keeper card for existing holders as Classic Green
• Gold ($325): Dining + US groceries champion with a 4x earn rate — and today the direct MR entry
• Platinum ($895): Premium all-rounder with lounge + status + massive welcome bonus
• Gold + Platinum: Maximizer stack with 275,000 MR welcome bonus + dynamic earn rates

Recommended order for German collectors (as of September 2026):

1. GT sprint phase: Hilton Honors AMEX ($0) as a credit-history springboard — or straight to the Gold if you want MR from day one
2. Stack phase: AMEX Gold US (after the ITIN application, stack the 100k welcome bonus)
3. Empire phase: AMEX Platinum US (after 6 months, biggest welcome bonus + premium benefits)

Anyone who runs through all phases grabs 275,000+ MR in 12-24 months — more than two Avianca → Lufthansa First Class one-ways with a balance to spare.

Further reading:

• US Credit Cards for Germans 2026 — card overview
• AMEX Platinum US vs DE — DE card better or worse?
• AMEX MR US vs DE Transfer Partners — 1:1 sweet spots
• 175k MR Welcome Bonus: 5 Dream Trips — what’s possible

---

You don’t just want to know which AMEX tier fits you — you actually want to hold a US AMEX in your hand as a German? The Sprint path (first card via GT, €197), Stack path (Gold/Platinum via ITIN, €347), and Empire path (Business via LLC, €597) of the MEILENKÖNIG US Cards Handbooks explain each tier path individually — including the current card choice after the Green freeze.