Quick overview
The American Express® Green Card is a no-fee travel card with a simple yet valuable rewards system—you earn one Membership Rewards® point for every $1 you spend on purchases and redeem them for travel, gift cards, Amazon.ca purchases and more—all without an annual fee.
Despite the no annual fee, Amex still gives you a welcome bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points* when you reach its spending requirements within the first three months (which is valued at around $100 towards shopping or dining out). And when you’re ready to upgrade to an annual fee card, your points easily transfer over.
Who the American Express® Green Card is best suited for
With no annual fee or income requirements, this card is a good option for students or those just starting out with credit. If you can spend around $340 per month within the first three months, you unlock your welcome bonus and introduce Amex’s Membership Rewards® points. You also have access to some early Amex experiences and privileges (think Front Of the Line presales and reserved tickets).
The card is well-suited for those who plan to use it for everyday spending without focusing on specific categories like groceries or travel.
Pros and cons
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
No income requirements (unlike many other no-fee cards)
-
Welcome bonus up to 10,000 points (a $100 value)
-
American Express® Experiences
Cons
-
The card only offers basic extended warranty and purchase protection insurance. No travel insurance or rental car coverage
-
Some places might not accept American Express®. However, most major retailers do (more small businesses are starting to as well)
-
Fewer perks: No specific benefits for travel or dining and no accelerated earning rates on grocery
-
Lower earn rates: The reward earn rates are lower than some other no-fee credit cards
Welcome bonus
- 10,000 Membership Rewards® points* when you spend $1,000 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*
Earn rate
- Earn 1x the points on Card purchases
- 1 additional Membership Rewards® point for every $1 you charge to your card on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel
- 1,000 points = $10 for all eligible purchases.
Amex Green card benefits
- No income requirements or annual fee, but still a valuable welcome bonus.
- Membership Rewards® points transfer 1:1 to several loyalty programs (e.g. Aeroplan, Marriott, Bonvoy).
- Redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, Amazon.ca purchases, or travel.
- With Amex Experiences and its Front Of The Line program, you gain special access to advanced film screenings, food festivals, private shopping experiences and can skip the lineups at certain event venues.
Insurance coverage
- Extended warranty: Up to 1 additional year.
- Purchase protection: Coverage for up to 90 days.
Extras
- The card offers the Plan It™ installment program, allowing cardholders to split large purchases into monthly installments without additional credit checks.
What people have to say about the American Express® Green Card
Around the internet, card users are praising its reward system and lack of an annual fee. One user mentioned that it's an excellent starter card for those new to Amex, while another highlighted its strong earn rate for a no-fee card.
Over on r/churningcanada, a great subreddit about credit card hacking, Redditors commented that the Amex Green card may be the “most versatile no annual fee card in Canada.” This is due to its transfer partners like Aeroplan and Bonvoy.
However, many voiced concerns about Amex’s acceptance rate. They pointed out that if you have no credit or poor credit, you might consider another no annual fee card to build your credit before applying so you don’t hurt your credit score. On the subreddit r/amexcanada, several Redditors suggested starting with a student card from a traditional bank.
How the American Express® Green Card compares
The American Express® Green Card offers a competitive rewards system, especially for a no-fee card. Let’s look at some comparable no-fee cards, student cards and others to help you make a decision.
SimplyCash® Card from American Express
3.5
bonus 5% back
Welcome offerGood
Suggested credit scoreEarn a bonus 5% cash back on purchases in your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases).
Pros
-
No annual fee for primary or additional cardholders
-
Solid regular cash back rate on all eligible purchases - up to 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
-
No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn at the base rate
Cons
-
Cash back is only applied as a statement credit once a year
-
Amex cards aren’t accepted by every merchant
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
2%
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
2%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
1.25%
cash back on all other purchases
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
2%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
2%
cash back on all other purchases
1.25%
21.99%
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR *
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
21.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
No annual fee for primary or additional cardholders
-
Solid regular cash back rate on all eligible purchases - up to 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
-
No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn at the base rate
Cons
-
Cash back is only applied as a statement credit once a year
-
Amex cards aren’t accepted by every merchant
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$0
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$0
2%
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
2%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
1.25%
cash back on all other purchases
cash back on eligible gas station purchases in Canada
2%
cash back on eligible grocery store purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
2%
cash back on all other purchases
1.25%
21.99%
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR *
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
21.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
American Express® Green Card vs. American Express® SimplyCash Card
Both cards have no annual fee, extended warranty and purchase protection. The biggest difference is the SimplyCash card is a cash back card offering 2% cash back on grocery store and gas station purchases, and 1.25% cash back on everything else. The American Express SimplyCash Card also offers up to $100,000 of travel accident insurance and charges no foreign transaction fees.
So, if you’d prefer a cash back card with an average cash back rate and you spend a bit of money in the U.S., consider the SimplyCash card. If you’d rather build up those Membership Rewards® points and their flexible redemption for travel, get the Amex Green Card.
Home Trust Preferred Visa
4.5
Good
Suggested credit scoreNo annual fee and no foreign exchange fees
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
1% cash back on all purchases with no cap
-
No foreign transaction fees
-
Purchase protection included
-
Ideal for frequent travelers and online shoppers
Cons
-
No cash back on transactions in foreign currency
-
Not available to Quebec residents
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$15,000
1%
Earn 1% cash back on all purchases with no cap.
Earn 1% cash back on all purchases with no cap.
1%
21.99%
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
0%
Foreign Transaction Fee no foreign transaction fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
21.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
1% cash back on all purchases with no cap
-
No foreign transaction fees
-
Purchase protection included
-
Ideal for frequent travelers and online shoppers
Cons
-
No cash back on transactions in foreign currency
-
Not available to Quebec residents
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$15,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$15,000
1%
Earn 1% cash back on all purchases with no cap.
Earn 1% cash back on all purchases with no cap.
1%
21.99%
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
$0
Annual Fee No annual fee
0%
Foreign Transaction Fee no foreign transaction fee
Purchase APR
21.99%
Balance Transfer Rate
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
21.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
0%
American Express® Green Card vs. Home Trust Preferred Visa
Neither card charges an annual fee. The Green Card offers Membership Rewards® Points, the Home Trust Preferred Visa provides a straightforward 1% cash back on all eligible purchases.
One significant advantage of the Home Trust card is its no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid pick for those who frequently shop abroad or online with foreign merchants.
On the other hand, the Green Card's strength lies in its flexibility, allowing cardholders to transfer points to various loyalty programs and offering exclusive experiences through the American Express® Experiences program.
Both cards come with extended warranty and purchase protection, but the Green Card's focus on Membership Rewards® points may appeal more to those who value flexible redemption options.
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
4.0
10% back
Welcome offerGood
Suggested credit scoreGet 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in everyday purchases made within 2 months. Pay only 1.95% balance transfer interest for the first 6 months.
Expires
Nov 1, 2024
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Choose the spending categories where you want to earn the most cash back
-
Unlimited cash back—no maximum spending limit for any purchase category
-
Cash back is paid out monthly rather than annually
-
Periodically includes a special welcome offer where you can get extra cash back
-
1.95% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months (1% transfer fee applies)*
Cons
-
Regular cash back rates are still lower than what you can get from a card with an annual fee
-
Limited extra perks or benefits beyond the cash back and balance transfer promotion
-
Generally not a good fit for shopping at warehouse clubs or wholesale grocers like Costco or Walmart
-
Tangerine does not have any physical bank branches
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$12,000
2%
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
3
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
0.5%
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
2%
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
3
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
0.5%
19.95% - 24.95%
Variable APR
1.95%
Balance Transfer Rate 19.95%
19.95%
Cash Advance APR $3.50 within Canada, $5.00 outside Canada
$0
Annual Fee $0 for additional cardholders
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Variable APR
19.95% - 24.95%
Balance Transfer Rate
1.95%
Cash Advance APR
19.95%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Choose the spending categories where you want to earn the most cash back
-
Unlimited cash back—no maximum spending limit for any purchase category
-
Cash back is paid out monthly rather than annually
-
Periodically includes a special welcome offer where you can get extra cash back
-
1.95% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months (1% transfer fee applies)*
Cons
-
Regular cash back rates are still lower than what you can get from a card with an annual fee
-
Limited extra perks or benefits beyond the cash back and balance transfer promotion
-
Generally not a good fit for shopping at warehouse clubs or wholesale grocers like Costco or Walmart
-
Tangerine does not have any physical bank branches
Eligibility
Good
Recommended Credit Score
$12,000
Required Annual Personal Income
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Required Annual Personal Income
$12,000
2%
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
3
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
0.5%
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
Earn 2% cash back on 2 categories of your choice (e.g. groceries, recurring bills, gas, drug stores, etc.)
2%
Get a Tangerine Savings account and add a 3rd 2% cash back category.
3
Earn 0.50% on all your other everyday purchases.
0.5%
19.95% - 24.95%
Variable APR
1.95%
Balance Transfer Rate 19.95%
19.95%
Cash Advance APR $3.50 within Canada, $5.00 outside Canada
$0
Annual Fee $0 for additional cardholders
2.5%
Foreign Transaction Fee
Variable APR
19.95% - 24.95%
Balance Transfer Rate
1.95%
Cash Advance APR
19.95%
Annual Fee
$0
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.5%
American Express® Green Card vs. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Neither card charges an annual fee, so the question is do you want cash back or Membership Rewards® points? The Amex Green Card offers one Membership Rewards® point for each $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases and an additional point for hotel and car rental bookings through the Amex travel portal.
On the other hand, the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card allows cardholders to earn 2% cash back in up to three categories of their choice and 0.5% cash back on all other everyday purchases. This may be appealing if you spend a lot in specific categories like groceries, dining out and refilling your car (or taking Ubers).
Is the American Express® Green Card worth it?
Given its high-value rewards, lack of annual fee and still a decent welcome bonus, the American Express® Green Card is definitely worth considering. However, potential cardholders should be aware of its limited insurance coverage and the acceptance issues associated with American Express® cards.
Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.
American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.
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Tyler Wade has worked in personal finance for over 5 years writing for brands like Ratehub, Forbes, KOHO, and now Money.ca.
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