American Express® Green Card vs American Express® Aeroplan®* Card: Which one is better?


American Express® Green Card

American Express® Green Card

3.8

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

3.3

More Details

RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE*

300
Poor
560
Fair
660
Good
725
Very Good
760
Excellent

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$457.03

American Express Membership Rewards


Welcome Bonus

$210

American Express Membership Rewards


Annual Fee

$0


First Year Value

$667.03

$457.03 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Rewards Breakdown

Annual Rewards

$506.17

Air Canada Aeroplan


Welcome Bonus

$630

Air Canada Aeroplan


Annual Fee

$120


First Year Value

$1,016.17

$386.17 in years after

Based on $2,000/mo average spending. Calculate your rewards.

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

Insurance Included*

  • purchase protection

    Purchase Protection

    90 days
  • extended warranty

    Extended Warranty

    Up to a year

  • hourglass timer

    Flight Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Baggage Delay)
  • baggage on roller

    Baggage Delay

    $500 (Aggregated with Flight Delay)
  • burglar

    Hotel Burglary Insurance

    $500
  • heart lock

    Travel Accident

    $500K
  • car insurance

    Car Rental Damage & Theft

    $85K, up to 48 days

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

Extra Benefits*

  • Amex logo

    American Express Experiences

  • reward cup

    Extra points

    2 points on Amex Travel Online purchases

  • baggage

    Free first checked bag

    You and up to 8 companions every time you fly with Air Canada
  • star fall

    Status lift

    Reach Aeroplan Elite™ Status sooner by earning Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments with purchases made on your account
  • bed furniture

    Free Extra Night at Hotels

    Receive an extra night free for every 3 hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

21.99%1

Cash Advance:

21.99%1

Interest Rates*

Purchase:

30% Annual2

Cash Advance:

30% Annual2

Annual Fee*

$0

Annual Fee*

$120

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Income Required*

Min Personal Income:

N/A

Min Household Income:

N/A

Welcome Bonus*

Earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months.

Welcome Bonus*

Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 on your Card within the first 3 months. Additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in month 13.

Rewards Rate*

  • 1x point per $1 spent on all purchases

Rewards Rate*

  • 2 points on Aircanada and AirCanada Vacations
  • 1.5 points on Dining
  • 1 Point on everything else

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point

  • travel

    Fixed Point Travel Program

    1.66¢ / point
  • hotel

    Transfer to Hotel Partners

    1.66¢ / point
  • cash coins

    Statement Credits

    1¢ / point
  • amazon logo

    Amazon.ca

    0.7¢ / point
  • online shop

    Merchandise

    0.63¢ / point

Point Redemption Options*

  • Most Optimal

    plane

    Transfer to Airline Partners

    2.1¢ / point
  • gift card

    Gift Cards

    0.765¢ / point

  • baggage on roller

    Travel

    0.825¢ / point

Is this card worth it?

The American Express® Green Card is a great option for those looking for a no-frills card that earns rewards on all purchases without any annual fee or minimum income requirement. It's an accessible card with no cap on rewards, making it ideal for those who want to earn points without the higher costs and complexities of premium cards. However, it does come with lower rewards earnings across most categories and a modest welcome bonus.

Is this card worth it?

This card comes with the free checked bag benefit, which can save hundreds on a single trip for you and your family, more than making up for the annual fee of the card. In addition, the card helps you reach the next Aeroplan Status faster with spending on the card. However, if you don't have a specific use for these two benefits, there are many better cards in terms of benefits and rewards.

Pros

  • No Spending Limits: Earn unlimited rewards with no caps.
  • Flexible Redemption: Transfer points to other loyalty programs for maximum value.
  • VIP Perks: Access a variety of exclusive benefits through American Express Experiences.
  • Eco-Friendly: The card is made from 99% recycled plastic.

Pros

  • Free checked bag benefit: Every checked bag might cost you $60 - $100 per person on a round trip. The amount you can save in a year if you travel a few times or travel with a few companions can easily be much higher than the annual fee of the card.
    If you are interested in a higher Aeroplan Status, the card helps you get there faster.

Cons

  • Lower Reward Rates: Earn rates are lower compared to other no-fee cards.
  • Limited Travel Perks: Lacks some of the travel benefits and insurance options provided by other cards.

Cons

  • The main reward category is only for Air Canada purchases. Unless you are a frequent Air Canada traveler, this reward category is not useful to most people.
  • The only other rewards category offered is for food, and it doesn't offer that high of a reward rate either.
  • In terms of insurance benefits, the types and coverage amounts provided are lower compared to other cards with a similar annual fee.

Legal


*American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. 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. Check for full details and current product information.
1 If you have 2 separate missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate missed payments, the applicable rates will be 28.99%.
2 As a Charge Card, the balance must always be paid in full each month. 30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full. Payments must be received and processed by the date of the next monthly statement to avoid interest charges.

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