Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the American Express Green Card ($150/yr) and the Discover it Cash Back (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Amex Green Card needs about $625 a month in dining, flights, hotels or other travel, counting that spending alone, to make up its $150 higher annual fee over Discover it Cash Back. Below that, Discover it Cash Back comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in travel at 3%. 3X on travel, transit, and dining worldwide.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | American Express Green Card | Discover it Cash Back |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 40,000 points after $3,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Travel Rewards | 3% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 3% | 1% |
| Key Benefits | 3X on travel, transit, and dining worldwide. | 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else. Cashback Match doubles all cash back in first year. |
American Express Green Card pulls ahead for travel, dining spending.
The $150/year fee difference means American Express Green Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
American Express Green Card carries $209/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.