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Side-by-side

American Express Green Card vs Capital One Venture Rewards

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/yr; the Capital One Venture Rewards from Capital One at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Capital One Venture Rewards is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($518 more in estimated value) than the American Express Green Card's. Get the Capital One Venture Rewards first; revisit the American Express Green Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Green CardCapital One Venture Rewards
Annual fee$150$95
Sign-up bonus40,000 Membership Rewards points75,000 miles
Bonus value (est.)$720$1,238
Min spend to unlock bonus$3,000 in 3 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressCapital One
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Travel)3x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrcapital-one
Headline benefits
  • 3x travel + dining + transit
  • $189 CLEAR credit
  • $100 lounge credit
  • Transferable MR points
  • 2x on everything
  • 18 transfer partners
  • $120 TSA credit
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Capital One Venture Rewards
$95/yr · 75,000 miles

Editorial take: American Express Green Card

Hard to justify vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 with stronger earning. The CLEAR credit is nice but only useful if your airport has CLEAR lines. Most people are better off with Sapphire or Amex Gold.

Editorial take: Capital One Venture Rewards

The simplest travel card in the game. Flat 2x on everything plus transfer partners means you don't have to think, just swipe. Great for people who don't want to chase bonus categories.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Green Card or Capital One Venture Rewards?
The Capital One Venture Rewards has the bigger bonus, 75,000 miles, worth roughly $1,238, versus 40,000 Membership Rewards points (~$720) on the American Express Green Card.
Is the American Express Green Card's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards?
At $150/yr, the American Express Green Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Capital One Venture Rewards's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the American Express Green Card and Capital One Venture Rewards?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Capital One) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Green Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 months. Capital One Venture Rewards: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.