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.
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Side-by-side
American Express Green Card vs United Club Business Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/yr; the United Club Business Card from Chase at $695/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the United Club Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($780 more in estimated value) than the American Express Green Card's. Get the United Club Business Card first; revisit the American Express Green Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Green Card | United Club Business Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $695 |
| Sign-up bonus | 40,000 Membership Rewards points | 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP |
| Bonus value (est.) | $720 | $1,500 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $5,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Chase |
| Card category | travel | business |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
United Club Business Card
$695/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Editorial take: United Club Business Card
Pure United Club access card. Cash equivalent of the lounge membership is $750+/year, so the $695 fee makes sense if you're at United hubs frequently. The 1.5x base earning is the highest catch-all rate among premium business cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Green Card or United Club Business Card?
- The United Club Business Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500, 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 United Club Business Card?
- 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 United Club Business Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Green Card and United Club Business Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) 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 United Club Business Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 months. United Club Business Card: $5,000 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.