Quick Answer
The short version
If you landed here looking for the “Amex Green”: the Green Card no longer exists in Germany. American Express pulled it from the lineup, and in its place sits the plainly named American Express Card, for €5 a month, with Membership Rewards included and a trick the Green never had: from year two it costs €0 if you spent at least €9,000 on it the year before. We used to advise against the Green on this page because it got squeezed between the free PAYBACK and the better-value Gold. With the successor, that verdict flips: the American Express Card is, for most non-premium point collectors, the smarter card in 2026, especially now that the Gold costs €240. Here’s the honest breakdown with the numbers verified August 18, 2026, straight from Amex’s own product page.
What changed in 2026: from the Green Card to the American Express Card
The old Amex Green Card was the “card in between”: a modest annual fee, real Membership Rewards points, few extras. It’s no longer sold in Germany; anyone applying today for an Amex with points below the Gold gets the American Express Card instead. The key difference from the Green is the spend rule: €9,000 in annual spend is enough to make the card fee disappear from year two, and for many households that run groceries, gas, travel and online shopping (though not rent) through the card, that’s achievable.
How much does the American Express Card cost and what do you get?
As of August 18, 2026, sourced from the American Express Card product page on American Express Germany.
| Benefit | American Express Card 2026 |
|---|---|
| Card fee | €5/month = €60/year, billed monthly |
| From year two | €0, if you spent at least €9,000 on the card the year before; otherwise still €60 |
| Points | 1 Membership Rewards point per €1 spent, program included |
| Welcome credit | €40 after €2,000 spent in the first 6 months |
| Supplementary card | 1 included |
| Purchase protection | 90-day return policy |
| Payments | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amex Offers |
| Credits (SIXT, FREENOW, travel, dining) | None |
| Lounge access, hotel status | None |
| Travel insurance | None |
| Foreign currency | 2% foreign transaction fee |
| ATM cash | 4%, minimum €5 |
| Referral program | Not offered; apply through the official product page |
Is the American Express Card worth it? The honest math
The math here is as short as it gets for any of these cards:
- Year 1: €60 in fees, against a €40 welcome credit after €2,000 spent. Net €20 for a year of Membership Rewards.
- From year two with €9,000+ spend: €0. You earn 1 point per euro on everything and pay nothing for it. At €9,000 in spend, that’s 9,000 points a year, worth around €45 through Amex Travel, more via a good airline transfer, for a zero fee.
- From year two under €9,000 spend: €60 a year for points. At €6,000 in spend you’d earn 6,000 points (worth around €30), but you’re still paying €60. At that point the free PAYBACK American Express, earning 1 PAYBACK point per €3, is the better free card.
The rule of thumb: if you regularly run €750 or more a month through the card, the American Express Card is the cheapest route to genuine Membership Rewards points in Germany. Run less than that, and take the PAYBACK instead.
American Express Card vs Gold vs Blue vs PAYBACK
| American Express Card | Gold | Blue | PAYBACK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | €60/year, €0 from year 2 at €9,000 spend | €240/year | €0 | €0 |
| Membership Rewards | Included, 1 point/€ | Included, 1 point/€ | Only with a €30/year add-on | No, 1 PAYBACK point per €3 |
| Credits | None | Up to ~€430 (SIXT+, SIXT rent, FREENOW, Lodenfrey) | None | None |
| Insurance | None | Family travel insurance | Travel accident insurance | None |
| Welcome offer | €40 welcome credit | Up to €200 statement credit or up to 50,000 points via referral | €25 welcome credit | Up to 3,000 Extra points |
| Best for | Point collectors spending €750+/month | Car, taxi and rental-car users | Plain Amex acceptance with no fee | Occasional travelers, PAYBACK customers |
Short version: want free, take the PAYBACK. Want points and you use SIXT and FREENOW, take the Gold. Want Membership Rewards as cheaply as possible, the American Express Card is the right card. The Blue only pays off without points; the moment you’d pay its €30 add-on, the American Express Card at €60 (later €0) is the better package.
The honest tradeoffs
- €60 a year, free from year two at €9,000 spend
- Membership Rewards included, 1 point per euro like the Gold and Platinum
- €40 welcome credit, 1 supplementary card, 90-day return policy
- Low risk: no €240 or €720 fee you first have to earn back
- No credits, no lounges, no hotel status, no travel insurance
- Under €9,000 annual spend it stays at €60, then the PAYBACK is cheaper
- No referral bonus, just Amex's own €40 welcome credit
- 2% foreign transaction fee and acceptance gaps, needs a backup card
Like every German Amex, the card charges a 2% foreign transaction fee on non-euro purchases and 4% (minimum €5) for ATM cash, and plenty of small shops only take girocard, Visa or Mastercard. Carry a no-fee Revolut card for those; see how Amex and Revolut work together in Amex vs Revolut.
Who should get the American Express Card (and who shouldn’t)
Get the American Express Card if you want real Membership Rewards points on everyday spend, run around €750 a month or more through the card, and don’t need lounges or mobility credits. Skip it if you’d rather pay nothing and spend little (PAYBACK), you regularly use SIXT+, FREENOW or rental cars (Gold), or you fly ten times a year (Platinum). The full Amex Germany comparison lines up all five cards side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Green Card still available?
No. The Amex Green Card is no longer offered in Germany (as of August 2026). Its slot is taken by the American Express Card: €5 a month (€60 a year), Membership Rewards included, 1 point per euro, one supplementary card free, and the fee drops to €0 from year two once you spend at least €9,000 in a year. Only the American Express Card can be newly applied for today.
Is the American Express Card worth it?
Yes, for anyone who wants real Membership Rewards points on everyday spend without needing lounges or credits. The American Express Card costs €60 a year and drops to €0 from year two if you spent at least €9,000 (€750 a month) on it the year before. It earns the same points as the Gold at €240 and the Platinum at €720. If you want zero fee at all, take the free PAYBACK American Express; if you’ll use SIXT, FREENOW and Lodenfrey credits, take the Gold.
How much is the American Express Card’s annual fee?
€5 a month, so €60 a year, billed monthly. The card fee drops to zero entirely from year two if you spent at least €9,000 on the card the year before; below that, you keep paying €60. Membership Rewards is included at no extra cost, unlike the Blue Card, where the program costs €30 a year extra.
American Express Card vs Gold: which is better?
The American Express Card costs €60 a year (€0 from year two at €9,000 spend) and earns 1 Membership Rewards point per euro, with no credits, lounges or travel insurance. The Gold costs €240 a year, also earns 1 point per euro, and hands back up to around €430 in SIXT, FREENOW and Lodenfrey credits plus family travel insurance. If you’ll use those credits, the Gold wins; if you won’t, the American Express Card is the smarter points card.
Does the American Express Card earn Membership Rewards?
Yes. The American Express Card earns 1 Membership Rewards point per euro spent, the same points currency as the Gold and Platinum, with no extra fee for the program. Points can be redeemed for paying with points (around €0.004 per point), for vouchers and Amex Travel (€0.005), or transferred to airline programs like Flying Blue, Etihad Guest or Qatar Avios. Miles & More is not a transfer partner.
Verdict
The American Express Card is the card the old Green should have been: €60 a year, free from year two at €9,000 spend, Membership Rewards included, no clutter. For point collectors who don’t need lounges or mobility credits, it’s the smarter choice ahead of the Gold in 2026, and for anyone spending little, the free PAYBACK remains the honest recommendation. There’s no referral link for this card; the button below goes straight to the official American Express product page, where you’ll find the €40 welcome credit. See the whole lineup across countries in our credit cards guide.