American Express · American Express · Amex Membership Rewards
Reviewed 2026-07-06 · By The Points Standard editorial team
American Express Green Card
Not a serious earner on its own, but a legitimate zero-cost way to start accumulating transferable MR points, especially for applicants who don't yet qualify for the paid Amex cards.
Standard Score breakdown — Pass
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. "Contributes" is the rating × weight — add all six and you get the 4.78/10 Standard Score above.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
The numbers
| Annual fee | None |
| Welcome bonus | 10,000 MR points on $1,000 spend in the first 3 months |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $200 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $260 |
Earn rates
| Hotels and car rentals via Amex Travel Online | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Why it earns its score
- No annual fee entry point into the transferable Amex MR ecosystem, including Aeroplan transfers
- No minimum income requirement — one of the easiest Amex approvals
- Points transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan and other MR partners, same as the paid Amex cards
Where it loses points
- 1x base earn is weak compared to paid MR cards like Cobalt or Gold Rewards
- Amex acceptance gaps limit where the free-card earn actually accrues
- No travel insurance or lounge perks at this tier
Who it's for
Anyone who wants a free foot in the door to Amex Membership Rewards — including eventual Aeroplan transfers — without any income bar or fee.
Who should skip it
You already qualify for the Cobalt or Gold Rewards — those cards earn dramatically more MR points for a modest monthly or annual cost.
Included insurance
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-07-06. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.