American Express cards and Membership Rewards
American Express is one route to flexible points in Germany, but the cards share two important limits: a 2% foreign-currency fee and lower acceptance than a Visa or Mastercard fallback can provide. Choose by recurring cost and benefits you will actually use.
Choose an Amex card in two views
Cards and costs
Personal cards at a glance
Terms checked against official American Express Germany sources on 30 August 2026.
| Card | Regular fee | Base earning | Main reason to consider it | Main reason to skip it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAYBACK Amex | €0 | 1 PAYBACK point per €3; fuel excluded | No annual fee and direct PAYBACK earning | Does not earn Membership Rewards; 2% FX fee |
| Green | €55/year with annual billing or €5/month; following year waived above €9,000 annual spend | 1 MR point per €1 | Lowest regular price for Membership Rewards | Limited travel cover compared with Gold and Platinum |
| Gold | €240/year | 1 MR point per €1 | Insurance and segmented lifestyle credits | Credits are not cash and can be awkward to use |
| Platinum | €720/year | 1 MR point per €1 | Lounge access, travel status and broad benefits | High fee; value depends on repeated travel and strict benefit terms |
Amex issues a monthly statement and normally collects the full balance. The spending limit is individual, not unlimited. Cash withdrawals require Express Cash activation and cost 4%, with a €5 minimum; weekly limits apply.
A headline credit total is not the card’s value. Count only credits you would otherwise buy, after registration, merchant, timing and payment conditions.
Make the choice in this order
- Start with Green if you need Membership Rewards but cannot justify Gold’s fee after usable benefits.
- Compare Gold and Platinum with the direct scenario comparison.
- Keep a Visa or Mastercard fallback if your normal merchants do not accept Amex.
- Use another payment method for foreign-currency spend when its total cost is lower.
- Check temporary bonuses only on the verified offers page.
Check the card that fits your normal use
The current application page is the place to confirm eligibility, price and any temporary terms. It is not a substitute for the cost comparison above.
Gold: flexible points without Platinum’s fee
Choose Gold only when the €240 yearly cost still works after counting benefits you would use anyway.
Apply for Gold Card
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Platinum: frequent travel and repeated lounge use
Choose Platinum only when its €720 regular package is a good fit without relying on a temporary bonus.
Apply for Platinum Card
Advertisement: personal referral link. We may receive referral points if your application is approved. The terms shown by American Express control.
Business Platinum: genuine business expenditure only
If a business card is appropriate, check the product’s eligibility and cash-flow terms separately from the personal-card calculation.
Apply for Business Platinum Card
Advertisement: personal referral link. We may receive referral points if your application is approved. The terms shown by American Express control.
Official sources
- American Express personal-card overview
- PAYBACK Amex product page
- Green product page
- Gold product page
- Platinum product page
Current price lists, insurance terms and benefit conditions from American Express control.