The American Express Green Card edges out the Southwest Plus for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 40,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Southwest Plus is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
American Express Green Card vs Southwest Plus
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- On Travel Including airfare, hotels, tours, campgrounds, car rentals, cruises, vacation rentals, and more 3x
- On Transit Including trains, buses, ferries, subways, and more 3x
- Dining At Restaurants Worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. 3x
- Southwest Purchases 2x
- Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- CLEAR Plus Credit $209
- Flying Blue
- Delta SkyMiles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Qatar Avios
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- +13 more
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The American Express Green Card edges out the Southwest Plus for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 40,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Southwest Plus is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, American Express Green Card tops out at 3x versus 2x for Southwest Plus. Current signup bonus values are roughly $800 for American Express Green Card and $800 for Southwest Plus. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/american-express-green-card-vs-southwest-plus
- American Express Green Card wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: American Express Green Card reaches 3x; Southwest Plus reaches 2x.
- Annual fee: American Express Green Card is $150/yr; Southwest Plus is $99/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $800 and $800.
Common Questions: American Express Green Card vs Southwest Plus
Is the American Express Green Card or Southwest Plus better for dining?
American Express Green Card earns 3x on dining; Southwest Plus has no dining bonus.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
American Express Green Card currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). Southwest Plus offers 80,000 pts signup bonus (spend $1,000 in 3 months). Both bonuses are roughly equal in value.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the American Express Green Card and the Southwest Plus?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. American Express Green Card is from American Express and Southwest Plus is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.