American Express® Green vs Costco Anywhere Visa®

American Express® Green
VS
Costco Anywhere Visa®
The short answer: The Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

American Express® GreenCostco Anywhere Visa®
Annual fee$150No annual fee
Welcome offer40,000 Membership Rewards® PointsNo current offer
Dining3x3x
Groceries1x1x
Gas1x4x
Travel3x3x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$402$452
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsCash back only
NetworkAmexVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Green earns about $402 a year in rewards and the Costco Anywhere Visa® about $452, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Green charges $150, but carries about $199 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Costco Anywhere Visa® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers more total value, about $101 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Green earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Costco Anywhere Visa® pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Green if you will use travel transfers, the Costco Anywhere Visa® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Green currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Costco Anywhere Visa® if your spending leans toward gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the American Express® Green or the Costco Anywhere Visa® better?
On typical household spending, the Costco Anywhere Visa® comes out ahead, by roughly $101 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the American Express® Green can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the American Express® Green and the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the American Express® Green or the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
As of June 2026, the American Express® Green offers 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points and the Costco Anywhere Visa® offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.