American Express Green Card vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fees: American Express Green Card $150/yr, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: American Express Green Card on travel, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
American Express Green CardAmerican Express · $150/yr
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- American Express Green Card$150Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- American Express Green Card40,000 pointsCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card$200 cash back
- Rewards
- American Express Green CardAmerican Express Membership RewardsCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- American Express Green CardNoneCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardNone
- Network
- American Express Green CardAmerican ExpressCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardMastercard World Elite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent · points and cash back aren’t ranked against each other
- Dining
- American Express Green Card3xCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Ridesharing
- American Express Green Card3xCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Transit
- American Express Green Card3xCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Travel
- American Express Green Card3xCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Everything else
- American Express Green Card1xCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- American Express Green Card
- $100 LoungeBuddy credit
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- American Express Green Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 24/7 Travel Assistance Services Worldwide
- Capital One Dining
- Complimentary Concierge Service
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- American Express Green Card
- Trip delay coverage up to $300 per trip after 12 hours
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- Travel Accident Insurance Up to $1,000,000
- Baggage
- American Express Green Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on, $500 checked
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Rental car
- American Express Green Card
- Car rental insurance up to $50,000 for theft or damage
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- American Express Green Card
- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per item for 90 days
- Return protection up to $300 per item within 90 days
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Extended warranty
- American Express Green Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to eligible purchases · up to $10,000
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- Extended Warranty Doubles Coverage, Up to 24 Months
- Other protections
- American Express Green Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- Free Credit Monitoring with CreditWise
Pros & cons
- Pros
- American Express Green Card
- 3X on travel, transit, and dining worldwide covers most everyday spending
- CLEAR Plus statement credit helps offset the $150 annual fee for CLEAR users
- $100 LoungeBuddy credit provides flexible airport lounge access
- No foreign transaction fees for international travel
- Made from reclaimed ocean plastic (environmentally friendly)
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- No annual fee keeps costs at zero
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no caps or rotating categories
- No foreign transaction fees saves 3% on international purchases
- 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Low $500 spend requirement for welcome bonus is easy to meet
- Cons
- American Express Green Card
- $150 annual fee is not waived first year
- No direct lounge network membership (LoungeBuddy is pay-per-use)
- CLEAR credit has limited value outside major airports
- Lower-tier welcome bonus compared to Gold or Platinum
- $35 authorized user fee adds up for multi-card households
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card- 1.5% flat rate is lower than category-specific cards offer in their bonus categories
- No transfer partners for airline or hotel loyalty programs
- Lacks premium travel protections like trip delay or primary rental car insurance
- Welcome bonus amount is modest compared to premium travel cards
- No bonus categories for everyday spending like dining or groceries
Expert Analysis
The American Express Green Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The American Express Green Card's strongest category is Travel at 3X, while the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card leads with 5X on Entertainment. Overall, the American Express Green Card wins in more bonus categories (5 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $0/yr vs $150/yr, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the more accessible option. The American Express Green Card needs to deliver at least $150 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers airport lounge access, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- American Express Green Card earns 3X on Travel vs 1.5X for the other
- American Express Green Card earns 3X on Transit vs 1.5X for the other
- American Express Green Card earns 3X on Dining vs 1.5X for the other
- The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card costs $0/yr vs $150/yr — a $150 annual gap
- Only the American Express Green Card offers airport lounge access
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$300/month on travel
American Express Green CardAmerican Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 10,800 vs 5,400 points — a 5,400-point advantage.
$100/month on transit
American Express Green CardAmerican Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 3,600 vs 1,800 points — a 1,800-point advantage.
$100/month on entertainment
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 6,000 vs 1,200 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the American Express Green Card's premium categories, the $150 fee difference is hard to recover. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the American Express Green Card if:
The American Express Green Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on travel and transit and maximizing premium travel perks. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card if:
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on entertainment and keeping annual costs low and earning more on everyday purchases. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 4 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you.
Travel
American Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Transit
American Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Dining
American Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Ridesharing
American Express Green Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Hotels
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal; Book eligible hotels through Capital One Travel using this card; purchases outside the portal earn 1.5%.
Vacation Rentals
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal; Book eligible vacation rentals through Capital One Travel using this card; purchases outside the portal earn 1.5%.
Car Rentals
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal; Book eligible rental cars through Capital One Travel using this card; purchases outside the portal earn 1.5%.
Everyday purchases
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | American Express Green Card | Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $270 Credits (our usable estimate): $60 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $780 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $380 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | American Express Green Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,080 Credits (our usable estimate): $60 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $990 Year one: $1,590 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $720 Year one: $920 | American Express Green Card | American Express Green Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The American Express Green Card costs $150/yr — that's $150 more than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $150 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The American Express Green Card includes lounge access. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $150 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $150 fee gap means the American Express Green Card needs roughly $150 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and transit and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the American Express Green Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
Get the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card if you:
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 1.5X on the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs 1X on the other card.
Published annual fees: American Express Green Card $150/yr, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card $0/yr — a $150 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the American Express Green Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The American Express Green Card costs $150/yr vs $0/yr for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $150 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the American Express Green Card also lists lounge access).
- Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Green Card or Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- What benefits does the American Express Green Card have that the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't?
- The American Express Green Card offers lounge access. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
- Should I get the American Express Green Card or the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the American Express Green Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $150/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.