Quick Answer
As of 13 September 2026. Every fee, bonus and credit on this page comes from the official product pages and offer terms of American Express Germany (sources below). VoyageHacks read them directly in a browser rather than copying them from other comparison sites; the “who should get which card” verdict is a calculation built on these numbers, not a card test.
The honest verdict first
If you won’t be at an airport in double digits this year, the Platinum is the wrong card for you. I’d rather tell you that than take your click.
The good news: Germany has three genuinely free Amex cards. The bad news: almost everything changed in 2026 (Gold €240 instead of €144, the Green Card gone, Lufthansa lounges gone from October), and a lot of comparisons out there are still running the old numbers.
All 6 Amex cards in Germany compared (September 2026)
Source: each card’s own American Express Germany product page, checked on 13 September 2026. Not included: the co-branded BMW Card and BMW Premium Card Carbon.
| Card | Card fee | Direct welcome offer | Points | Annual credits | Lounges | Supplementary cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum Card (metal) | €60/month = €720/year | up to €340 welcome credit | 1 MR point per € | €650 | over 1,550 (no Lufthansa from 01.10.2026) | up to 7 cards |
| Gold Card / Gold Rosé (metal) | €20/month = €240/year | up to €200 welcome credit (friend referral: up to 50,000 points) | 1 MR point per € | €430 according to Amex | none | 1 included |
| American Express Card (formerly Green) | €5/month = €60/year, €0 from year 2 at €9,000 spend | €40 welcome credit | 1 MR point per € | none | none | 1 included |
| Blue Card | €0 | €25 welcome credit | only with MR add-on (€30/year) | none | none | 1 included |
| PAYBACK American Express | €0 | 1,000 bonus points | 1 point per €3 (not at gas stations) | none | none | all included |
| dm PAYBACK American Express | €0 | 1,000 bonus points | 1 point per €3 (not at gas stations) | none | none | all included |
Every card: 2% foreign transaction fee on non-euro spending, 4% (minimum €5) for ATM cash. Welcome credits and point bonuses go only to new customers who haven’t held a primary card on the same product in the last 18 months; they’re forfeited retroactively if you cancel within the first 12 months.
Three terms that show up in every Amex comparison:
- Membership Rewards (MR) is American Express’s points program. Points can be converted into card spend, vouchers, Amex Travel or airline miles.
- Foreign transaction fee is the markup the bank charges on every payment in a currency other than the euro. At Amex Germany, that’s 2%.
- Welcome credit is a euro amount Amex credits new customers on their statement once they hit a minimum spend.
What’s changing at American Express Germany in October 2026?
Four changes hit the Platinum at once on 1 October 2026. Most comparison sites don’t cover them yet.
| Date | Change | Affects | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30.09.2026 | Last day of access to Lufthansa lounges via the Global Lounge Collection, worldwide access ends after that | Platinum, Business Platinum | Amex lounge pages |
| 01.10.2026 to 31.03.2027 | Lounge on the Go: 6 vouchers at €20 each (€120) for food and shopping at Frankfurt Airport T1 and Munich Airport T2, max. 1 a day | Platinum (main and supplementary cards share the 6) | Platinum offer terms |
| 01.10.2026 | LODENFREY credit (2 x €50) only from a €200 purchase now, offer must be reactivated | Platinum | announced by Amex (reported by Travel-Dealz and reisetopia); the published offer terms did not yet show a minimum on 13 September |
| since late July 2026 | ALL Accor Gold Status activatable as a Platinum perk | Platinum, Business Platinum | Platinum product page (“NEW”) |
Two more changes sit outside the Platinum: the PAYBACK card’s direct welcome bonus is now 1,000 bonus points instead of up to 3,000, and the dm PAYBACK American Express Card adds a third free Amex.
What this means for you: if you got the Platinum mainly for Lufthansa business lounges in Frankfurt and Munich, you lose the main reason from October. The €120 in Lounge on the Go is limited until March 2027 and doesn’t replace an actual lounge seat.
Which Amex card is worth it for you? The 4-question decision tree
- Were you at an airport ten times or more last year, often with a companion? Yes → Platinum. Lounges for two, hotel status and €650 in credits carry the €720. No → keep going.
- Do you spend money every month on a car subscription, rental car or taxi? Yes → Gold, because SIXT+, SIXT rent and FREENOW cover €350 a year according to Amex. No → keep going.
- Do you spend at least €750 a month on the card? Yes → American Express Card: €60 in the first year, free after that. No → keep going.
- Do you shop at dm or other PAYBACK partners? Yes → PAYBACK or dm PAYBACK American Express, free. No → Blue Card for plain Amex acceptance with no fee.
Card finder
Four questions to your German Amex
Were you at an airport ten or more times last year, often with a companion?
Yes → Platinum Card
Do you spend money every month on a car subscription, rental cars or taxis?
Yes → Gold Card
Do you put at least 750 euros a month on a card?
Yes → American Express Card
Do you shop at dm or other PAYBACK partners?
Yes → PAYBACK American Express · No → Blue Card
Your match
Platinum Card · €720 per year
Lounges for two, hotel status and 650 euros of yearly credits carry the fee when you fly often.
Your match
Gold Card · €240 per year
SIXT+, SIXT rent and FREENOW credits cover most of the fee if you use them anyway.
Your match
American Express Card · €60 per year
The cheapest way into Membership Rewards, and from 9,000 euros a year the fee disappears.
Your match
Blue Card · €0 per year
No fee and Amex Offers, for acceptance without paying anything. Points cost 30 euros a year extra.
Your match
PAYBACK American Express · €0 per year
No fee, and you collect PAYBACK points on every purchase on top of the partner points.
Prefer to run the numbers yourself? Enter your spend, foreign share, lounge visits and the credits you’d actually use:
Calculator
Which German Amex actually pays off for you?
Net result per year from year two: credits you use, plus points, plus lounge value, minus card fee and the 2 % foreign transaction fee. Welcome bonuses are left out because they are paid once. Fees as of September 14, 2026.
Still torn between the two metal cards? Amex Platinum vs Gold does the math.
Amex Platinum Germany: cost, credits and the net math
The Platinum costs €720 a year. What’s left of that depends entirely on which credits you actually spend.
| Item | Amount per year | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Card fee | −€720 | €60 monthly |
| Online travel credit | +€200 | only when booking through American Express Online Travel |
| Restaurant credit | +€150 | over 2,000 restaurants in 16 countries, see the best Amex restaurants by city |
| SIXT ride credit | +€200 | only for rides booked through SIXT ride |
| LODENFREY shopping credit | +€100 | 2 x €50, from 01.10.2026 on a purchase of at least €200 each time |
| Net, everything used | −€70 | |
| Net, only travel and restaurant used | −€370 | realistic for many cardholders |
For that €70 to €370, you get access to over 1,550 airport lounges (Global Lounge Collection including Priority Pass, each time with one guest, also on supplementary cards), hotel status with Hilton Honors (Gold), Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite) and ALL Accor (Gold), perks with Condor and Marabu (priority boarding, extra checked baggage), a travel insurance package and up to 7 cards on the account.
Amex itself advertises a “total value of up to €2,280” a year. €650 of that is fixed credits; the remaining up to €1,630 is Amex’s own calculation based on assumed hotel nights, rental car days and trips.
Is the Platinum still worth it in 2026? At ten or more flights a year, yes, even without Lufthansa lounges. At fewer flights, the American Express Card is the smarter points card. Full details in the Amex Platinum review.
Amex Gold Germany: €240 a year, is it worth it?
Only if you’d use the mobility credits anyway. Amex lists on the product page:
- €20 a month SIXT+ car subscription credit (€240 a year)
- 2 x €25 SIXT rent rental car credit (€50)
- €5 a month FREENOW taxi credit (€60)
- 2 x €40 LODENFREY shopping credit (€80)
That adds up to the €430 Amex calls “credits and vouchers.” Watch out: the same page elsewhere says “up to €290 in mobility credits,” and the referral page lists €15 instead of €20 a month for SIXT+. So calculate with your own trips, not the marketing number.
On top of that: 1 Membership Rewards point per euro, travel insurance for the family, a 90-day return window and GHA DISCOVERY Gold. No lounges, no hotel status with Hilton or Marriott.
Buy this if: you have a SIXT+ subscription or take FREENOW regularly. Skip it if: you don’t use a car or a taxi; the American Express Card at €60 is the better points card in that case. More in the Amex Gold review.
American Express Card (formerly Green): €60, or free from the second year
€5 a month, Membership Rewards included, 1 point per euro, one supplementary card, points that never expire. Amex checks your annual spend every 12 months; if it’s above €9,000, Amex waives the fee the following year.
At the start there’s €40 in credit after €2,000 in spend within six months. No ongoing credits, no lounges, no travel insurance, but also no risk. Why it’s often the smarter choice over the Gold is in the American Express Card review.
Amex Blue Card: the free Amex with no points
The Blue Card is permanently €0, but on its own it earns nothing. Membership Rewards costs an extra €30 a year. Without that payment, it’s a pure acceptance card with Amex Offers and €25 in welcome credit after €1,200 in spend.
If you’re willing to pay €30 for points, get the American Express Card instead. Details in the Amex Blue Card review.
PAYBACK and dm PAYBACK American Express: free points
Both cards cost €0 a year, every supplementary card is included, and you earn twice: 1 PAYBACK point per €3 of card spend everywhere (except gas stations), plus the normal PAYBACK points at partners like dm or Edeka. Applying direct gets you 1,000 bonus points.
The honest catch: a PAYBACK point is worth 1 cent, and points expire if you go three years without earning any. There’s no lounge access, hotel status or travel credit. The dm variant differs mainly in design, according to Amex’s own product page. Details in the Amex PAYBACK Card review.
What is a Membership Rewards point worth?
A Membership Rewards point is worth 0.4 to 0.5 cents at Amex Germany, often more through airline transfers. These figures come from the points calculator on Amex’s referral page (as of 13 September 2026):
| Redemption | Value of 50,000 points | Value per point |
|---|---|---|
| Pay off card spend with points | €200 | 0.4 cents |
| Vouchers with brands | €250 | 0.5 cents |
| American Express Online Travel | €250 | 0.5 cents |
| Transfer to airline programs (e.g. Flying Blue) | depends on the redemption | often over 1 cent |
The 85,000 points from the Platinum friend referral are therefore worth €340 to €425, at least as much as the direct €340 welcome credit. On the Gold, the 50,000 points are worth €200 to €250, against €200 in direct welcome credit. Miles & More is not a transfer partner.
Welcome bonus 2026: welcome credit or up to 85,000 points
Apply direct on americanexpress.com and you get welcome credit in euros:
- Platinum: up to €340 (€160 after €6,000 in spend within six months, €180 after another €4,000)
- Gold: up to €200 (€80 after €3,000, €120 after another €2,000)
- American Express Card: €40 after €2,000
- Blue Card: €25 after €1,200
- PAYBACK and dm PAYBACK: 1,000 bonus points
Through a friend referral you get points instead. Up to 85,000 Membership Rewards points for the Platinum (40,000 after €6,000 and 45,000 after a total of €10,000 in spend within six months), up to 50,000 points for the Gold (20,000 from €3,000 and 30,000 from a total of €5,000 in spend within six months), and 4,000 points for the PAYBACK card for the first payment (offer runs until 27 September 2026).
The links below are my friend referral links. I also earn points for a successful referral; that’s the disclosure.
Cash withdrawals don’t count toward the minimum spend, and canceling or switching the card within the first 12 months forfeits the bonus retroactively.
Amex abroad: 2% foreign transaction fee and 4% at the ATM
Every German Amex, including the Platinum, adds 2% on payments in a foreign currency. On a €3,000 long-haul trip, that’s €60. ATM cash costs 4%, minimum €5.
The fix is a second card. The free Revolut Standard plan converts up to €1,000 a month Monday to Friday with no markup (1% above that, 1% on weekends) and gives €200 a month or 5 withdrawals fee-free at the ATM. How the two work together: Amex vs Revolut and Revolut’s euro plans.
Amex acceptance in Germany: where the card doesn’t work
American Express is accepted less often in Germany than Visa and Mastercard. Supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka, drugstores, gas stations, Deutsche Bahn, online retailers and hotels take it almost everywhere. Many bakeries, kiosks, small restaurants, doctors and tradespeople only take girocard.
So the rule stands: pair every Amex with a fee-free Visa or Mastercard.
5 common mistakes when choosing an Amex card
- Applying for the Platinum because of Lufthansa lounges. Access ends on 30 September 2026.
- Counting the LODENFREY credit as €100 in cash. From October you need €400 in purchases a year to get it.
- Getting the Gold for the marketing number. The €430 in credits is only worth something if you’d use SIXT+ and FREENOW anyway.
- Applying for the Blue Card for points. Without the €30 add-on fee, it earns nothing.
- Paying with Amex outside the eurozone. The 2% markup eats up any point value of 0.5 cents per euro.
Applying for Amex: requirements and process
- Requirements per the application page: at least 18 years old, primary residence in Germany, a euro account in a SEPA country, and no bonus eligibility if you had the same card in the last 18 months. Plus a credit check (Schufa).
- Process: online application with ID, address, income and IBAN, then identity verification by video or post-ident. The card arrives by post.
- Billing: Amex collects the monthly spend by direct debit; the card fee is charged monthly.
- Supplementary cards: Platinum up to 7 cards on the account, Gold, American Express Card and Blue one each included, PAYBACK cards all included.
Playbook: the next questions after choosing a card
Each of these pages answers a question this comparison only touches on, with its own sources and as of September 2026:
| Question | Guide |
|---|---|
| What are my points worth, and where can I transfer them? | Membership Rewards: point value and 14 transfer partners |
| Which lounges remain without Lufthansa, and what does the 50-visit cap mean? | Amex Platinum Lounges |
| Which six hotel statuses are there, and how do I activate them? | Amex Platinum Hotel Status |
| Where can I pay with Amex in Germany? | Amex acceptance in Germany |
| What requirements and Schufa rules apply when applying? | Applying for Amex |
| How do I cancel without losing points and the bonus? | Canceling Amex |
| Which card for the self-employed and businesses? | Business Platinum vs Business Gold |
| How does Amex compare to free Visa and Mastercard cards? | Credit card comparison Germany: 16 cards |
Sources
All figures checked on 13 September 2026:
- American Express: Platinum Card (fee, welcome credit, statement credits)
- American Express: Platinum Card offer terms (Lounge on the Go, LODENFREY)
- American Express: lounge notice on Lufthansa lounges (access until 30.09.2026)
- American Express: Gold Card in metal
- American Express: American Express Card
- American Express: Blue Card
- American Express: PAYBACK American Express Card and dm PAYBACK American Express Card
- American Express: foreign currency charges (2% foreign transaction fee)
- Revolut Germany: plans compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Amex card is best in Germany?
For frequent flyers, the Platinum Card (€60 a month, €720 a year) for over 1,550 lounges, hotel status and €650 in annual credits. For point collectors who don’t need lounges, the American Express Card (€60 a year, free from the second year if you spend €9,000) or, for anyone using SIXT and FREENOW, the Gold Card (€240 a year). If you don’t want to pay anything, get the free PAYBACK American Express Card. As of 13 September 2026.
Is there a free American Express card in Germany?
Yes, three: the PAYBACK American Express Card, the dm PAYBACK American Express Card and the Blue Card all cost €0 a year permanently. The two PAYBACK cards earn 1 PAYBACK point per €3 spent, and the Blue Card only earns Membership Rewards points if you add the program for €30 a year. None of the three has lounge access or travel credits.
How much does the Amex Platinum cost in Germany?
€60 a month, so €720 a year (as of September 2026). Against that stand €200 in annual online travel credit, €150 in restaurant credit, €200 in SIXT ride credit and €100 in LODENFREY credit, €650 in total. If you use every credit, you pay net around €70 a year. Since October 2026, though, the LODENFREY credit only applies on a purchase of at least €200.
How much does the Amex Gold cost in Germany?
€20 a month, so €240 a year (as of September 2026). Until 2025 the Gold cost around €144 a year and the first year was often free; neither applies anymore since the relaunch as a metal card. Amex now puts the credits at €430 a year: €20 a month for SIXT+, 2 x €25 SIXT rent, €5 a month FREENOW and 2 x €40 LODENFREY.
Does the Amex Platinum lose access to Lufthansa lounges?
Yes. American Express Germany states on its lounge pages that Platinum cardholders only have access to Lufthansa lounges until 30 September 2026. From 1 October 2026, access through the Global Lounge Collection ends worldwide. Priority Pass, Centurion Lounges and the remaining 1,550-plus lounges stay included.
What is Lounge on the Go on the Amex Platinum?
Lounge on the Go is a new Platinum perk: six vouchers worth €20 each, €120 in total, for food and shopping at participating spots in Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1) and Munich Airport (Terminal 2). It runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, at most one voucher a day, redeemed by QR code in the Amex Experiences App. The main card and supplementary cards share the six vouchers.
What’s changing with the Amex Platinum’s LODENFREY credit?
The Platinum still gives 2 x €50 LODENFREY credit a year, one per half-year. From 1 October 2026, though, it’s only credited on a purchase of at least €200, and you have to reactivate the offer once in Amex Offers. To use the full €100, you now need to spend at least €400 a year at LODENFREY.
How high is the Amex welcome bonus in 2026?
Direct from American Express there’s a welcome credit: up to €340 with the Platinum (after €6,000 plus €4,000 in spend within 6 months), up to €200 with the Gold, €40 with the American Express Card, €25 with the Blue Card and 1,000 bonus points with the PAYBACK cards. Through a friend referral you get points instead: up to 85,000 Membership Rewards points for the Platinum, up to 50,000 for the Gold and 4,000 PAYBACK points for the PAYBACK card (offer runs until 27 September 2026).
What is a Membership Rewards point worth?
According to American Express’s own points calculator, 50,000 Membership Rewards points are worth €200 if you use them to pay off card spend (0.4 cents a point), or €250 as vouchers or Amex travel credit (0.5 cents a point). Transferred into airline programs like Flying Blue or Qatar Privilege Club, a point can be worth more. Miles & More is not a transfer partner.
What does Amex cost abroad?
Every German Amex card charges a 2% foreign transaction fee on payments in a foreign currency, including the Platinum. Cash from an ATM costs 4%, minimum €5. For payments outside the eurozone and for cash, it’s better to add a free Revolut card.
Is the Amex Green Card still available?
No. The Green Card is no longer offered in Germany. Its place is taken by the American Express Card: €5 a month (€60 a year), Membership Rewards included, 1 point per euro. Amex checks annual spend every 12 months, and if it’s above €9,000, the fee is waived the following year.
Is American Express accepted everywhere in Germany?
No. Supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, online retailers and most hotels accept Amex, while many bakeries, kiosks, small restaurants and doctors take only girocard or Visa and Mastercard. Always plan for a second card with no annual fee, for example a free Revolut.
Verdict
The choice is clearer in 2026 than ever: frequent flyers take the Platinum and actually use the €650 in credits, car and taxi users take the Gold, point collectors without the extras take the American Express Card, occasional travelers and dm shoppers take one of the two PAYBACK cards. Apply for the Platinum through my referral link above and you get up to 85,000 points instead of €340 in credit, and add a fee-free second card for foreign currency. More countries and cards in the credit cards guide.