American Express Credit Card Is Visa or Mastercard: A Comparison

American Express credit cards are often confused with Visa or Mastercard, but they're actually a separate payment network. American Express is a closed-loop network, meaning it can only be used on American Express cards, whereas Visa and Mastercard are open-loop networks that can be used on cards from multiple banks.

American Express cards are accepted by many merchants, but you won't find them on every store's checkout terminal. In contrast, Visa and Mastercard are accepted by a vast majority of merchants worldwide.

American Express has its own set of benefits and rewards, which can be appealing to certain cardholders. For example, American Express offers a 30-day purchase protection policy, which can provide peace of mind for shoppers.

American Express stands out from Visa and Mastercard in several key ways. While Visa and Mastercard are strictly card networks, American Express is both a card network and a card issuer.

One notable difference is that American Express has a more limited acceptance rate compared to Visa and Mastercard. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at 7 million U.S. merchant locations, while American Express reaches a total of 10.6 million merchants.

However, American Express credit cards work in more than 160 countries and territories, which is lower than Visa and Mastercard's international acceptance rate of over 200 countries.

The table below compares some key features of American Express, Visa, and Mastercard:

It's worth noting that American Express has a more limited range of credit cards available for those with below-average credit, while Visa and Mastercard offer more options in this area.

American Express vs Visa is a comparison that's worth exploring. American Express issues its own credit cards, giving it more control over interest rates, fees, and rewards, unlike Visa and Mastercard, which are primarily card networks.

While Visa and Mastercard have a wider acceptance rate, American Express reaches 10.6 million merchants, which is still a significant number. However, Visa and Mastercard have an even larger reach, with 7 million merchant locations in the US alone.

American Express cards are accepted in over 160 countries and territories, but Visa and Mastercard have a broader international presence, with over 200 countries accepting their cards.

It's worth noting that some banks offer both American Express and Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as U.S. Bank and USAA. On the other hand, some banks, like PNC and TD Bank, only offer Visa cards, while others may be exclusive to Mastercard.

When it comes to fraud liability, American Express has an excellent policy, while Mastercard and Visa provide good coverage, according to WalletHub's research.

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American Express and Mastercard are two of the most popular payment networks, but they have some key differences. American Express is both a card issuer and a network, while Mastercard is strictly a card network.

One of the main differences between the two is their acceptance rates. Mastercard is accepted by international merchants much more often than American Express, with 210+ countries & territories accepting Mastercard compared to 198+ for American Express.

Here's a comparison of the two networks in a table format:

It's worth noting that American Express credit card applicants need at least good credit for approval, whereas applicants of any credit level can find a suitable Mastercard credit card. This means that if you have below-average credit, you may have an easier time getting approved for a Mastercard credit card than an American Express card.

Your credit score is a crucial factor in choosing between American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. If you have good to excellent credit, you can pick your favorite network and card.

Consider where you spend your money when deciding between these three major credit card networks. If you plan to travel internationally, a Visa or Mastercard may be a better choice since they are accepted in more places.

Travel rewards are another important consideration when choosing between American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Certain issuers have relationships with specific travel companies and travel rewards partners, so pick the network that benefits you the most.

If you have a problem with a particular credit card issuer cutting your credit limits or closing your accounts, consider carrying cards from multiple credit card networks and issuers. This is a good idea if you've run into a retailer that only accepts certain networks.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing between American Express, Visa, and Mastercard:

American Express, Visa, and Mastercard all offer similar basic benefits, like $0 fraud liability and emergency card replacement.

These benefits are a great starting point, but it's worth noting that there are additional perks available, too.

Visa and Mastercard both have three levels of credit card benefits, each offering extra benefits. This means that if you have a Visa or Mastercard, you can expect to get more from your card as you move up the tiers.

On the other hand, American Express doesn't officially have tiers, but generally offers better benefits for cards with higher annual fees. This can be a bit confusing, but basically means that if you're willing to pay more, you'll get more rewards and perks.

Here's a quick rundown of the basic benefits you can expect from each network: