American Express vs Mastercard
type: Article
description: American Express is a card issuer offering premium rewards and benefits for high-credit consumers in the U.S., while Mastercard is a payment network used by multiple card issuers globally. American Express excels for travel rewards and cashback, whereas Mastercard provides broader acceptance and more diverse card options across all credit tiers.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-04-25T10:11:51.107Z
date created: 2026-04-25T10:11:51.107Z
date modified: 2026-07-28T09:00:14.709Z
content reference time: 2026-07-28T09:00:14.709Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: American Express
about: Mastercard
abstract: American Express is a card issuer offering premium rewards and benefits for high-credit consumers in the U.S., while Mastercard is a payment network used by multiple card issuers globally. American Express excels for travel rewards and cashback, whereas Mastercard provides broader acceptance and more diverse card options across all credit tiers.
text: Business Model. Global Acceptance. Credit Requirements. Rewards Focus. Annual Fees. Merchant Fees. Consumer Protection. Market Reach
conclusion text: American Express is superior for affluent U.S. consumers prioritizing travel rewards, premium benefits, and cashback redemption, while Mastercard is the better choice for global travelers, diverse credit profiles, and universal merchant acceptance. Your choice depends on whether you value premium perks (Amex) or worldwide accessibility and flexibility (Mastercard).
additional property: Countries Accepted
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 190+ | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: 2025 Net Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $30.2B | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Typical Annual Fee Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $95-$695 | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Fraud Liability Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $0 liability 24/7 | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Business Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Issuer + Network | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Customer Service Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Direct dedicated support | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Rewards Consistency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Standardized across cards | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Merchant Acceptance Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: ~94% | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Global Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 9 million locations | Mastercard: 40+ million locations
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $550 | Mastercard: $95-$195
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Average Merchant Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 3.0% | Mastercard: 1.9%
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 750+ | Mastercard: 600+
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Travel Insurance Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Comprehensive (Premium Cards) | Mastercard: Varies by Issuer
additional property: Annual Revenue (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $175B | Mastercard: $37B (Growth)
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Reward Cashback Rate Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 1.5%-6% | Mastercard: 0.5%-5% (varies)
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Dispute Resolution Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 30-60 days | Mastercard: 30-90 days
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Strong U.S. + Growing International | Mastercard: 190+ Countries Worldwide
additional property: Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 0.30-0.50% Higher | Mastercard: Industry Standard Baseline
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: 12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 16% Year-over-Year Growth | Mastercard: Stable Mature Network
additional property: Minimum Credit Score Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Good to Excellent (650+) | Mastercard: All Credit Levels (550+)
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Small Business Merchant Program Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: OptBlue Program (<$1M) | Mastercard: Universal Program (Scalable)
additional property: Travel Rewards Tier Classification
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Premium Exclusive Benefits | Mastercard: Standard Issuer-Dependent
additional property: Merchant Network Growth Since 2017
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 5x Expansion (2017-2025) | Mastercard: Steady Mature Expansion
additional property: Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Established Fee Model | Mastercard: Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented
additional property: Countries with Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 150+ countries | Mastercard: 190+ countries
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Minimum Credit Score Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Good to Excellent (670+) | Mastercard: Fair to Excellent (580+)
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Maximum Rewards Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 5X points | Mastercard: 3X points
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Fraud Liability Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $0 liability | Mastercard: $0 liability
additional property: Purchase Protection Coverage Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 90 days | Mastercard: 120 days
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Annual Travel Credit Benefit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $600 annually | Mastercard: $200 annually
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Real-Time Fraud Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 24/7 Real-Time Alerts | Mastercard: EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption
additional property: Business Expense Management Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: Amex Intelligence Dashboard | Mastercard: Mastercard Send API + Platform
additional property: Global Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: ~12 million merchants | Mastercard: 190 million merchants
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Countries with Active Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 120+ countries | Mastercard: 150+ countries
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 2.5-3.5% OptBlue | Mastercard: 1.5-3.5%
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Average Cardholder Annual Spending
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $12,000-16,000 | Mastercard: $4,500-6,000
  value reference: American Express
additional property: Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 670+ (good credit minimum) | Mastercard: 580-620 (fair credit available)
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 3.5%+ Amex Direct | Mastercard: 2.5-3.5%
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Encryption Standard (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: AES GCM (March 2026 release) | Mastercard: AES-256 (industry standard)
additional property: Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally | Mastercard: 98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally
  value reference: Mastercard
additional property: Annual Fee (Premium Card Entry Level)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $450 | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Cash Back Rate (Best Category)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 2% | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: APR Range on Purchases
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 17.49%-23.49% | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Countries with Merchant Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 195 countries | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Average Fraud Liability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $0 (zero liability) | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Travel Insurance Coverage Types
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: 6+ types (trip cancellation, delay, baggage, loss of passport, emergency medical, evacuation) | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Minimum Annual Spending for Elite Status
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $35,000 | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Annual Fee (Entry Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $95 | Mastercard: N/A
additional property: Annual Fee (Premium Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: American Express: $695 | Mastercard: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/american-express
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/american-express
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/mastercard
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/mastercard
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/american-express-vs-mastercard
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/american-express-vs-mastercard
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teaches: How to choose between American Express and Mastercard
genre: Products

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: American Express vs Mastercard — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

American Express
type: Thing
alternate name: AE
language: en-US
description: Luxury-focused credit card and financial services company known for premium rewards, concierge services, and exclusive benefits.
image: ImageObject
  caption: American Express
subject of: American Express vs Mastercard
image: ImageObject
  caption: American Express

Mastercard
type: Thing
language: en-US
description: Global payment network accepted at 190+ million merchants in 210+ countries.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Mastercard
subject of: American Express vs Mastercard
image: ImageObject
  caption: Mastercard

American Express vs Mastercard — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for American Express vs Mastercard. Contains 86 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Countries Accepted
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Acceptance
variable measured: 2025 Net Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial
variable measured: Typical Annual Fee Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Fraud Liability Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Business Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Customer Service Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Service
variable measured: Rewards Consistency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Benefits
variable measured: Merchant Acceptance Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Acceptance
variable measured: Global Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach
variable measured: Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Average Merchant Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Fees
variable measured: Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Requirements
variable measured: Travel Insurance Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Benefits
variable measured: Annual Revenue (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial
variable measured: Reward Cashback Rate Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Dispute Resolution Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Service
variable measured: Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Merchant Network
variable measured: Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: 12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Growth
variable measured: Minimum Credit Score Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Eligibility
variable measured: Small Business Merchant Program Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Merchant Programs
variable measured: Travel Rewards Tier Classification
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Merchant Network Growth Since 2017
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Historical Growth
variable measured: Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Countries with Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Minimum Credit Score Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Eligibility
variable measured: Maximum Rewards Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Fraud Liability Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Purchase Protection Coverage Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection
variable measured: Annual Travel Credit Benefit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Business Benefits
variable measured: Real-Time Fraud Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Business Expense Management Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Tools & Features
variable measured: Global Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Acceptance & Accessibility
variable measured: Countries with Active Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Global Reach
variable measured: Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Merchant Cost
variable measured: Average Cardholder Annual Spending
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cardholder Value
variable measured: Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Merchant Cost
variable measured: Encryption Standard (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Annual Fee (Premium Card Entry Level)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Fees
variable measured: Cash Back Rate (Best Category)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: APR Range on Purchases
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Interest Rates
variable measured: Countries with Merchant Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Acceptance & Usability
variable measured: Average Fraud Liability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Travel Insurance Coverage Types
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Insurance Benefits
variable measured: Minimum Annual Spending for Elite Status
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards Tiers
variable measured: Annual Fee (Entry Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Annual Fee (Premium Card)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Base Cash Back/Points Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Bonus Rewards Category Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Global Merchant Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Minimum Credit Score (Entry)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Foreign Transaction Fees (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Airport Lounge Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Benefits
variable measured: Average Premium Card Annual Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Global Merchant Acceptance Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Trip Delay Insurance Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Travel Benefits
variable measured: Maximum Dining Rewards Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: No-Fee Card Options Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Business Card Portfolio Size
variable measured: Emergency Evacuation Insurance
variable measured: Years Operating as Card Company
variable measured: Lowest Annual Fee Card
variable measured: Premium Card Annual Fee (Flagship)
variable measured: Average Rewards Rate on Flat Cash Card
variable measured: Top-Tier Card Rewards Rate (Select Category)
variable measured: Minimum Credit Score for Prime Cards
variable measured: Total Credit Card Products
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/american-express-vs-mastercard

American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for American Express vs Mastercard.
has defined term: Acceptance
has defined term: Financial
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Service
has defined term: Benefits
has defined term: Reach
has defined term: Fees
has defined term: Requirements
has defined term: Rewards
has defined term: Merchant Network
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Growth
has defined term: Eligibility
has defined term: Merchant Programs
has defined term: Historical Growth
has defined term: Global Reach
has defined term: Protection
has defined term: Business Benefits
has defined term: Tools & Features
has defined term: Acceptance & Accessibility
has defined term: Merchant Cost
has defined term: Cardholder Value
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Interest Rates
has defined term: Acceptance & Usability
has defined term: Insurance Benefits
has defined term: Rewards Tiers
has defined term: Costs
has defined term: Travel Benefits
has defined term: Business Services
has defined term: Company History
has defined term: Approval
has defined term: Product Portfolio
has defined term: Customer Service
has defined term: Market Reach
has defined term: Merchant Support
has defined term: Regulatory
has defined term: Market Positioning
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Consumer Protection
has defined term: Customer Reviews

Acceptance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: acceptance
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: service
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Benefits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: benefits
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Fees
type: DefinedTerm
term code: fees
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: requirements
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Rewards
type: DefinedTerm
term code: rewards
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Merchant Network
type: DefinedTerm
term code: merchant-network
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: growth
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Eligibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: eligibility
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Merchant Programs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: merchant-programs
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Historical Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: historical-growth
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global-reach
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business Benefits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business-benefits
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Tools & Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: tools-&-features
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Acceptance & Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: acceptance-&-accessibility
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Merchant Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: merchant-cost
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cardholder Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cardholder-value
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Interest Rates
type: DefinedTerm
term code: interest-rates
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Acceptance & Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: acceptance-&-usability
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Insurance Benefits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: insurance-benefits
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Rewards Tiers
type: DefinedTerm
term code: rewards-tiers
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: costs
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Travel Benefits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: travel-benefits
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business Services
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business-services
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Company History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: company-history
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Approval
type: DefinedTerm
term code: approval
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Portfolio
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-portfolio
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-service
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-reach
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Merchant Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: merchant-support
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Regulatory
type: DefinedTerm
term code: regulatory
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Positioning
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-positioning
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Consumer Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: consumer-protection
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Reviews
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-reviews
in defined term set: American Express vs Mastercard — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-28T09:00:14.709Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: american-express-vs-mastercard
main entity: What is the main difference between American Express and Mastercard?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: American Express is a closed-loop network — it issues cards directly, sets rewards and terms, and manages merchant relationships itself. Mastercard is an open-loop network that processes transactions between banks; card terms, rewards, and customer service are set by the issuing bank (Chase, Citibank, etc.), not by Mastercard.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is American Express accepted everywhere?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: In the US, AmEx is now accepted at approximately 99% of merchants that accept credit cards. Internationally, acceptance is slightly lower — particularly at smaller merchants in Europe and developing markets where Mastercard's network is broader. AmEx occasionally gets declined at grocery stores and gas stations due to higher merchant fees.
    language: en-US
main entity: Why does American Express charge higher fees to merchants?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: AmEx charges merchants a higher discount rate (typically 2.5-3.5% vs Mastercard's ~1.5-2%) because AmEx cardholders tend to spend more and AmEx funds richer rewards programs. This is part of the closed-loop model where AmEx captures more value from both sides of the transaction.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for travel rewards — AmEx or Mastercard?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: American Express Membership Rewards (earned on AmEx cards) are widely considered the most versatile travel points, transferring to 20+ airline and hotel programs. However, Mastercard-branded cards from Chase (Sapphire Reserve) and Citibank also offer strong travel rewards. The best travel card depends on which specific card and issuer, not just the network.
    language: en-US
main entity: Do I need both American Express and Mastercard?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Many experienced users carry both. A common setup: AmEx (Gold or Platinum) for dining, travel, and premium benefits; a Mastercard or Visa with no annual fee for merchants that don't accept AmEx, international travel, or everyday spend where AmEx rewards don't add up. The combination covers both premium perks and universal acceptance.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between American Express and Mastercard
type: HowTo
description: American Express is a card issuer offering premium rewards and benefits for high-credit consumers in the U.S., while Mastercard is a payment network used by multiple card issuers globally. American Express excels for travel rewards and cashback, whereas Mastercard provides broader acceptance and more diverse card options across all credit tiers.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Business Model
step: Consider: Global Acceptance
step: Consider: Credit Requirements
step: Consider: Rewards Focus
step: Consider: Annual Fees
step: Consider: Merchant Fees
step: Consider: Consumer Protection
step: Consider: Market Reach
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: American Express is superior for affluent U.S. consumers prioritizing travel rewards, premium benefits, and cashback redemption, while Mastercard is the better choice for global travelers, diverse credit profiles, and universal merchant acceptance. Your choice depends on whether you value premium perks (Amex) or worldwide accessibility and flexibility (Mastercard).

Consider: Business Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Business Model: American Express has Card Issuer & Network, while Mastercard has Payment Network Only.

Consider: Global Acceptance
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Global Acceptance: American Express has Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally, while Mastercard has Accepted Worldwide.

Consider: Credit Requirements
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Credit Requirements: American Express has Good to Excellent Credit Required, while Mastercard has Options for All Credit Levels.

Consider: Rewards Focus
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Rewards Focus: American Express has Travel & Premium Cashback, while Mastercard has Varied by Card Issuer.

Consider: Annual Fees
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Annual Fees: American Express has Typically $95-$550+, while Mastercard has Varies by Card Issuer.

Consider: Merchant Fees
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Merchant Fees: American Express has Higher (2.5-3.5%), while Mastercard has Lower (1.5-2.5%).

Consider: Consumer Protection
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Consumer Protection: American Express has Premium Protections & Benefits, while Mastercard has Standard Protections.

Consider: Market Reach
type: HowToStep
position: 8
text: Market Reach: American Express has $175B Annual Volume (2026), while Mastercard has $37B Revenue Growth (2026).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: American Express is better than Mastercard
review body: American Express is a card issuer offering premium rewards and benefits for high-credit consumers in the U.S., while Mastercard is a payment network used by multiple card issuers globally. American Express excels for travel rewards and cashback, whereas Mastercard provides broader acceptance and more diverse card options across all credit tiers.
date published: 2026-04-25
date modified: 2026-07-28
review rating: Rating
  rating: MIXTURE
  best rating: TRUE
  worst rating: FALSE
  alternate name: Depends on use case — see analysis
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
item reviewed: American Express is better than Mastercard
  type: Claim
  language: en-US
  text: American Express is a card issuer offering premium rewards and benefits for high-credit consumers in the U.S., while Mastercard is a payment network used by multiple card issuers globally. American Express excels for travel rewards and cashback, whereas Mastercard provides broader acceptance and mor
  author: Internet consensus
  appearance: american-express-vs-mastercard
  first appearance: american-express-vs-mastercard

Base Cash Back/Points Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 1% (Platinum points) | Mastercard: N/A

Bonus Rewards Category Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 4-6x (category dependent) | Mastercard: N/A

Global Merchant Acceptance
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 94% (Amex network) | Mastercard: N/A

Minimum Credit Score (Entry)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 700 | Mastercard: N/A

Foreign Transaction Fees (Premium)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 0% | Mastercard: N/A

Airport Lounge Access
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 500+ lounges (premium cards) | Mastercard: N/A

Average Premium Card Annual Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: $550 | Mastercard: N/A

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 95% | Mastercard: N/A

Trip Delay Insurance Coverage
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: $250,000 | Mastercard: N/A

Maximum Dining Rewards Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 4X | Mastercard: N/A

No-Fee Card Options Available
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 2 | Mastercard: N/A

Business Card Portfolio Size
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 100+ | Mastercard: N/A

Emergency Evacuation Insurance
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: $10,000 | Mastercard: N/A

Years Operating as Card Company
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 170+ years (founded 1850) | Mastercard: N/A

Lowest Annual Fee Card
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: $0 | Mastercard: N/A

Premium Card Annual Fee (Flagship)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: $695 (Centurion Black) | Mastercard: N/A

Average Rewards Rate on Flat Cash Card
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 1.0% | Mastercard: N/A

Top-Tier Card Rewards Rate (Select Category)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 5% (dining) | Mastercard: N/A

Minimum Credit Score for Prime Cards
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 740+ | Mastercard: N/A

Total Credit Card Products
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 35+ | Mastercard: N/A

Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 86/100 | Mastercard: N/A

US Merchant Acceptance Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: 98% | Mastercard: N/A

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 98%+

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 1.43-2.4%

Small Merchant Program Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: Standard rates only

International Expansion (2026 Status)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: B2B program expansion ongoing

Fee Restructuring Cycle
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

Cost Differential vs Visa
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: Comparable pricing

Premium Cardholder Value
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: Mass-market cardholder base

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 26%

Purchase Protection Coverage Period
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 180 days

Countries with Acceptance
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 210+ countries

Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 0% (issuer-dependent)

Standard Annual Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: $0-$500+ (varies)

US Credit Card Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 22%

Customer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: 78%

Zero Fraud Liability
type: PropertyValue
value: American Express: N/A | Mastercard: $0 liability

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

American Express — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Mastercard — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare American Express vs Mastercard
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/american-express-vs-mastercard
object: American Express
object: Mastercard

Business Card Portfolio Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Business Services

Emergency Evacuation Insurance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Travel Benefits

Years Operating as Card Company
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Company History

Lowest Annual Fee Card
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Premium Card Annual Fee (Flagship)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Average Rewards Rate on Flat Cash Card
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Rewards

Top-Tier Card Rewards Rate (Select Category)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Rewards

Minimum Credit Score for Prime Cards
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Approval

Total Credit Card Products
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Product Portfolio

Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Service

US Merchant Acceptance Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Acceptance

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Reach

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Small Merchant Program Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Merchant Support

International Expansion (2026 Status)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Fee Restructuring Cycle
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Regulatory

Cost Differential vs Visa
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Premium Cardholder Value
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Positioning

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Purchase Protection Coverage Period
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Consumer Protection

Countries with Acceptance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Acceptance & Accessibility

Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Rewards

Standard Annual Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Costs

US Credit Card Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Customer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Reviews

Zero Fraud Liability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Consumer Protection