Which card offers better fraud protection for business transactions?

Both American Express and Mastercard offer $0 fraud liability on unauthorized charges. American Express emphasizes real-time 24/7 transaction monitoring with immediate alerts, while Mastercard (2026) deploys advanced AES-GCM encryption and EMV 3DS 2.0 authentication. For businesses, American Express's dedicated fraud monitoring may provide faster dispute resolution, while Mastercard's advanced encryption provides stronger tokenization security.

Can I get a Mastercard with fair credit, but not an American Express card?

Yes. Mastercard is issued by multiple financial institutions offering cards for fair credit scores (580+), while American Express typically requires good to excellent credit (670+). If you have a credit score between 580-669, Mastercard provides significantly more card options across various issuers.

Which card is better for international business travel?

Mastercard is superior for international travel due to acceptance in 190+ countries versus American Express's 150+ countries. Mastercard is accepted at more merchants globally, especially in emerging markets and Asia-Pacific regions. However, American Express offers higher annual travel credits ($600 vs $200), making it better for frequent U.S.-based travelers with premium benefits.

What purchase protection differences exist between the two cards?

Mastercard provides 120 days of purchase protection on eligible items, while American Express covers 90 days. Both protect against fraud and unauthorized purchases. Mastercard's extended window is beneficial for high-value business equipment purchases, while both cards offer comparable return protection policies.

Which card earns more rewards for business spending?

American Express earns up to 5X points per dollar on eligible business purchases, while Mastercard caps out at 3X points. For businesses spending $75K+ annually, American Express's higher earning rate translates to 40-67% more rewards value. However, Mastercard's rewards may vary by issuer, so comparing specific card offers is important.

American Express vs Mastercard: Business Safety & Protection Features

Updated May 3, 2026

American Express

Dual issuer-network offering premium rewards and selective merchant acceptance focused on affluent consumers.

High-spending U.S.-based businesses ($75K+ annually) with strong credit seeking premium rewards and exclusive business perks.

Mastercard

Global payment network accepted at 90+ million merchants worldwide with support for all credit tiers.

International businesses, companies with diverse credit profiles, global travelers, and organizations requiring merchant acceptance in emerging markets.

Short Answer

American Express offers superior fraud protection, purchase safeguards, and business-specific benefits for high-spending companies, while Mastercard provides broader global acceptance, lower credit requirements, and more diverse card options across all business sizes.

Our Verdict

Choose American Express if your business spends $75K+ annually and prioritizes maximum rewards (5X points), premium business benefits, and concentrated U.S. operations with strong credit. Choose Mastercard if you operate internationally, need flexible credit approval, require broad global merchant acceptance in 190+ countries, or want diverse card options across multiple credit tiers.

American Express6.4

8.6Mastercard

Choose American Express if

High-spending U.S.-based businesses ($75K+ annually) with strong credit seeking premium rewards and exclusive business perks.

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Global Merchant Acceptance: Mastercard wins (Accepted in 190+ Countries Worldwide vs Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally)

🔹

Credit Tier Requirements: Mastercard wins (Options Available for All Credit Levels vs Good to Excellent Credit Required)

🔹

Fraud Protection Standard: $0 Liability + Real-Time Monitoring vs $0 Liability + EMV 3DS 2.0 Authentication

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	American Express	Mastercard	Diff
Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—	—
2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—	—
Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Key Differences

American Express

Attribute

Mastercard

Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance

Accepted in 190+ Countries Worldwide🏆

Good to Excellent Credit Required

Credit Tier Requirements

Options Available for All Credit Levels🏆

$0 Liability + Real-Time Monitoring

Fraud Protection Standard

$0 Liability + EMV 3DS 2.0 Authentication

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Last updated: May 3, 2026AI generated

Global Merchant Acceptance

American Express

Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally

Mastercard

Accepted in 190+ Countries Worldwide🏆

Credit Tier Requirements

American Express

Good to Excellent Credit Required

Mastercard

Options Available for All Credit Levels🏆

Fraud Protection Standard

American Express

$0 Liability + Real-Time Monitoring

Mastercard

$0 Liability + EMV 3DS 2.0 Authentication

Business Rewards Earning Rate

American Express

Up to 5X points on eligible purchases🏆

Mastercard

Up to 3X points on select categories

Purchase Protection Coverage Period

American Express

90 days on eligible purchases

Mastercard

120 days on eligible purchases🏆

Travel & Expense Management Tools

American Express

Integrated Amex Intelligence dashboard

Mastercard

Mastercard Send platform + API access

Encryption Security Standard (2026)

American Express

Advanced tokenization system

Mastercard

AES-GCM encryption cipher mode (March 2026)🏆

Full Comparison

Attribute	American Express	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$175B	$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$95-$695	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$550	$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection	$0 liability 24/7	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	$0 liability
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	24/7 Real-Time Alerts	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES GCM (March 2026 release)	AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model	Issuer + Network	—

Customer Service Type	Direct dedicated support	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-60 days	30-90 days

Rewards Consistency	Standardized across cards	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Comprehensive (Premium Cards)	Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)	3.0%	1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)	750+	600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	1.5%-6%	0.5%-5% (varies)
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Premium Exclusive Benefits	Standard Issuer-Dependent
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	5X points	3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	Strong U.S. + Growing International	190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)	0.30-0.50% Higher	Industry Standard Baseline
Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)	Established Fee Model	Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented
Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)	1.43-2.4%	—
Cost Differential vs Visa(%)	Comparable pricing	—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)	16% Year-over-Year Growth	Stable Mature Network
International Expansion (2026 Status)	B2B program expansion ongoing	—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)	Good to Excellent (650+)	All Credit Levels (550+)
Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)	Good to Excellent (670+)	Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	OptBlue Program (<$1M)	Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	5x Expansion (2017-2025)	Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)	150+ countries	190+ countries
Countries with Active Network(countries)	120+ countries	150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	90 days	120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$600 annually	$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration	Amex Intelligence Dashboard	Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	~12 million merchants	90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	2.5-3.5% OptBlue	1.5-3.5%
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	3.5%+ Amex Direct	2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)	$12,000-16,000	$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	670+ (good credit minimum)	580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)	95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally	98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

American Express

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

190+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~94%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$30.2B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$175B

$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$95-$695

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$550

$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection

$0 liability 24/7

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

24/7 Real-Time Alerts

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES GCM (March 2026 release)

AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model

Issuer + Network

—

Customer Service Type

Direct dedicated support

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-60 days

30-90 days

Rewards Consistency

Standardized across cards

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive (Premium Cards)

Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

9 million locations

40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)

3.0%

1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

750+

600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

1.5%-6%

0.5%-5% (varies)

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Premium Exclusive Benefits

Standard Issuer-Dependent

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

5X points

3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

Strong U.S. + Growing International

190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

0.30-0.50% Higher

Industry Standard Baseline

Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)

Established Fee Model

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

16% Year-over-Year Growth

Stable Mature Network

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

Good to Excellent (650+)

All Credit Levels (550+)

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Good to Excellent (670+)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

OptBlue Program (<$1M)

Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

5x Expansion (2017-2025)

Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

150+ countries

190+ countries

Countries with Active Network(countries)

120+ countries

150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

90 days

120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$600 annually

$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration

Amex Intelligence Dashboard

Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

~12 million merchants

90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

2.5-3.5% OptBlue

1.5-3.5%

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

3.5%+ Amex Direct

2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$12,000-16,000

$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

670+ (good credit minimum)

580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	American Express	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$175B	$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$95-$695	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$550	$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection	$0 liability 24/7	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	$0 liability
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	24/7 Real-Time Alerts	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES GCM (March 2026 release)	AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model	Issuer + Network	—

Customer Service Type	Direct dedicated support	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-60 days	30-90 days

Rewards Consistency	Standardized across cards	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Comprehensive (Premium Cards)	Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)	3.0%	1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)	750+	600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	1.5%-6%	0.5%-5% (varies)
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Premium Exclusive Benefits	Standard Issuer-Dependent
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	5X points	3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	Strong U.S. + Growing International	190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)	0.30-0.50% Higher	Industry Standard Baseline
Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)	Established Fee Model	Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented
Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)	1.43-2.4%	—
Cost Differential vs Visa(%)	Comparable pricing	—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)	16% Year-over-Year Growth	Stable Mature Network
International Expansion (2026 Status)	B2B program expansion ongoing	—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)	Good to Excellent (650+)	All Credit Levels (550+)
Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)	Good to Excellent (670+)	Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	OptBlue Program (<$1M)	Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	5x Expansion (2017-2025)	Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)	150+ countries	190+ countries
Countries with Active Network(countries)	120+ countries	150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	90 days	120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$600 annually	$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration	Amex Intelligence Dashboard	Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	~12 million merchants	90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	2.5-3.5% OptBlue	1.5-3.5%
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	3.5%+ Amex Direct	2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)	$12,000-16,000	$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	670+ (good credit minimum)	580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)	95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally	98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

American Express

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

190+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~94%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$30.2B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$175B

$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$95-$695

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$550

$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection

$0 liability 24/7

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

24/7 Real-Time Alerts

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES GCM (March 2026 release)

AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model

Issuer + Network

—

Customer Service Type

Direct dedicated support

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-60 days

30-90 days

Rewards Consistency

Standardized across cards

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive (Premium Cards)

Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

9 million locations

40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)

3.0%

1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

750+

600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

1.5%-6%

0.5%-5% (varies)

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Premium Exclusive Benefits

Standard Issuer-Dependent

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

5X points

3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

Strong U.S. + Growing International

190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

0.30-0.50% Higher

Industry Standard Baseline

Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)

Established Fee Model

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

16% Year-over-Year Growth

Stable Mature Network

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

Good to Excellent (650+)

All Credit Levels (550+)

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Good to Excellent (670+)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

OptBlue Program (<$1M)

Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

5x Expansion (2017-2025)

Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

150+ countries

190+ countries

Countries with Active Network(countries)

120+ countries

150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

90 days

120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$600 annually

$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration

Amex Intelligence Dashboard

Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

~12 million merchants

90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

2.5-3.5% OptBlue

1.5-3.5%

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

3.5%+ Amex Direct

2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$12,000-16,000

$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

670+ (good credit minimum)

580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

American Express vs Mastercard: Business Safety & Protection Features

American Express

Mastercard

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Explore Entities

More Finance

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

American Express

Pros

Cons

Mastercard

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison