Visa vs Discover

Pros

• Accepted at 215+ million merchants globally across 200+ countries
• 2.9 billion active cardholders providing extensive network effects
• Strongest international travel acceptance with ATM availability worldwide
• Established since 1958 with proven security infrastructure and fraud protection
• Wide range of card products from basic to premium (Signature, Infinite, Commercial)

Cons

• Higher merchant interchange fees (2-3%) increase business costs
• Premium tier cards carry annual fees up to $550
• Rewards programs less generous than competitors (typically 0.5-2%)

Pros

• Superior cashback rewards programs (1-5% with 2% flat cashback options available)
• Lower merchant interchange fees (1.5-2.5%) reducing business costs
• No annual fees on standard cards (premium cards cap at $95)
• Strong fraud protection and zero liability guarantees
• Discover owns its own payment network reducing processing dependencies

Cons