Is Visa or Mastercard accepted more widely worldwide?

Visa has significantly broader acceptance with coverage in 200+ countries and territories compared to Mastercard's 190+. Visa's dominance is particularly pronounced in developing nations and emerging markets. However, in developed nations (US, Europe, Australia), both networks are nearly universally accepted, so the difference is negligible for most users.

Which network has lower foreign transaction fees?

Mastercard typically offers lower foreign transaction fees, especially on premium cards where Mastercard can be 0-1% versus Visa's 1-2%. On standard cards, Mastercard averages 2-3% while Visa averages 3-4%. However, the actual fee depends on your specific card issuer's terms, not the network itself—some Visa cards beat Mastercard cards and vice versa.

Do Visa and Mastercard offer different fraud protection?

Both Visa and Mastercard offer identical zero-liability fraud protection for unauthorized transactions. This means you're not responsible for fraudulent charges on either network. The protection is the same standard, so this shouldn't be a deciding factor in choosing between them.

Which network should I choose for travel?

Visa is generally better for travel to developing nations and Asia due to higher merchant acceptance. Mastercard is competitive in developed markets and often offers better exchange rates and lower fees on premium cards. For most developed-country travel (Europe, USA, Australia), either network works equally well—focus instead on your specific card's rewards and fees.

Does the card network affect rewards and benefits?

No, the rewards and benefits come from your card issuer (your bank), not from Visa or Mastercard. Both networks have premium tiers (Visa Infinite, Mastercard World Elite) that offer similar perks like concierge service and travel insurance, but the specific rewards, cash back, and benefits are determined by your card issuer's product offering.

Visa vs Mastercard

Updated June 9, 2026

Visa

World's largest payment card network with 53% global market share and 3.1 billion cards in circulation.

Frequent international travelers, business professionals, those prioritizing maximum acceptance in diverse regions

Check Price

Mastercard

Global payment network accepted at 190+ million merchants in 210+ countries.

Cost-conscious travelers, those based in developed nations, cardholders seeking optimized foreign exchange rates and fee structures

Short Answer

Visa dominates global market share at 53% compared to Mastercard's 26%, but Mastercard offers comparable rewards programs and lower foreign transaction fees on premium cards. The choice depends on merchant acceptance in your region and specific card benefits rather than the network itself.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Visa if you travel frequently internationally or need maximum merchant acceptance, especially in developing nations where Visa has superior coverage. Choose Mastercard if you prioritize lower foreign transaction fees, slightly lower merchant costs that may translate to better card issuer deals, and prefer their rewards ecosystem—both networks offer virtually identical fraud protection and comparable premium benefits.

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Choose Visa if

Frequent international travelers, business professionals, those prioritizing maximum acceptance in diverse regions

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Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Global Market Share: Visa wins (53% vs 26%)

🔹

Number of Cards Issued Globally: Visa wins (3.1 billion vs 1.3 billion)

🔹

Accepted in Countries: Visa wins (200+ vs 190+)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Visa	Mastercard	Diff
Countries Accepted(countries)	200+	—	—
2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$40B	—	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~99%	—	—
Global Market Share(%)	53%

Key Differences

Visa

Attribute

Mastercard

53%🏆

Global Market Share

26%

3.1 billion🏆

Number of Cards Issued Globally

1.3 billion

200+🏆

Accepted in Countries

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Mastercard vs. American Express: 2026 Consumer Credit Card Comparison Guide

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Mastercard vs American Express: Complete Credit Card Comparison 2026

Choosing between Mastercard and American Express credit cards? Both networks offer distinct advantages, rewards structures, and benefits. This comprehensive guide breaks down the key differences to help you pick the right card for your spending habits and lifestyle.

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Last updated: June 9, 2026AI generated

Global Market Share

Visa

53%🏆

Mastercard

26%

Number of Cards Issued Globally

Visa

3.1 billion🏆

Mastercard

1.3 billion

Accepted in Countries

Visa

200+🏆

Mastercard

190+

Average Foreign Transaction Fee (Premium Cards)

Visa

1-2%

Mastercard

0-1%🏆

Fraud Liability Protection

Visa

$0 (standard)

Mastercard

$0 (standard)

Interchange Fee Average (Merchant Cost)

Visa

1.9%

Mastercard

1.8%🏆

Major Rewards Program (Visa Infinite vs World Mastercard)

Visa

Up to 5% back

Mastercard

Up to 5% back

Full Comparison

Attribute	Visa	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	200+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~99%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$40B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$37B (Growth)	—

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$0-$500	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$95-$195	—

Fraud Liability Protection	Network-dependent	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	—
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption	—
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES-256 (industry standard)	—

Business Model	Network only	—

Customer Service Type	Through issuing bank	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-90 days	—

Rewards Consistency	Varies by bank	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Varies by Issuer	—

Global Market Share(%)	53%	26%
US Credit Card Market Share(percent)	22%	—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	40+ million locations	—

Average Merchant Fee(%)	1.9%	—

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

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	0.5%-5% (varies)	—
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Standard Issuer-Dependent	—
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	3X points	—
Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)(percent)	0% (issuer-dependent)	—

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

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

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

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

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	190+ Countries Worldwide	—

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

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	Universal Program (Scalable)	—

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	Steady Mature Expansion	—

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

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	120 days	—

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$200 annually	—

Business Expense Management Integration	Mastercard Send API + Platform	—

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	1.5-3.5%	—
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	2.5-3.5%	—

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

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	580-620 (fair credit available)	—

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

Purchase Protection Coverage Period(days)	180 days	—
Zero Fraud Liability(USD)	$0 liability	—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions of merchants)	190 million merchants	—
Countries with Acceptance(countries)	210+ countries	—

Standard Annual Fee(USD)	$0-$500+ (varies)	—

Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5)	78%	—

Visa

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

200+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~99%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$40B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$37B (Growth)

—

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$0-$500

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$95-$195

—

Fraud Liability Protection

Network-dependent

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

—

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

—

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES-256 (industry standard)

—

Business Model

Network only

—

Customer Service Type

Through issuing bank

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-90 days

—

Rewards Consistency

Varies by bank

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Varies by Issuer

—

Global Market Share(%)

53%

26%

US Credit Card Market Share(percent)

22%

—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

40+ million locations

—

Average Merchant Fee(%)

1.9%

—

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

600+

—

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

0.5%-5% (varies)

—

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Standard Issuer-Dependent

—

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

3X points

—

Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)(percent)

0% (issuer-dependent)

—

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

Industry Standard Baseline

—

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

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

Stable Mature Network

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

190+ Countries Worldwide

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

All Credit Levels (550+)

—

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

—

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

Universal Program (Scalable)

—

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

Steady Mature Expansion

—

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

190+ countries

—

Countries with Active Network(countries)

150+ countries

—

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

120 days

—

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$200 annually

—

Business Expense Management Integration

Mastercard Send API + Platform

—

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

1.5-3.5%

—

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

2.5-3.5%

—

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$4,500-6,000

—

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

580-620 (fair credit available)

—

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

—

Purchase Protection Coverage Period(days)

180 days

—

Zero Fraud Liability(USD)

$0 liability

—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions of merchants)

190 million merchants

—

Countries with Acceptance(countries)

210+ countries

—

Standard Annual Fee(USD)

$0-$500+ (varies)

—

Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5)

78%

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Visa	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	200+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~99%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$40B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$37B (Growth)	—

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$0-$500	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$95-$195	—

Fraud Liability Protection	Network-dependent	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	—
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption	—
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES-256 (industry standard)	—

Business Model	Network only	—

Customer Service Type	Through issuing bank	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-90 days	—

Rewards Consistency	Varies by bank	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Varies by Issuer	—

Global Market Share(%)	53%	26%
US Credit Card Market Share(percent)	22%	—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	40+ million locations	—

Average Merchant Fee(%)	1.9%	—

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

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	0.5%-5% (varies)	—
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Standard Issuer-Dependent	—
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	3X points	—
Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)(percent)	0% (issuer-dependent)	—

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

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

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

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

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	190+ Countries Worldwide	—

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

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	Universal Program (Scalable)	—

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	Steady Mature Expansion	—

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

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	120 days	—

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$200 annually	—

Business Expense Management Integration	Mastercard Send API + Platform	—

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	1.5-3.5%	—
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	2.5-3.5%	—

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

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	580-620 (fair credit available)	—

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

Purchase Protection Coverage Period(days)	180 days	—
Zero Fraud Liability(USD)	$0 liability	—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions of merchants)	190 million merchants	—
Countries with Acceptance(countries)	210+ countries	—

Standard Annual Fee(USD)	$0-$500+ (varies)	—

Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5)	78%	—

Visa

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

200+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~99%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$40B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$37B (Growth)

—

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$0-$500

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$95-$195

—

Fraud Liability Protection

Network-dependent

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

—

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

—

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES-256 (industry standard)

—

Business Model

Network only

—

Customer Service Type

Through issuing bank

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-90 days

—

Rewards Consistency

Varies by bank

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Varies by Issuer

—

Global Market Share(%)

53%

26%

US Credit Card Market Share(percent)

22%

—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

40+ million locations

—

Average Merchant Fee(%)

1.9%

—

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

600+

—

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

0.5%-5% (varies)

—

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Standard Issuer-Dependent

—

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

3X points

—

Base Cashback Rate (Network Level)(percent)

0% (issuer-dependent)

—

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

Industry Standard Baseline

—

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

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

Stable Mature Network

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

190+ Countries Worldwide

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

All Credit Levels (550+)

—

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

—

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

Universal Program (Scalable)

—

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

Steady Mature Expansion

—

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

190+ countries

—

Countries with Active Network(countries)

150+ countries

—

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

120 days

—

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$200 annually

—

Business Expense Management Integration

Mastercard Send API + Platform

—

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

1.5-3.5%

—

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

2.5-3.5%

—

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$4,500-6,000

—

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

580-620 (fair credit available)

—

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

—

Purchase Protection Coverage Period(days)

180 days

—

Zero Fraud Liability(USD)

$0 liability

—

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions of merchants)

190 million merchants

—

Countries with Acceptance(countries)

210+ countries

—

Standard Annual Fee(USD)

$0-$500+ (varies)

—

Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars out of 5)

78%

—

Visa vs Mastercard

Visa

Mastercard

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Track this comparison

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Finance

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Visa

Pros

Cons

Mastercard

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Visa vs Mastercard

Visa

Mastercard

Short Answer

Our Verdict

🔔Track this comparison

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Finance

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Visa

Pros

Cons

Mastercard

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Track this comparison