Adam McCann, Financial Writer
@adam_mcan
It is better to get a Visa card than a Discover card in most cases because Visa cards are accepted by more merchants and offer more supplemental benefits. In addition, there are a lot more Visa cards to choose from, since Visa lets many banks and credit unions issue cards on its network. Unlike Visa, Discover is a credit card issuer in addition to being a network, and the vast majority of cards on Discover’s network are issued by Discover itself.
There are still plenty of good Discover credit card offers, though. Discover is known for offering $0 annual fees and $0 foreign transaction fees, along with generous rewards. Depending on your situation, you may find that a Discover card ends up being better for you than a Visa card. Below, you can see which network is better in various categories.
Discover vs. Visa: Which Is Better?
| Category | Visa | Discover | Winner |
| Acceptance in the U.S. | 99% of U.S. merchants | 99% of U.S. merchants (according to the February 2025 issue of the Nilson Report) | Tie |
| Cards in circulation | 312.2 million | 61 million | Visa |
| Foreign acceptance | 200+ countries and territories | 200+ countries and territories | Tie |
| Fees | 0% to 3% and annual fees ranging from $0 to hundreds of dollars | 0% foreign transaction fee & annual fee | Discover |
| Supplemental benefits | Extended warranties, price protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance and travel insurance | None | Visa |
| Card choices | Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citi, PNC, Synchrony, U.S. Bank, USAA and Wells Fargo | All cards on Discover network | Tie |
Acceptance in the U.S.
Both Visa and Discover are accepted by 99% of U.S. merchants (according to the February 2025 issue of the Nilson Report).
Cards in circulation
Visa beats Discover by a lot. There are 312.2 million Visa cards in circulation in the U.S., compared to Discover’s 61 million.
Foreign acceptance
Visa is better than Discover. Visa is accepted at virtually every merchant in the world who takes credit cards, in 200+ countries and territories. Discover is accepted in 200+ countries and territories, but many of those places only have a small number of merchants who will accept Discover.
Fees
Discover beats Visa in this category because every Discover credit card has a 0% foreign transaction fee and $0 annual fee. Visa cards generally have foreign transaction fees ranging from 0% to 3% and annual fees ranging from $0 to hundreds of dollars.
Supplemental benefits
Visa is much better than Discover. Depending on the card, Visa’s benefits include extended warranties, price protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance, and travel insurance. Discover used to have most of these benefits, but they were discontinued.
Card choices
Discover issues nearly all of the cards on the Discover network. In contrast, lots of different banks and credit unions issue Visa cards, including Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citi, PNC, Synchrony, U.S. Bank, USAA, and Wells Fargo.
Discover vs. Visa Credit Cards by Category
| Category | Visa | Discover | Winner |
| Cash back | Visa | ||
| Travel | Visa | ||
| 0% intro APR | Visa | ||
| Balance transfers | Visa | ||
| Bad credit | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card | None | Visa |
| Students | Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students | Visa | |
| Business | None | Visa |
Who should choose a Visa credit card?
You should focus on Visa credit cards if you want a wide selection of cards to choose from and the ability to use your card anywhere. Visa credit cards are accepted in more than 200 countries and territories and has access to millions of ATMs worldwide, making it a reliable payment method for both domestic and international use. Plus, nearly 275 banks and credit unions issue credit cards on the Visa network, including some of the best cards on the market, so there’s a lot of variety and value.
Who should choose a Discover credit card?
Discover credit cards are good for budget-conscious consumers or students. Discover cards don’t charge annual fees, which means you can keep your account open and earn rewards without having to pay every year for the privilege of owning the card. Discover also offers student-specific credit cards with rewards and benefits not typically available to non-students with limited credit history.
You can learn more about the best Visa and Discover credit cards here on WalletHub. You can also check out our tips for choosing the right credit card. On that note, it’s a good idea to compare credit card offers across different networks. This increases your chances of finding the best deal.
Popular Credit Cards from Discover, Our Partner
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