WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
No, Mastercard is not a credit card. Mastercard is a card payment network that credit card companies use to allow consumers to make purchases.
Mastercard does not issue any credit cards. Instead, Mastercard partners with financial institutions to issue cards on its network. Some of the biggest financial institutions that issue Mastercard credit cards include U.S. Bank, Synchrony Bank, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Barclays, Bank of America and Avant, though there are many others.
Mastercard vs. Other Card Networks
Card Network | Does It Issue Its Own Cards? | Acceptance |
No | 210+ countries/territories | |
No | 200+ countries/territories | |
American Express | Yes | 160+ countries/territories |
Yes | 200+ countries/territories |
Despite Mastercard’s popularity, the benefits it offers to card issuers are pretty similar to what Visa and American Express offer (Discover lags a bit behind). And the exact benefits that are included on any Mastercard credit card are left up to the issuer. So, when choosing a credit card, it’s best to pick based on the individual card’s features, rather than what network it’s on, unless you’re worried about having the best acceptance abroad.
People also ask
Did we answer your question?