What is the most widely accepted credit card?

There isn’t much of a difference between Mastercard and Visa when it comes to acceptance. Both card networks are accepted in more than 200 countries and territories. And almost every merchant that takes credit cards accepts both Visa and Mastercard.

But Mastercard does have a slight advantage over Visa in terms of worldwide acceptance. Mastercard works in 210+ counties and territories, compared to 200+ for Visa.… read full answer

You can learn more from our guide comparing Visa vs. Mastercard.

A Discover card is accepted in 200 countries and territories internationally. That includes India, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates and most other popular destinations for American business and vacation travelers. But just because a Discover card is accepted by at least some merchants in a given country does not mean you should rely on it exclusively. Even Discover classifies its acceptance as low in places like France and Russia. So you may want to bring a Visa or Mastercard along, too. Those two networks are accepted worldwide.… read full answer

Here’s where Discover cards are most & least likely to be accepted internationally:

• High Merchant Acceptance: Argentina, Dominican Republic, India, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Puerto Rico, Chile, Spain
• Moderate Merchant Acceptance: Brazil, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
• Low Merchant Acceptance: Australia, Egypt, France, Russia
• No Merchant Acceptance: Bolivia, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, most of Africa and the Middle East

There are more countries in each of these groups. And you can check out Discover’s international acceptance map for a complete breakdown. But this list will give you a good idea of what to expect in the most popular international travel destinations.

If Discover is widely accepted in your international destination of choice, you should definitely consider getting a Discover card to bring with you. Discover credit cards are well-suited to the task in the sense that none of them charge foreign transaction fees. The Discover it® Miles card is an especially good choice, giving you 1.5 miles per $1 spent and doubling the rewards you earn the first year, all with a $0 annual fee.

American Express is accepted at 10.6 million merchant locations in the U.S. and in 160+ countries and territories abroad. But you’ll find some stores that have exclusive deals with the more popular networks, Visa and Mastercard. For example, Costco only accepts Visa cards now, after switching from Amex only in 2016. And despite the good number of foreign countries where you can use American Express cards, acceptance is on a merchant-by-merchant basis. So, coverage in a lot of countries is hit or miss.… read full answer

Here’s where American Express is accepted:

• Where American Express is Accepted in the U.S.: 10.6 million merchants
• Where American Express is Accepted Internationally: 160+ countries and territories
• Countries Where American Express is Accepted Most: Canada, Australia, UK, India, Mexico
• Places Where American Express is Not Accepted: Cuba, Sudan, South Sudan, Iran, Syria
• Major Retailers That Accept American Express: Amazon, IKEA, Sears, Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, Apple, Best Buy, Staples, CVS
• Major Retailers That Don’t Accept American Express: Costco, small non-chain stores/restaurants

So, an American Express card is enough for your shopping within the U.S. Though you may find some stores that don’t take it, the majority will. But you’ll probably want to have a no foreign transaction fee Visa or Mastercard when you go abroad. Those networks guarantee you worldwide coverage, with acceptance in over 200 countries and territories. And Mastercard and Visa cards are accepted just about universally within those regions. Amex cards still have hit-or-miss acceptance in many.