Which credit card is accepted worldwide?

Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted worldwide, or at least everywhere you can use a credit card. Visa and Mastercard are the two largest card networks in the world and the only ones with truly worldwide reach, though Mastercard does have a slight advantage. Mastercard credit cards are accepted in more than 210 countries and territories, while Visa credit cards are accepted in more than 200.

The other two major card networks for U.S. credit card users are American Express and Discover. Amex credit cards can work in about 160 countries, but merchant acceptance is spotty in some. Same goes for Discover credit cards and the 185 countries they work in.

Still, it’s important to remember that while American Express and Discover issue credit cards, Visa and Mastercard do not. Rather, lots of different banks and credit unions issue credit cards on the Visa or Mastercard network. That means the cards will work anywhere Visa or Mastercard does, and cardholders will receive some other network benefits, such as travel insurance. It also means you have a lot more options than you might have thought. So let’s take a look at some of the top ones.

Here are the best worldwide credit cards:

• Best Card Networks: Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted worldwide.
• Best Verification Method: Chip-and-PIN may make things easier, but even magnetic stripe cards work fine most places.
• Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture offers a $500 initial bonus and at least 2% back on all purchases. It is a Visa card and does not charge an annual fee.
• Best for Business: Chase Ink Preferred is a Visa with no foreign fee offering a $1,000 initial bonus and up to 3% back on purchases.
• Best for Students: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a Visa card with no annual fee and no foreign fee that offers a $200 initial bonus and up to 3% back on purchases.
• Best for International Benefits: Bank of America Premium Rewards is a Visa that doesn’t charge a foreign fee and offers a slew of international perks, including great travel insurance. It also has very good rewards.

At the end of the day, there are a few things that are really important to consider when shopping for the best credit card that’s accepted worldwide. The network it’s on is key because it will control where the card is accepted. Then, you also need to look at foreign fees, annual fees and rewards to find the right mix for you.

It depends on the retailer. While a lot of them accept all 4 major networks, you'll find exceptions where Amex and Discover aren't accepted.

All Visas and Mastercards are accepted worldwide.

Pretty broad question, but you can always rely on a Visa or a Mastercard. With Discover and Amex you get awesome coverage in the US and Canada, but that's about it. They're only accepted at select places in the rest of the world.