Visa and Mastercard are the two largest card networks in the world, accepted in more than 200 countries and territories. As card networks, Visa and Mastercard control where credit cards and debit cards can be used, as well as what secondary perks they offer – from $0 fraud liability guarantees to rental car insurance. Neither Visa nor Mastercard actually issues credit cards, unlike the two other leading card networks: American Express and Discover.
You should only worry about whether to get a Visa or Mastercard if you’re torn between two offers. In other words, if two cards have identical rewards, rates and fees, then it’s appropriate to weigh the small differences that exist between Mastercard and Visa.
For more information about how Visa and Mastercard compare, consult the table below. Make sure to also check out our editor’s picks for the best Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Visa vs. Mastercard Comparison
Visa and Mastercard are more alike than they are different, considering that both card networks are widely accepted around the world and neither issues credit cards. Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be very different, though, because card terms are set by the banks and credit unions that issue the cards.
Feature | Visa | Mastercard | Winner |
---|---|---|---|
Domestic Acceptance | 10.7 million locations | 10.7 million locations | Tie |
International Acceptance | 200+ countries and territories | 210+ countries and territories | Mastercard |
Cards in Circulation | 838.3 million | 388.4 million | Visa |
Transactions | 62.3 billion in 2016 | 25.4 billion in 2016 | Visa |
Average Purchase Amount | $57 | $60 | Mastercard |
Fraud Liability | $0 liability for:
- Credit card transactions - Signature debit card transactions - PIN debit card transactions processed by Visa* |
$0 liability for:
- Credit card transactions - Signature debit card transactions - PIN debit card transactions processed by Mastercard* |
Tie |
Credit Card Terms | Not a card issuer. Does not set APRs, fees, rewards, etc. | Not a card issuer. Does not set APRs, fees, rewards, etc. | Tie |
* A debit card transaction in which a PIN is used receives no additional protections beyond what is required by federal law, unless it happens to be processed by the card network whose logo is on the card.
Information was collected on Dec 10, 2020 and is likely to have changed since.
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Some of the cards are from WalletHub’s partners.
Best Visa & Mastercard Credit Cards
Category | Best Visa Card | Best Mastercard | Winner |
Initial Bonus | ![]() Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
![]() Citi Premier® Card |
Visa |
Travel Rewards | ![]() Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
![]() Citi Premier® Card |
Mastercard |
Cash Back | ![]() Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
![]() Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer |
Mastercard |
0% Purchases | ![]() U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
![]() Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
Visa |
0% Balance Transfers | ![]() U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
![]() Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
Visa |
Fair / Limited Credit | ![]() Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card |
![]() Capital One Platinum Credit Card |
Mastercard |
Bad Credit | ![]() Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card |
![]() Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card |
Visa |
College Students | ![]() Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students |
![]() Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students |
Visa |
Small Business Owners | ![]() Ink Business Cash® Credit Card |
![]() Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card |
Visa |
TOTALS | 6 Category Wins | 3 Category Wins | Visa |
The cards above were selected by WalletHub's editors because they provide the most overall value for each segment of the market. Don’t see your favorite offer? Use the Community Discussion section below to tell us why you think it deserves inclusion.
Best Mastercards and Visa Cards
Visa vs. Mastercard Benefits
There are three levels of Visa credit card benefits: Traditional, Signature and Infinite. Mastercard has three tiers of benefits, too. Some cards offer one level of benefits to all users. Others give better perks to people approved for a certain credit limit – $5,000+, for example.
Info | Visa Traditional Benefits | Mastercard Basic Benefits | Visa Signature Benefits | Mastercard World Benefits | Visa Infinite Benefits | Mastercard World Elite Benefits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zero Liability | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
24/7 customer support for general inquiries | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info |
Identity Theft Protection (e.g. alerts for personal info found online) | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Lost or stolen card reporting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Emergency card replacement | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Emergency cash disbursement | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info |
Fuel Rewards Network (earn discounts on gas at Shell) | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Roadside Dispatch | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info |
Price Protection | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Extended Warranty | Info | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Travel and Emergency Assistance | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info |
24/7 Concierge | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Year-end Summary | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ | Info |
ShopRunner Membership | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Return Protection | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Mastercard Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Purchase Protection | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Mastercard luxury hotels and resorts portfolio (room upgrades & more) | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Travel Accident Insurance | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Onefinestay (high-end home rentals) | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Trip Cancellation/ Interruption Insurance | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Trip Delay Reimbursement | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Freebies and exclusive experiences at select restaurants | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Lost Luggage Reimbursement | Info | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info |
Car, Air, Cruise and Vacation Packages | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Mastercard Airport Concierge | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Free travel-planning services | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Exclusive experiences and discounts in Priceless Cities | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
VIP access to nightclubs | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Priceless Golf experiences, offers and concierge | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Trip Cancellation Insurance | Info | Info | Info | ✔ | Info | ✔ |
Many Visa and Mastercard benefits are offered at the discretion of individual credit card issuers. In other words, Visa and Mastercard make benefits available to card issuers and allow them to decide which to pass on to different groups of cardholders. To learn how individual cards rank for some of the most important perks, check out WalletHub’s credit card benefits reports:
- Credit Cards with the Best Benefits
- Return Protection
- Rental Car Insurance
- Price Protection
- Extended Warranty
- Travel Insurance
- Purchase Protection
- International Travel Perks
Ask The Experts: Visa vs. Mastercard
For more insight on Visa and Mastercard’s market presence – including consumer perception, corporate fundamentals and future outlook – we turned to a panel of leading experts on investing and the payments market. You can check them and their answers out below.
- Which company’s stock do you think is a better investment: Visa (V) or Mastercard (MA)? Would you buy either?
- What do you make of the fact that many consumers think Visa or Mastercard is the issuer of their credit card, rather than its supporting network?
- Do you expect Visa and Mastercard to have as dominant a position in the market 10 years from now?
Ask the Experts
Assistant Professor of Finance at Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business
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Associate Professor of Finance at University of Central Florida, College of Business Administration
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