{"menuItems":[{"label":"Things to consider when comparing American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit cards","anchorName":"#things-to-consider-when-comparing-american-express-mastercard-and-visa-credit-cards"},{"label":"Which card is most widely accepted?","anchorName":"#which-card-is-most-widely-accepted"},{"label":"How to compare Amex, Visa and Mastercard","anchorName":"#how-to-compare-amex-visa-and-mastercard"},{"label":"Can you get a virtual\/digital card?","anchorName":"#can-you-get-a-virtual-digital-card"},{"label":"Compare Amex, Visa and Mastercard credit cards","anchorName":"#compare-amex-visa-and-mastercard-credit-cards"}]}
When deciding on a new credit card, you might be more interested in the name of the institution than the card issuer, but choosing between Amex and Visa or Mastercard can make a lot of difference.
In general, Amex tends to offer better rewards than many Visa or Mastercard credit cards. However, they aren't accepted in as many places worldwide.
Things to consider when comparing American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit cards
Points earning, capping and expiry. Compare rewards features to ensure your points don't run out before you use them or you're limited in how much you can earn.
Annual fee. Each card issuer has varying annual fees on different cards, from no annual fees to $500 per year. Some cards will also have introductory offers.
Interest rates. Amex, Visa and Mastercard will offer various low rate cards, but you should balance these against their annual fee.
Customer service. Visa and Mastercard offer concierge services to support some of their customers. Take a look at what else they offer.
Complimentary insurance. All 3 card issuers offer benefits like complimentary insurance and extended warranty. However, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions before you apply.
Which card is most widely accepted?
Many retailers will not accept Amex-issued credit cards, thanks to higher merchant fees. While all card issuers will charge fees as part of the cost of moving money between banks, Amex charges considerably more. Many retailers will add a higher surcharge to Amex users, but many others simply won't accept the credit cards.
Visa and Mastercard, on the other hand, are generally accepted worldwide anywhere you can use a credit card to pay for something.
How to compare Amex, Visa and Mastercard
Feature
Amex card
Visa / Mastercard
Rewards
Higher earn rate and more bonus points
Lower earn rate
Fees
Higher than average
Average
Interest rate
Higher than average
Average
Surcharges
More common and higher than Visa
Lower than American Express
Eligibility criteria
Stricter than the average Visa
Varies widely by bank
Acceptance
Less widely accepted
Accepted pretty much worldwide
Other
Often a status symbol
Many card options available
Can you get a virtual/digital card?
Loading your credit card onto your mobile wallet depends on the financial institution and type of card, rather than the card issuer. American Express cards are generally accepted on Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Most Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted on at least 1 of the 3 options, but you need to check with each credit card provider.
Some credit card providers will also provide virtual credit cards as soon as your credit card application has been approved, so that you can begin spending straight away without waiting for a physical card.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Rebecca Pike is Finder's senior writer for money. She joined Finder after almost four years writing for business publications in the mortgage and finance industry, including three years as editor of Mortgage Professional Australia. She regularly appears as a money expert on programs like Sunrise and Today, as well as across radio and newspapers. She also holds an ASIC-recognised Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification.
Find out how you can redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points for your flights and the destinations and airlines your points can take you to.
The Amex Explorer offers Membership Rewards points, lounge passes, a $400 travel credit and complimentary insurance covers – here's how its other features add up.
The American Express Velocity Business Card earns points per $1 spent and offers complimentary travel insurance and two complimentary Virgin Australia lounge passes each year.
From Membership Rewards Points to savings on first, business and premium economy class flights, this charge card is packed with features to help you manage business spending.
Compare the fees and features of this charge card, including complimentary travel insurance cover for business trips, compatibility with MYOB, additional cardholders and the option of earning Membership Rewards.
The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns up to 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent, a yearly $450 travel credit and additional premium travel features.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
