American Express vs Visa: What’s the difference? (2024)

American Express and Visa are both major credit card networks, but they’re certainly not the same.

Using an American Express card, or Amex card, can imply a certain level of prestige and exclusivity. Amex cards often earn big rewards and, in some cases, come with ultra-high annual fees. By contrast, Visa card options include premium cards but also products that can be more accessible for people with credit issues and are a more practical choice if you use credit around the globe.

Whether you prefer American Express or Visa, you have lots of credit card options to choose from.

Visa vs. American Express: What’s the difference?

Visa and American Express are both global payment networks. That means they both facilitate payment transactions all over the world. The main difference between the two companies, however, is that American Express is a credit card issuer and Visa is not.

• Payment network: A company that approves or declines electronic transactions and transfers funds to merchants if payment is approved.
• Credit card issuer: A company that issues credit cards directly to individuals and/or businesses. The issuer often determines the terms of the card and the eligibility requirements.

It’s hard to pinpoint specific differences between credit cards from these two networks, since you can find a near-endless variety of products from each one. But as a cardholder, one of the main differences you may notice is where your card is accepted.

At Costco, for example, you can only pay with a Visa credit card. You might find that some small businesses are less likely to accept American Express as well.

About Visa

Visa Inc., or Visa, is one of the biggest card networks in the world. The company partners with financial institutions and retailers who issue three different levels of personal credit cards and business credit cards, all with the Visa logo:

• Traditional: Even the lowest tier card from Visa comes with valuable benefits, including access to complimentary features like same-day grocery delivery and identity theft monitoring.
• Signature: Signature cardholders get additional benefits, which could include a Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment for airport lounges and access to emergency cash.
• Infinite: Visa’s Infinite cards all include a $100 statement credit reimbursem*nt for the Global Entry application fee and a long list of retail discounts. Most Infinite cards are also rewards cards, meaning they can earn you points or cash back.

Depending on where you go for a Visa credit card — whether it’s your bank or a company like Verizon — the card terms can vary significantly. Everything from APR to rewards rates and late fees are primarily determined by the company that issues the card.

About American Express

American Express is a global payment network, but it’s also the second largest issuer of credit cards in the U.S. (behind JP Morgan Chase). There are over 112 million different American Express cards available worldwide, but the company also offers checking and savings accounts, loans and business lines of credit.

Most Amex cards are issued directly from American Express. However, you can find cobranded cards from some banks and retailers, and going this route for an Amex card could mean finding more lax credit requirements. If you’re interested in getting a card, you can also visit the Amex website to see if you qualify. Prequalifying through the website won’t impact your credit score.

American Express offers three main card categories:

• Travel and dining: American Express® Green Card*The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer., American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
• Points: Amex EveryDay® Credit Card*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer..
• Cash back: American Express Cash Magnet® Card*The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer., Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

All information about American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card and American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.

American Express vs. Visa card comparison

Between the two networks, Visa cards are used much more commonly around the world. Some Visa cards may be easier to qualify for based on credit and accepted at more of the places where you shop regularly, including Costco.

But that doesn’t mean you need perfect credit in order to get an American Express card. There are several Amex cards you can pre-qualify for with good credit — which for American Express can mean scores starting at 700 — including the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and the American Express Cash Magnet® Card*The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer., both of which have welcome bonuses and no annual fee (terms apply).

All information about Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Which is better: Visa or American Express?

For someone with credit issues, a Visa card might be your best option. It can be difficult to qualify for an American Express card with a score below 700 and some of their cards have even higher requirements. Visa cards can also be a better option for frequent travelers, since cards in the Visa network are more widely accepted abroad.

For someone who values prestige and rewards from a credit card, an Amex card could be the way to go. Yes, some American Express cards have annual fees in the three- and even four-digit range, but the features often compensate for the unusually high cost to carry a card.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)