VISA vs MasterCard Credit Cards: Which Are Better?
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If you are looking for a new credit card for your wallet, you probably have wondered at least once if VISA or MasterCard would be better for you. Does one come with a better set of benefits and privileges than the other? To help you answer this question, we did a deep-dive analysis on the two payment giants to see how they compare.
What Are VISA and Mastercard?
Most electronic payments are carried out by four companies: VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. But neither VISA nor Mastercard are actually issuing debit or credit cards. Instead, their cards are issued through a co-branded relationship with commercial banks and financial institutions.
Both VISA and Mastercard:
- Are the two largest payment processing networks
- Make sure money exchange is carried out correctly and safely
- Do not issue cards directly to consumers, only to partner banks
- Do not set card's terms and conditions such as fees and rewards
- Both can offer additional perks such as identity theft, fraud protection, car rental insurance and more
- Both compete for co-branded relationships with banks
Comparison of Benefits: VISA vs MasterCard
There is actually very little difference between VISA and MasterCard's entry-level credit cards, as they both provide a similar set of basic features. However, there are meaningful differences between VISA and MasterCard’s special offers on their loyalty programs. These programs come with some luxury benefits that are meant to reward big spenders.
We’ve summarized the most important benefits of each card network in the table below. Then, we also discuss pros and cons of each issuer in the section below, where we do a deep-dive into their features.
| Category | VISA | MasterCard |
|---|---|---|
| Protection offered | ✓ | |
| Benefits offered | ✓ | |
| Acceptance by countries | ✓ | |
| Acceptance by merchants | ✓ |
VISA Card Benefits
VISA credit cards come in three tiers: standard (which includes classic, gold and platinum), Signature and Infinite. The standard tier comes with a set of basic features like security, concierge and ATM access. All three cards offer similar protection such as zero liability policy, roadside dispatch and auto rental collision damage waiver. The higher tiers offer an even wider variety of travel-related protections.
The key difference between the cards becomes more apparent when it comes to their benefits and perks. While the Visa Traditional credit card does not offer any benefits, VISA Signature and Infinite cards provide lost luggage and trip delay reimbursements, airport lounge access, purchase security and many more benefits.
The offers and perks offered by the three cards mainly vary by the amount of car rental and hotel discounts offered and the number of companies you can choose from. The benefits and perks offered by the VISA Infinite card exceed the highest level usually offered, as it provides VIP services and perks in addition to the usual discounts on travel and rentals.
VISA Infinite cards are clearly designed for high spenders who both care about and can afford luxuries.You can read more about Signature and Infinite on VISA’s website.
VISA Card Offers and Perks
- Car rental discounts
- Bus tour discounts
- Cruise discounts
- Helicopter and seaplane tour discounts
- Hotel and resort discounts
| Visa Card Tier | Protection | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard |
| Check the issuing bank's terms |
| Signature |
|
|
| Infinite |
|
|
MasterCard Benefits
MasterCard also offers 3 tiers: Standard, World and World Elite. MasterCard's standard tier is similar to VISA's with basic features like security, concierge and ATM access. However, MasterCard definitely offers better VIP perks for its upper tiers than VISA's premium options.
For instance, MasterCard World and World Elite's perks provide SPG Gold access, which includes more and higher-quality hotels than VISA's Hilton program.MasterCard World and World Elite also give you a wallet protection benefit of up to $100 if you ever lose your wallet and online purchase insurance of up to $200 if your online purchase gets lost or damaged. Not only that, MasterCard World Elite also comes with free lounge access at over 600 airports around the world, as well as discounts on luxurious services like private jets.
Part of the benefits offered by Mastercard is a concept called Priceless Cities. It is a program for Mastercard cardholders which provides access to incredible experiences in cities around the world. Categories include travel, culinary, arts and culture, sports, shopping and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased online and offer either discounted pricing or unique access for Mastercard customers.
MasterCard Priceless Cities Categories
- Travel
- Culinary
- Arts & Culture
- Sports
- Shopping
- Entertainment
| MasterCard Card Tier | Protection | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard |
| Priceless experiences (access to entertainment, culinary, sports and travel experiences) |
| World |
|
|
| World Elite | Cell phone protection |
|
Conclusion: Should You Get a VISA or a Mastercard?
For most people, it doesn’t really matter whether they get a VISA or a MasterCard. Both are equally secure and offer similar benefits. While VISA has a slightly higher market share and greater amount of transactions worldwide, both VISA and MasterCard are equally well-accepted by merchants.
Although MasterCard's upper tiers provide a better set of benefits, there are a lot more perks offered by the issuing banks themselves. You really need to consider each card individually before applying. For example, banks often provide benefits like annual fee waivers, cashback promotions and sign up bonuses, cash rebate, air miles and even travel insurance.
At the end of the day, any real choice between the two networks should always come down to how the actual terms, benefits and fees of a card fit with your budget. You can read our guide on the best credit cards in Singapore to find the perfect fit for you.
| VISA | MasterCard | |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide Purchase Transactions 2019 ( Billions) | 185.5 | 108.4 |
| Global Transaction Volume 2019 | $8.8 trillion | $6.5 trillion |
| Global Acceptance | 46 Million Merchants | 33 Million Merchants |
| Total Revenue 2019 | $23 billion | $16.9 billion |
FAQs
VISA and Mastercard are the two largest global payments technology companies in the world. Both companies make the majority of their revenue from service and data processing fees. They each partner with banks to issue credit cards that work within their respective networks.
They don't issue cards directly to the public. Instead, they partner with financial institutions such as banks and issue cards via these banks to the public.
There aren't major differences between the two companies. VISA is slightly larger and has a higher transaction volume and a slightly higher level of global acceptance. However, MasterCard is accepted in more countries than VISA is. At the end of the day, the main differences between a VISA card and Mastercard will depend on the issuing bank which is the one deciding on the benefits, protection and rates offered.
The answer here ultimately boils down to your spending habits and activities. In addition, the benefits and perks offered by VISA and MasterCard do not necessarily guarantee that each VISA credit card issued by any bank will have the same benefits. Those benefits are mainly determined by the issuing bank, although VISA and MasterCard can take part in drafting the terms.
Actually, it's both. VISA cards can be broken down into three categories: debit cards, credit cards, prepaid and gift cards.
Learn More About How to Find the Best Credit Card for You
- How to Apply for a Credit Card
- How to Use a Credit Card
- How to Find the Best Rewards Credit Card
- Compare the Best Cashback Credit Cards
- Compare the Best Rewards Credit Cards
- Types of Credit Card Rewards: Cash Back, Points and Miles
- Read About the Average Cost of Fast Food in Singapore
- Read About the Best Supermarkets in Singapore
Zoryana is a Senior Research Analyst at ValueChampion, who focuses on evaluating credit cards, savings and fixed deposits in Singapore. She holds a BA in Political Science and an MPA in International Finance and Economic Policy, both from Columbia University. Prior to joining ValueChampion, Zoryana worked in treasury management consulting.