Both American Express and Visa are major credit card networks, and when it comes to choosing just one, it can leave many users confused. This is because while both cards serve exceptional purposes, we cannot deny that they are certainly not the same and differ in many aspects.
If you are someone who plans on purchasing just one but wants to read upon both their differences to make the best pick for yourself, then you have landed on the right page. Hop on below to learn the difference between Visa vs. American Express and gain insight into which one is better for you.
A Brief Guide About Visa
When talking about the significant or renowned networks in the world, Visa Inc. easily tops the list. This company partners with several financial institutions and retailers and issues three different stage levels when it comes to personal credit cards and business credit cards that have the Visa Inc. logo imprinted on them. These three stage levels are:
Traditional
This is the lowest tier on the card scale, but this certainly doesn't mean that it can't come with complimentary benefits and features. Users through this visa card can avail of same-day grocery delivery and identity theft monitoring.
Signature
Next up on the list is the signature card, which offers cardholders benefits like Priority Pass Select memberships for airport lounges and also helps them avail excessive passes.
Infinite
This card allows users to avail $100 reimbursement for the Global Entry application fee along with several other retail discounts.
A Brief Guide About American Express
This global payment network is the second-largest credit card issuer in the entire United States. While the company offers checking and savings accounts, loans, and business lines of credit cards, its three main card categories happen to be as follows:
Travel and Dining
Those users who are in search of American Express cards that can help them avail exceptional discounts on travel and dining can choose one out of the following cards:
- American Express Green Card
- American Express Gold Card
- The Platinum Card from American Express
Points
If you are someone who is on the lookout to avail yourself some exceptional points through their cards, then we urge you to look into these two American Express Cards:
- Amex Everyday Credit Card
- Amex Everyday Preferred Credit Card
Cashback
Want to avail of some exceptional cashback through your Credit Card but confused about which American Express card you should be picking? Well, choose one of the three:
- American Express Card Magnet Card
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Card Express
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Visa. Vs. American Express – What is the Main Difference?
Both Visa and American Express are global payment networks, which means that both cards facilitate payment transactions worldwide. However, when it comes to pinpointing the main difference between the two cards, American Express is a credit card issuer, while Visa is simply a payment network. Want to know more on these two terms? Here you go:
Payment Network
A payment network is a company that declines or accepts electronic transactions. It then goes on to make the said transactional payments to the merchants if the payment is approved.
Credit Card Issuer
A credit card issuer is a company that issues a credit card to an individual or business directly. The terms of the card, along with the eligibility, are often determined by the issuer only.
American Express vs. Visa – Which One is Better?
Now that you have a brief inside on both the cards, the question is which one might be the best pick for you. Well, while both cards are equally great, the aspects of picking them differ slightly.
If you are someone who has credit issues, then a visa card is what might suit you best. This is because in order to qualify for an American Express Card, one has to have a score below 700. Moreover, some of the other American Express cards have even higher requirements, which, at times, can be difficult for most individuals to fulfill.
Visa cards can also be a better option for those who are frequent travelers. The primary reason for this is that the visa networks are more widely accepted globally compared to the American Express cards. American Express cards can also be more expensive than Visa cards when it comes to the overall annual fees.
However, while Visa cards take the lead in one aspect, the American Express Cards exceed when it comes to better customer service. According to the 2022 US Credit Card Satisfaction Study that was concluded by JD Power, American Express cards offered exceptional high-quality services when it came to its customers. The Visa cards, on the other hand, didn't have any customer service interactions.
Hence, take into consideration all of the factors and then choose the right pick between both cards for yourself.
Wrapping Up!
If you are someone who is planning on purchasing a new card and your choice has now leveled the playing field with American Express vs. Visa in the lead, then we hope this article helped you clear your issues. While both cards offer exceptional benefits, there is no denying that they differ in a lot of aspects as well. Hence, taking into consideration all factors that make each card different and understanding all benefits while aligning them with how well they suit you is essential. Let us know which card you like the most and which one you would be choosing.
