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Deciding between American Express and Mastercard is tough because they offer a wide range of cards. From low- to high-tier cards, welcome offers and annual fees, these cards work to meet the needs of all card users.
Amex and Mastercard products have similar key features. For example:
While Amex and Mastercard offer many of the same standard benefits, they each come with their own smaller, additional perks. There are notable differences, such as:
Check out the table below to see standard benefits. Though you might see a green check mark in a few spaces, you might not find the respective perk in your chosen card. Benefits vary based on card issuer.
Hover over the symbols to see details about each perk.
| American Express | Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Extended warranty |  |  |
| Purchase protection | | |
| Return protection | | |
| Price protection | | |
| Car rental insurance | | |
| Global Assist Hotline/Mastercard Global Service | | |
| Roadside assistance | | |
| Travel accident insurance | | |
| Zero liability for unauthorized purchases | | |
With more expensive Amex cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and American Express® Gold Card and Mastercard’s World Elite products you’ll get the following benefits:
Consider these advantages and drawbacks to each network before making your decision.
If you want to know more about how Amex cards stack up to the competition, check out how they compare to Visa cards. And if you’re curious about their performance compared to Discover cards, compare the pros and cons with our guide.
There are fewer differences between Amex and Mastercard than there are between Amex and Discover. Because these networks are so similar, it’s difficult to make a general verdict as one may fit your specific needs better than the other.
To make your own verdict, take a look at the specific contrasts that might stand out depending on your tastes.
A few notables include:
With many great products from each provider, it can be easy to mix and match credit cards. Here are a few ideas:
While it may be difficult to choose between Amex and Mastercard because they have so many similarities, looking at the differences between specific cards may help you determine which issuer is right for you. Both Amex and Mastercard offer some products that are replicated nowhere else.
If you’re not sure either provider is right for you, look into credit cards from other companies.
What is the longest intro APR available?
As of this writing, Mastercard has the longest balance transfer and purchase intro APR periods between the two issuers with 18 months.
What other card networks are good for international travel?
Visa is an excellent option. Like Mastercard, it is accepted internationally more than Amex and Discover.
Which Amex products require you pay your balance in full each month?
Some of the provider’s products allow you to pay your balance over time.
A business card and credit line combo designed for small businesses and those with no credit.
A user-friendly secured card with no credit check required.
A simple 2% cashback card that could benefit from extra features.
A credit building card held back by fees.
Earn up to 2.62% back depending on your Preferred Rewards membership.
We asked 7 financial experts what credit card they have in their wallet right now. Here’s the skinny.
Earn 1.5% back on your eligible business purchases.
Chase’s new Air Canada card offers a big signup bonus.
A secured charge card with an unfortunate monthly fee.
