American Express vs. Visa credit cards

Make a decision based on features you value, such as rewards points or acceptance rate.

Both American Express and Visa offer credit cards with unique rewards programs that could suit one person over another. For example, if you’re looking for more opportunities to earn rewards points, Amex might suit your needs better. But, if you’re looking for a card with a wider acceptance rate, you might want to try Visa. In the end, both providers offer great features. Choosing between them is just a matter of personal preference.

Things to consider when comparing American Express and Visa credit cards

• Limits and expiration for reward points. If you’re saving for something big like a flight then it’s important to know that your points won’t expire before you rack them all up. Similarly, if you spend a lot and there is a limit on what you can earn, you’re missing out on major points.
• Annual fee. Many Visa and Amex cards will come with no annual fee or have promotions that waive the annual fee for the first year. That said, depending on the card you get from either, the fee could be anywhere from $25 to upwards of $500.
• Interest rates. American Express generally charges an interest rate between 11% to 27%. Visa cards can come with either a variable or a fixed interest rate and can range anywhere from 8.25% to 29.99%.
• Customer service. Both Visa and American Express have a reputation for its customer service and providing a concierge that can help you in any situation, whether its an emergency or not.
• Complimentary insurance. Both Visa and American Express have credit cards that offer complimentary insurance when you pay for your travel in full with the card. However, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions before you apply.

Compare American Express and Visa credit cards

• American Express credit cards
• Visa credit cards

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Name	Product	Filter values	Rewards	Purchase APR	Annual fee
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express			3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)	$0	Apply now View details	Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. This is a higher-than-average welcome offer for a card with no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express			6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)	Apply now View details	Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. Having 6 months to earn a welcome offer is a rare benefit as most cards give you only 3. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Name	Product	Filter values	Rewards	Purchase APR	Annual fee
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card			Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, every day	15.99% to 23.99% variable	$95	Apply now View details	Earn 60,000 bonus miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months ​from account opening	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card			10x miles on hotel and rental car purchases booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on every other purchase	16.99% to 23.99% variable	$395	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Pros and cons of American Express credit cards

Pros and cons of Visa credit cards

What features and services do American Express and Visa offer?

While Amex and Visa offer some similar benefits, looking at the features and services that set them apart can help make your decision. For example, Amex products uniformly offer features such as purchase protection and travel insurance. These features are mostly issuer-dependent among Visa cards, however. Choosing between the providers just depends on what you value.

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The verdict

Your personal shopping habits and how you’ll be using the card should point you in the direction of what will better suit your needs. If you use your American Express for 50% of your everyday shopping you’ll get the most value. However, If you want a card that’s more widely accepted and has a lower annual fee, Visa is your pick.

Best of both worlds?

If you can’t decide whether you want to choose between American Express or Visa, you can always get both and use one as a backup. Having both Visa and American Express means that you can use either of them as much as possible while earning more points.