Adam McCann
, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jan 23, 2023
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page. Discover is a WalletHub partner.
When you compare Discover vs. Visa, one of the biggest differences you’ll find is that Discover is both a credit card issuer and a card network while Visa is only a network. Visa is more widely accepted, too, and it has more supplemental benefits as well as more cards to choose from. Many different banks and credit unions issue Visa cards.
Discover vs. Visa Comparison
| Category | Discover | Visa |
| Card network / issuer | Both | Card network only |
| Domestic acceptance | 10.64 million merchants | 10.7 million merchants |
| Cards in circulation | 61 million | 312.2 million |
| Foreign acceptance | 200+ countries and territories (more limited selection of merchants) | 200+ countries and territories (virtually all merchants who take credit cards) |
| Foreign transaction fees | 0% on all cards | 0% to 3%, depending on the card |
| Supplemental benefits | Largely discontinued | Extended warranties, price protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance and travel insurance, depending on the card |
| Major issuers that issue cards on the network | Discover | Many banks and credit unions, including Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi and U.S. Bank |
| Cardholder liability for fraudulent credit card purchases | $0 | $0 |
In summary, Discover and Visa have a lot of differences, even though their cards function the same way. If you’re looking for a card to use abroad, Visa is usually the better option, but Discover has plenty of worthwhile cards for domestic use. Below, you can see some of the best cards on each network.
Discover vs. Visa Credit Cards by Category
| Category | Discover | Visa | Winner |
| Cash back | Discover it® Cash Back | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Visa |
| Travel | Discover it® Miles | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Visa |
| 0% intro APR | Discover it® Chrome | Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | Visa |
| Balance transfers | Discover it® Balance Transfer | Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | Visa |
| Bad credit | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card | Discover |
| Fair Credit | N/A | Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Visa |
| Students | Discover it® Student Chrome | Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students | Visa |
| Business | None | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Visa |
Discover vs. Visa Benefits
Visa credit cards offer many different benefits, including things like extended warranties, price protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance and travel insurance. The exact benefits differ by benefits tier and by card.
There are three tiers of Visa card benefits, Traditional, Signature and Infinite. Traditional Visa cards provide the fewest types of benefits, while Visa Infinite cards provide the most. However, a card will not necessarily have every benefit that its tier provides, as the card’s issuer has power over which benefits are offered.
Discover cards used to offer many of the same benefits that Visa cards did, but most of those perks were discontinued in 2018. One major benefit that both Visa and Discover credit cards provide is $0 liability for any fraudulent purchases. For debit cards, Visa and Discover both offer $0 liability on signature cards. When it comes to PIN cards, Discover offers $0 liability on all purchases while Visa offers it only on transactions processed on the Visa network.
When to Get a Discover Card vs. a Visa Card
Discover credit cards are an especially attractive option if you have bad to fair credit or are a student, as the bank provides lucrative rewards cards for those types of people. Discover has cards for people with good or excellent credit that are worth considering, too. If you prefer a Discover card’s terms and rewards to those of comparable Visa cards, and you plan to use your card only in the U.S. or countries where Discover is widely accepted, go with Discover.
When it comes to Visa credit cards, there are a lot of good options with rewards for people with good to excellent credit, as well as cards for people who want to finance big purchases or manage business spending. For travel, the best Visa cards outshine Discover and are more widely accepted abroad. Visa credit cards also tend to provide a lot more benefits than Discover cards do, so that’s another thing to take into consideration.
Ultimately, you should compare individual cards to each other to find the best option for you personally. You can learn more about the best Discover and Visa credit cards on WalletHub.
Discover vs. Visa FAQ(10 questions)
Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
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Upvotes
What's the difference between American Express and Visa?
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Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
The difference between Visa and American Express is that American Express is both a card issuer and a payment network, while Visa is only a payment network. Visa is also more widely accepted than Amex, as Visa cards work in over 200 countries and territories, compared to 160+ for American Express cards.
Differences Between American Express and Visa
Point of Comparison | American Express | Visa |
Payment Network? | Yes | Yes |
Credit Card Issuer? | Yes | No |
Worldwide Acceptance | Accepted in 160+ countries and territories | Accepted in 200+ countries and territories |
Domestic Acceptance | Accepted at 10.6 million U.S. locations | Accepted at 10.7 million U.S. locations |
Cards in Circulation | 48.4 million | 312.2 million |
$0 Fraud Liability Guarantee | Yes | Yes |
Merchant Processing Fees | High | Low |
$0 Liability Guarantee? | Yes | Yes |
For merchants, the biggest difference between American Express and Visa is how much they charge a merchant for processing payments. Amex processing fees are on the higher end, while Visa's fees are on the lower end.
Although there are a handful of big differences between American Express and Visa, most people will not be affected unless they travel abroad, as Amex has less acceptance outside of the U.S. than Visa. Otherwise, for the average cardholder, there are far more similarities between the two payment networks than differences.
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Upvotes
What is the difference between Visa and Mastercard?
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WalletHub
@WalletHub
The main difference between Visa and Mastercard is that Mastercard is more widely accepted internationally, while Visa offers more credit card benefits. However, most people won't notice any substantial difference between Visa and Mastercard because their services are largely on par.
Visa and Mastercard are two of the largest payment networks in the world, but neither Visa nor Mastercard issues any cards. Banks and credit unions issue the cards, which are then used on...
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What type of credit card is Visa?
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Ryan P Page, Staff Writer
@ryan_page
A Visa can be any type of credit card, from a secured credit card for building credit to an unsecured rewards credit card for people who already have excellent credit. Visa is a credit card network, which means it dictates where cards issued by banks and credit unions can be used. All Visa credit cards operate on the Visa network and are accepted by most merchants across more than 200 countries and territories.
Visa...
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What is a Visa credit card?
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Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer
@CLoop
A Visa credit card is a payment card that uses the Visa network for processing and authorizing transactions. Visa partners with banks and credit unions, and these financial institutions offer Visa-branded credit cards to consumers and small business owners.
Popular Visa Credit Cards
No Annual Fee:Chase Freedom Unlimited®Chase Freedom Unlimited®Learn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website- Cash Back:Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardWells Fargo Active Cash® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Business:Ink Business Cash® Credit CardInk Business Cash® Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Students:Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for StudentsBank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for StudentsLearn MoreLearn More
- Secured:U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured CardU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Travel:Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Preferred® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
It's important to remember that Visa doesn't actually issue credit cards. As a network, Visa dictates where a credit card can be used and what benefits it provides.
Visa...
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Upvotes
Is it better to get an American Express or Discover card?
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WalletHub
@WalletHub
When you look at American Express vs. Discover, you can find a lot of similarities. Both companies are credit card networks and credit card issuers. So, they not only determine where cards can be used, but they also handle credit card offers, applications and accounts. This sets them apart from the two other major card networks, Mastercard and Visa, which don't issue cards.
Discover and American Express also have lower acceptance rates than the other networks, although...
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Discover vs. Mastercard: What are the main differences?
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10
WalletHub
@WalletHub
The biggest difference when you pit Discover vs. Mastercard is that while both are credit card networks, Discover also is a credit card issuer. Credit card networks decide where cards can and can't be used, as well as process transactions. Credit card issuers set rates, approve applicants and send out cards, among other things. Discover handles both functions. So, Discover credit cards are issued by Discover and belong to the Discover network. Mastercard credit cards, on the other hand, are issued by dozens...
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What should I know about Discover vs. Capital One credit cards?
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Eric McFadden
@ericmcfadden_1
Discoverand Capital Onecredit cards have a few differences between them. Discover cards are not as widely accepted worldwide as Capital One. That's because Capital One cards are backed by either the Visa or Mastercard networks outside of the U.S.
You should also know that Discover, which touts itself as an online financial services company, does not have branches. Capital One is one of the 10 largest banks the U.S. and has branches...
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How many types of Discover cards are there?
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Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
There are several types of Discover cards spanning a wide range of categories; cash back, travel, low interest, student, business, bad credit, and more. All Discover cards have $0 annual fees and 0% foreign transaction fees. Plus, Discover matches all rewards earned during the first year for all their cards.
Discover is a card network, yet it also issues its own credit cards. All Discover cards offer a minimum of 1% back in rewards...
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What is considered a "major credit card"?
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WalletHub
@WalletHub
Major credit cards are any cards that belong to one of the big four credit card networks: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. That's what stores mean by “we accept all major credit cards.” A major credit card will almost always show the logo of its network on the front. In some cases it'll be on the back. If a card doesn't have such a logo, it's likely a store card that can only be used at a...
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Is Discover a good credit card company?
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Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
Discover is a good credit card company, ranking third-best in customer satisfaction and offering cards with $0 annual and foreign transaction fees. Plus, Discover rewards users with at least 1% cash back on purchases and will match new cardholders' earnings from their first year as a special anniversary gift. Most Discover cards also offer 0% introductory APRs on purchases and balance transfers (with a standard variable rate applying after that).
Reasons Discover is a...
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Important Disclosures
* WalletHub is committed to transparency and editorial independence. The information about the following cards has been independently collected by WalletHub: Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card
