Credit cards are a convenient alternative to carrying cash — as long as merchants accept them. And that can depend on which of the four main U.S. payment networks your card runs on: Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted by virtually every merchant that takes credit cards, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Discover and American Express, however, have historically been playing catchup. Both networks say they've reached a 99% acceptance rate among U.S. merchants who take credit cards. More recently, they've also made some strides with international acceptance, although that can still depend greatly on the merchant and destination.
Here's a closer look at how Discover and American Express compare, at home and abroad.
🤓Nerdy Tip
In the wake of Capital One’s acquisition of Discover, many cardholders are being transitioned to Discover's network. If you're an affected Capital One cardholder, you'll want to familiarize yourself with Discover's network acceptance and benefits. For domestic purchases, it's a tie
American Express
Domestically, there's now almost no difference in merchant acceptance between American Express and Visa or Mastercard. American Express has had virtual parity acceptance (99%) in the U.S. since 2019, according to the issuer.
It wasn't always this way. Several years ago, American Express acceptance lagged behind other payment networks, mainly because AmEx historically charged merchants higher interchange fees, also known as “swipe fees.” In other words, AmEx cards were more expensive for stores to accept.
AmEx set that 99% "virtual parity" goal in 2016, and the company says it's gotten there in large part because of its OptBlue program, which has helped mitigate swipe fees and close the acceptance gap. The program allows eligible small businesses to accept AmEx cards through one of several third-party payment processors that partner with the issuer and set their own swipe fee rates.
So these days, in the U.S., you're much less likely to hear the phrase "we don't take American Express."
Discover
Discover says it's also at 99% acceptance among U.S. merchants that take credit cards, citing the February 2026 edition of the Nilson Report industry newsletter.
"We’ve worked to grow acceptance by having relationships with all major payment enablers in the U.S. and are embedded in their standard payment solutions for merchants," a Discover representative said via email.
It did take Discover a little longer to get there, but then again it's also the newest of the four major U.S. payment networks, having debuted in 1986. American Express, Mastercard and Visa all had a head start on Discover by decades.
So for a time, AmEx had a slight acceptance advantage domestically — but now they're even.
🤓Nerdy Tip
In some cases, retailers have exclusive agreements with other card issuers, so this can impact acceptance as well. For instance, Costco is a major retailer that accepts only Visa in its physical stores — Discover, American Express and even Mastercard holders are out of luck inside its walls.For international purchases, AmEx has a slight edge
International acceptance data isn’t widely available for these networks, but AmEx and Discover have continued to increase their international footprints. AmEx cards are accepted in over 200 countries. Since 2019, the issuer has also worked to increase the scope of its rewards-earning credit cards, so that bonus dining rewards aren't limited to only U.S. eateries but apply to restaurants worldwide.
“We’ve focused on expanding acceptance in the places our card members live, work and travel," said Anna Mars, group president of global merchant and network services at AmEx, in an email. "As a result, merchant locations accepting AmEx outside the U.S. have more than doubled just over the past four years — making it easier to use American Express cards around the world.”
Discover’s network has also cast a wide net globally, but is available in fewer countries. Currently, the Discover Global Network includes more than 70 million merchant acceptance points in over 185 countries and territories. The Discover Global Network combines Discover Network, Diners Club International and PULSE. Their network has over 30 alliances with other networks, issuers and payment organizations to expand their reach. Discover provides a map of countries where its cards are accepted. It notes that Discover cardholders can use their cards where a Discover partner is accepted.
A backup payment method is best
Even if Discover or American Express say their cards are accepted in a certain country, that doesn't mean all merchants there will accept them.
It's generally wise to take a no-foreign-transaction-fee Visa or Mastercard credit and debit card — and cash — as a backup. That way, you have various payment methods to work with.
On my recent trip to Greece, I had to be mindful of Discover’s acceptance limitations and have a payment strategy in place. I'd already packed a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card that ran on Visa’s network, as well as backup credit cards. But I also knew I needed a debit card to get euros at ATMs, since cash is still king with plenty of merchants there.
Being the Nerd that I am, I didn’t want to use the debit card that's tied to my direct-deposit account, for security purposes. (It’s just an added precaution that gives me peace of mind.) So instead, I decided to bring my rarely used no-foreign-transaction-fee Capital One debit card. Before my trip, I'd learned that it transitioned to Discover’s network, so I had to map out ATM locations across several different islands.
Which should you choose?
Both Discover and American Express offer good credit cards, and you likely won't run into problems when shopping online or at national or regional retailers and restaurant chains. Your credit may determine which credit cards you're eligible for that run on these networks.
American Express' portfolio tends to lean toward those with good credit, generally FICO scores of 690 or higher. AmEx cards are more ideal for earning travel rewards. Discover's credit cards are becoming part of Capital One's portfolio and can be more inclusive of those who're establishing credit. Discover credit cards tend to focus more on cash-back rewards.
Regardless of which you choose, consider also adding a Visa or Mastercard, especially if you travel overseas frequently.
