Why is American Express merchant acceptance limited compared to Mastercard?

American Express operates as both a card issuer and payment network, focusing on premium U.S. consumers with higher credit requirements and rewards. Mastercard, as a pure payment network, partners with diverse financial institutions globally to maximize merchant acceptance. American Express's higher merchant fees (0.30-0.50% premium) also deter some merchants from accepting the card, particularly small businesses with thin margins.

How much faster is American Express growing its merchant network compared to Mastercard?

American Express achieved 16% year-over-year merchant acceptance growth in the 12 months through June 2025, expanding its network 5-fold since 2017. Mastercard maintains a mature, stable global network across 190+ countries. Amex's rapid growth reflects aggressive merchant acquisition investments, while Mastercard's focus is on network optimization rather than expansion in already-saturated markets.

What are the actual fee differences merchants pay between American Express and Mastercard?

American Express merchant discount fees typically run 0.30-0.50 percentage points higher than Visa or Mastercard for comparable transactions. For example, if Mastercard charges 1.50% for a standard retail transaction, American Express might charge 1.80-2.00%. This differential reflects Amex's premium positioning and higher cardholder rewards, but increases processing costs for merchants.

Which card is better for international travel?

Mastercard is superior for international travel due to acceptance in 190+ countries and lower merchant fees encouraging global merchant participation. American Express offers premium travel rewards and benefits but has limited international acceptance outside major cities in developed nations, requiring travelers to carry backup payment methods.

Are there credit score differences between American Express and Mastercard cards?

Yes. American Express requires good to excellent credit (typically 650+ credit score) for card approval, reflecting its premium market positioning. Mastercard, as a payment network, supports card products across all credit levels through various issuing banks, with options starting at 550+ credit scores for subprime consumers. This makes Mastercard more accessible to broader populations.

American Express vs Mastercard 2025-2026

Updated May 3, 2026

American Express

Dual issuer-network offering premium rewards and selective merchant acceptance focused on affluent consumers.

Affluent U.S. consumers prioritizing travel rewards, premium benefits, and domestic merchant networks; businesses with strong U.S. customer bases

Mastercard

Global payment network accepted at 90+ million merchants worldwide with support for all credit tiers.

Global merchants, international travelers, consumers with varied credit profiles, businesses seeking lower processing fees and worldwide payment acceptance

Short Answer

American Express has grown merchant acceptance by 16% year-over-year but remains limited internationally, while Mastercard maintains broader global acceptance across 190+ countries with lower merchant fees (0.30-0.50% less than Amex). Mastercard suits global merchants and diverse credit profiles, while Amex targets premium U.S. consumers and high-value transactions.

Our Verdict

Choose American Express if you're a U.S.-based premium consumer seeking travel rewards, exclusive benefits, and cashback redemption with strong domestic acceptance. Choose Mastercard if you're a global merchant or traveler needing worldwide acceptance across 190+ countries, lower processing fees, or access to cards across all credit tiers.

American Express6.4

8.6Mastercard

Choose American Express if

Affluent U.S. consumers prioritizing travel rewards, premium benefits, and domestic merchant networks; businesses with strong U.S. customer bases

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Global Merchant Acceptance: Mastercard wins (Accepted in 190+ Countries vs Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally)

🔹

Merchant Discount Fees (2026): Mastercard wins (Industry Standard (Lower Baseline) vs 0.30-0.50% Higher Than Visa/Mastercard)

🔹

Merchant Acceptance Growth (12-Month YoY): American Express wins (16% Growth (2024-2025) vs Stable Established Network)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	American Express	Mastercard	Diff
Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—	—
2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—	—
Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Key Differences

American Express

Attribute

Mastercard

Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance

Accepted in 190+ Countries🏆

0.30-0.50% Higher Than Visa/Mastercard

Merchant Discount Fees (2026)

Industry Standard (Lower Baseline)🏆

16% Growth (2024-2025)🏆

Related Comparisons

American Express vs Mastercard

products

American Express vs Mastercard: Business Safety & Protection Features

finance

Mastercard vs American Express Merchant Acceptance 2026

finance

American Express vs Mastercard Merchant Acceptance 2025-2026

finance

American Express vs Visa

products

Roth IRA vs 401(k)

finance

LLC vs S-Corp

finance

Buying vs Renting a Home

finance

Vanguard vs Fidelity

finance

Bitcoin vs Ethereum

economy

Netflix vs Disney+

companies

Google vs Microsoft

companies

Explore Entities

More Finance

People Also Compare

Last updated: May 3, 2026AI generated

Global Merchant Acceptance

American Express

Strong in U.S., Limited Internationally

Mastercard

Accepted in 190+ Countries🏆

Merchant Discount Fees (2026)

American Express

0.30-0.50% Higher Than Visa/Mastercard

Mastercard

Industry Standard (Lower Baseline)🏆

Merchant Acceptance Growth (12-Month YoY)

American Express

16% Growth (2024-2025)🏆

Mastercard

Stable Established Network

Credit Tier Options

American Express

Good to Excellent Credit Required

Mastercard

Options for All Credit Levels🏆

Primary Target Market

American Express

Affluent U.S. Consumers

Mastercard

Global Consumers & Merchants

Small Merchant Program

American Express

OptBlue (Under $1M Annual Volume)

Mastercard

Universal Acceptance Program🏆

Travel Rewards Focus

American Express

Premium Rewards & Exclusive Benefits🏆

Mastercard

Standard Rewards Across Issuers

Full Comparison

Attribute	American Express	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$175B	$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$95-$695	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$550	$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection	$0 liability 24/7	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	$0 liability
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	24/7 Real-Time Alerts	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES GCM (March 2026 release)	AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model	Issuer + Network	—

Customer Service Type	Direct dedicated support	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-60 days	30-90 days

Rewards Consistency	Standardized across cards	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Comprehensive (Premium Cards)	Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)	3.0%	1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)	750+	600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	1.5%-6%	0.5%-5% (varies)
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Premium Exclusive Benefits	Standard Issuer-Dependent
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	5X points	3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	Strong U.S. + Growing International	190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)	0.30-0.50% Higher	Industry Standard Baseline
Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)	Established Fee Model	Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented
Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)	1.43-2.4%	—
Cost Differential vs Visa(%)	Comparable pricing	—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)	16% Year-over-Year Growth	Stable Mature Network
International Expansion (2026 Status)	B2B program expansion ongoing	—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)	Good to Excellent (650+)	All Credit Levels (550+)
Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)	Good to Excellent (670+)	Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	OptBlue Program (<$1M)	Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	5x Expansion (2017-2025)	Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)	150+ countries	190+ countries
Countries with Active Network(countries)	120+ countries	150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	90 days	120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$600 annually	$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration	Amex Intelligence Dashboard	Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	~12 million merchants	90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	2.5-3.5% OptBlue	1.5-3.5%
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	3.5%+ Amex Direct	2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)	$12,000-16,000	$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	670+ (good credit minimum)	580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)	95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally	98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

American Express

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

190+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~94%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$30.2B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$175B

$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$95-$695

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$550

$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection

$0 liability 24/7

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

24/7 Real-Time Alerts

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES GCM (March 2026 release)

AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model

Issuer + Network

—

Customer Service Type

Direct dedicated support

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-60 days

30-90 days

Rewards Consistency

Standardized across cards

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive (Premium Cards)

Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

9 million locations

40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)

3.0%

1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

750+

600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

1.5%-6%

0.5%-5% (varies)

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Premium Exclusive Benefits

Standard Issuer-Dependent

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

5X points

3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

Strong U.S. + Growing International

190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

0.30-0.50% Higher

Industry Standard Baseline

Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)

Established Fee Model

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

16% Year-over-Year Growth

Stable Mature Network

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

Good to Excellent (650+)

All Credit Levels (550+)

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Good to Excellent (670+)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

OptBlue Program (<$1M)

Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

5x Expansion (2017-2025)

Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

150+ countries

190+ countries

Countries with Active Network(countries)

120+ countries

150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

90 days

120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$600 annually

$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration

Amex Intelligence Dashboard

Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

~12 million merchants

90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

2.5-3.5% OptBlue

1.5-3.5%

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

3.5%+ Amex Direct

2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$12,000-16,000

$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

670+ (good credit minimum)

580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	American Express	Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)	190+	—
Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)	~94%	—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)	$30.2B	—
Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)	$175B	$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)	$95-$695	—
Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)	$550	$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection	$0 liability 24/7	—
Fraud Liability Protection(USD)	$0 liability	$0 liability
Real-Time Fraud Monitoring	24/7 Real-Time Alerts	EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption
Encryption Standard (2026)(null)	AES GCM (March 2026 release)	AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model	Issuer + Network	—

Customer Service Type	Direct dedicated support	—
Dispute Resolution Speed(days)	30-60 days	30-90 days

Rewards Consistency	Standardized across cards	—
Travel Insurance Coverage	Comprehensive (Premium Cards)	Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	9 million locations	40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)	3.0%	1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)	750+	600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)	1.5%-6%	0.5%-5% (varies)
Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)	Premium Exclusive Benefits	Standard Issuer-Dependent
Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)	5X points	3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)	Strong U.S. + Growing International	190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)	0.30-0.50% Higher	Industry Standard Baseline
Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)	Established Fee Model	Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented
Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)	1.43-2.4%	—
Cost Differential vs Visa(%)	Comparable pricing	—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)	16% Year-over-Year Growth	Stable Mature Network
International Expansion (2026 Status)	B2B program expansion ongoing	—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)	Good to Excellent (650+)	All Credit Levels (550+)
Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)	Good to Excellent (670+)	Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)	OptBlue Program (<$1M)	Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)	5x Expansion (2017-2025)	Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)	150+ countries	190+ countries
Countries with Active Network(countries)	120+ countries	150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)	90 days	120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)	$600 annually	$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration	Amex Intelligence Dashboard	Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)	~12 million merchants	90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)	2.5-3.5% OptBlue	1.5-3.5%
Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)	3.5%+ Amex Direct	2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)	$12,000-16,000	$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)	670+ (good credit minimum)	580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)	95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally	98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)	98%+	—

Small Merchant Program Availability	Standard rates only	—

Fee Restructuring Cycle	Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026	—

Premium Cardholder Value	Mass-market cardholder base	—

American Express

Mastercard

Countries Accepted(countries)

190+

—

Merchant Acceptance Rate(percent)

~94%

—

2025 Net Revenue(billion USD)

$30.2B

—

Annual Revenue (2026)(billions USD)

$175B

$37B (Growth)

Typical Annual Fee Range(USD)

$95-$695

—

Typical Annual Fee (Premium Card)(USD)

$550

$95-$195

Fraud Liability Protection

$0 liability 24/7

—

Fraud Liability Protection(USD)

$0 liability

Real-Time Fraud Monitoring

24/7 Real-Time Alerts

EMV 3DS 2.0 + Advanced Encryption

Encryption Standard (2026)(null)

AES GCM (March 2026 release)

AES-256 (industry standard)

Business Model

Issuer + Network

—

Customer Service Type

Direct dedicated support

—

Dispute Resolution Speed(days)

30-60 days

30-90 days

Rewards Consistency

Standardized across cards

—

Travel Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive (Premium Cards)

Varies by Issuer

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

9 million locations

40+ million locations

Average Merchant Fee(%)

3.0%

1.9%

Minimum Credit Score for Best Cards(score)

750+

600+

Reward Cashback Rate Range(%)

1.5%-6%

0.5%-5% (varies)

Travel Rewards Tier Classification(Premium Level)

Premium Exclusive Benefits

Standard Issuer-Dependent

Maximum Rewards Rate(X points per $1)

5X points

3X points

Global Merchant Acceptance Coverage(Countries)

Strong U.S. + Growing International

190+ Countries Worldwide

Merchant Discount Rate Premium vs Visa(Percentage Points)

0.30-0.50% Higher

Industry Standard Baseline

Fee Structure Complexity (2025-2026)(Implementation Changes)

Established Fee Model

Sweeping Fee Changes Implemented

Merchant Discount Rate (Standard)(%)

1.43-2.4%

—

Cost Differential vs Visa(%)

Comparable pricing

—

12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate(Percent)

16% Year-over-Year Growth

Stable Mature Network

International Expansion (2026 Status)

B2B program expansion ongoing

—

Minimum Credit Score Requirement(Score Range)

Good to Excellent (650+)

All Credit Levels (550+)

Minimum Credit Score Required(FICO score)

Good to Excellent (670+)

Fair to Excellent (580+)

Small Business Merchant Program Threshold(USD Annual Volume)

OptBlue Program (<$1M)

Universal Program (Scalable)

Merchant Network Growth Since 2017(Times Expansion)

5x Expansion (2017-2025)

Steady Mature Expansion

Countries with Merchant Acceptance(countries)

150+ countries

190+ countries

Countries with Active Network(countries)

120+ countries

150+ countries

Purchase Protection Coverage Duration(days)

90 days

120 days

Annual Travel Credit Benefit(USD)

$600 annually

$200 annually

Business Expense Management Integration

Amex Intelligence Dashboard

Mastercard Send API + Platform

Global Merchant Acceptance(millions)

~12 million merchants

90+ million merchants

Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard(percent)

2.5-3.5% OptBlue

1.5-3.5%

Merchant Discount Rate - Premium Tier(percent)

3.5%+ Amex Direct

2.5-3.5%

Average Cardholder Annual Spending(USD)

$12,000-16,000

$4,500-6,000

Credit Score Requirement (Entry Level)(score)

670+ (good credit minimum)

580-620 (fair credit available)

Cardholder Acceptance Rate at Merchants(percent)

95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally

98% of US merchants, 85%+ internationally

Global Merchant Acceptance Rate(%)

98%+

—

Small Merchant Program Availability

Standard rates only

—

Fee Restructuring Cycle

Sweeping changes throughout 2025-2026

—

Premium Cardholder Value

Mass-market cardholder base

—

American Express vs Mastercard 2025-2026

American Express

Mastercard

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Explore Entities

More Finance

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

American Express

Pros

Cons

Mastercard

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison