Visa Credit Cards

All information about Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card, and Wells Fargo Platinum card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Comparing Visa Credit Card Offers

Updated: April 23, 2020

You likely think little about the labyrinthine system of payments and reimbursements that go into buying that Starbucks latte you grab every morning. See that little Visa logo on the front of your credit card? With it comes a contract that protects you every time you use the card.

Depending on the benefits tier you have on your Visa card, you can enjoy everything from an auto rental collision damage waiver to various travel insurance offers and extended warranties. Whichever card you end up picking, there are a number of things you need to know. Here, we look at:

• Best Visa credit cards of 2020
• What is the Visa network?
• Where is Visa accepted?
• How many Visa cards are there?
• Visa vs. Mastercard
• How to pick a Visa credit card

Whether you are trying to figure out which card network offers the best benefits or you want to know what to look for when picking out a Visa card, we can help.

After researching and analyzing over 3,400 credit card offers, here are our recommendations for the 8 best Visa credit cards right now. The Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa tops our list for building credit. Cash back cards like the Wells Fargo Cash Wise offer great bonuses. If you have an average or limited credit history, the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa is a good option.

CreditCards.com’s expert picks: Best Visa credit cards of 2020

What is Visa?

Launched in 1958, Visa is rivaled only by Mastercard as the leading card payment network. Unlike networks Discover and American Express, which also issue cards, Visa and Mastercard serve primarily as networks that connect cardholders and issuers with merchants. Issuers such as Chase and Barclaycard partner with Visa and Mastercard, with the network connecting to merchants and the issuer granting the card.

Where are Visa cards accepted? Are there limitations?

Visa cards are accepted in more than 200 territories and countries worldwide and 44 million merchants. An issuer generally can’t block all transactions from a specific location or merchant type, however, there are countrywide prohibitions in countries such as Iran, Sudan and Syria due to U.S. sanctions and other laws.

How big is Visa? How many Visa cards are there?

Visa dominates most of the world market as a payment network. Let’s look at Visa’s financial and physical reach:

• 3.3 billion cards worldwide
• 200+ countries and territories
• 15,900 financial institutions
• $11 trillion total volume
• 160+ currencies
• 46+ million merchant locations

Visa vs. Mastercard benefits

What to think about when picking out a Visa credit card

• Look at the benefits level. Visa cards basically come in 3 tiers: Basic, Signature or Infinite. Each has benefits that accumulate – so the Signature and Infinite cards have the Basic features and then some.
• Look at the card issuer’s benefits. For example, while you can’t get Lost Luggage Reimbursement a Visa Signature, you might be able to get them through the card’s issuer.
• Review the rewards. When looking at Visa cards, take a look at the rewards offered by the card issuer, such as sign-up bonuses and ongoing purchase rewards.
• Study the annual fee. The card issuer may impose an annual fee, but it might be worth your while, depending on which Visa tier it has and what rewards the issuer offers.

Laura is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She has written extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. Laura’s work has been cited in such publications as the New York Times and Associated Press. You can reach her by e-mail at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com and on Twitter @creditcards_lm.