Is Mastercard or Visa better?

Both are the largest card networks worldwide and functionally almost equivalent – acceptance is very high for both. What matters is not the network but the conditions such as fees, rewards and insurance that the issuing bank offers with the card.

Does Mastercard set the fees on my card?

No. Mastercard only provides the payment network. The annual fee, foreign transaction fee, interest rate and additional benefits are set by the issuing bank. That is why comparing individual Mastercard cards is worthwhile.

Where are Mastercard credit cards accepted?

Mastercard is one of the most widely used card networks and is accepted at tens of millions of locations and ATMs worldwide. This makes a Mastercard very flexible for use at home and abroad.

Mastercard Credit Cards Compared 2026

Alongside Visa, Mastercard is one of the two largest card networks worldwide, accepted at tens of millions of merchants and ATMs around the globe. For travel and online shopping, a Mastercard can be used almost anywhere. Important to know: the network itself determines neither the annual fee nor the reward program, insurance package or foreign transaction fee – these conditions are set solely by the issuing bank. Two Mastercard cards can therefore differ significantly. When comparing, focus on the specific costs and benefits of each card rather than the Mastercard logo alone.

Who is it for?

For anyone seeking a widely accepted card worldwide who bases the choice on the specific terms of the issuing bank.

What to look out for

Annual and card fees set by the issuing bank
Foreign transaction fees and travel suitability
Bonus, cashback or miles programs
Included insurance and additional benefits
Card type (true credit, debit or prepaid card)

At a glance

Cards compared: 23
Issuers: 15
Card types: 8 credit cards with revolving option, 2 charge cards (pay in full), 10 debit cards, 3 prepaid cards
Networks: Mastercard (19), Visa or Mastercard (4)
No annual fee: 12 of 23; otherwise €29.99 to €202.80 per year
No foreign transaction fee: 15 of 23; otherwise 0.5% to 2.99%
With revolving credit option: 8 of 23; APR 10.05% to 25.09%
With travel insurance: 10 of 23
No SCHUFA check: 7 of 23

Calculated automatically from the current card data in this comparison.

Recommendations compared

C24 Smart Debit Card – Free debit card with the C24 Smart account and fee-free payments worldwide. Score: 9.2/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
GMX WEB.Cent Credit Card (Mastercard Gold) – Free gold credit card with travel insurance and free worldwide withdrawals. Score: 8.6/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: +€20 · Rating: 8.2/10
Revolut Standard – Digital debit card with real-time exchange rates for travel and online payments. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
N26 Standard – Free mobile account with debit card and a German IBAN. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.4/10
TF Bank Mastercard Gold – Free travel credit card with included travel insurance and a long payment period. Score: 8.5/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 9.2/10
Advanzia Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold – Permanently free genuine credit card with travel insurance — ideal when repaid in full each month. Score: 8.4/10 (Very good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.3/10
Consors Finanz Mastercard – Free Mastercard with no foreign currency fee and flexible repayment: now, later or in instalments. Score: 8.0/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
bunq Free Prepaid Mastercard – Virtual prepaid Mastercard on a balance basis – without Schufa. Score: 7.8/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
Norisbank Credit Card Standard – Credit card with the Norisbank account — free for active customers, fee-free in euros. Score: 7.7/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
N26 Go – N26 travel card with insurance and unlimited free withdrawals outside the eurozone for under €10/month. Score: 7.4/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €118.80 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.9/10
Revolut Plus – Affordable entry into the Revolut ecosystem with a higher FX limit and reduced weekend surcharge. Score: 7.3/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €29.99 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.7/10
N26 Metal – Exclusive stainless steel card with a free lounge visit, travel insurance and unlimited free withdrawals outside the eurozone. Score: 7.3/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €202.80 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.0/10
Curve Pay – Proxy card: all your cards in one — with a Go Back in Time feature and Apple/Google Pay integration. Score: 7.2/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.4/10
N26 Smart – Affordable N26 tier with a German IBAN, a free physical card and up to 6 virtual cards. Score: 7.0/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €58.80 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.8/10
Hilton Honors Credit Card – Hotel credit card with Gold status, Hilton Honors points and no foreign currency fee for €6 a month. Score: 6.9/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €72 · Bonus: 50,000 points · Rating: 7.0/10
Revolut Premium – Unlimited foreign currency transactions without surcharge plus a travel insurance package for under €9/month. Score: 6.8/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €89 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.8/10
Revolut Metal – Stainless steel card with cashback on payments and partner travel insurance — Revolut's top everyday card. Score: 6.5/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €155 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.9/10
Supremacard Prepaid Mastercard – Prepaid Mastercard without Schufa and without foreign currency fee. Score: 6.4/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €79 · Bonus: — · Rating: 7.6/10
Extra Karte Mastercard – Free Mastercard with an instalment option and up to 8 weeks interest-free. Score: 6.0/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 6.2/10
Miles & More Gold Credit Card – Collect miles for flights with comprehensive travel cover. Score: 5.3/10 (Adequate) · Annual fee: €138 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.5/10
Moss Credit Mastercard – Business credit card with spend control – Starter with no base fee. Score: 9.4/10 (Excellent) · Annual fee: €0 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.3/10
Miles & More Gold Credit Card Business – The miles card for business spending and travel. Score: 7.3/10 (Good) · Annual fee: €138 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.4/10
Pleo Start Company Card – Company cards with spend management for teams. Score: 7.0/10 (Fair) · Annual fee: €96 · Bonus: — · Rating: 8.2/10

All information without guarantee (continuously updated). Conditions may change – the provider's details are always decisive.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mastercard or Visa better?: Both are the largest card networks worldwide and functionally almost equivalent – acceptance is very high for both. What matters is not the network but the conditions such as fees, rewards and insurance that the issuing bank offers with the card.
Does Mastercard set the fees on my card?: No. Mastercard only provides the payment network. The annual fee, foreign transaction fee, interest rate and additional benefits are set by the issuing bank. That is why comparing individual Mastercard cards is worthwhile.
Where are Mastercard credit cards accepted?: Mastercard is one of the most widely used card networks and is accepted at tens of millions of locations and ATMs worldwide. This makes a Mastercard very flexible for use at home and abroad.

Which card suits you best?

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