Visa vs Maestro: Difference and Comparison

Not a single person in today’s time is unknown because, in some ways, he has given his information of identity to the authorities. Visas and Maestro cards also contain the personal information of individuals to avoid unnecessary troubles.

Key Takeaways

  1. Visa is a global payment network, while Maestro is a debit card service by Mastercard.
  2. Visa offers credit, debit, and prepaid cards, while Maestro primarily provides debit cards.
  3. Visa is more widely accepted worldwide, while Maestro has a stronger presence in Europe.

Visa vs Maestro

Visa is a credit and debit card brand accepted in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Maestro is a debit card brand owned by Mastercard. It is widely accepted in over 100 countries and territories and can be used to make purchases at any merchant that accepts Maestro cards.

Visa vs Maestro

The polity grants Visa cards to people so they can leave their territory to enter another country or stay there for a time given by the polity. Without Visa, a person has to face a lot of trouble in another country.

Maestro Card is owned by MasterCard, which is an American company. The associate banks provide a maestro card to the users, and this card is related to the user’s savings account.

Comparison Table

Parameters Of ComparisonVisaMaestro
LaunchedVisas were launched in western Europe during the 1st world war.Maestro card was introduced quite later in the year 1991 in the US.
TypeBoth debit and credit cards are provided by Visa Inc.Maestro card is a debit card provided by MasterCard enterprises.
UsageVisa includes such information of a person that helps him to travel country to country.Maestro cards include the banking information of a person that helps to make transactions worldwide.
FacilitiesThe facilities provided by visas are similar to both debit and credit cards.The facility provided by a Maestro card is just like a debit card.
ManufacturerThe company Visa Inc. located in Foster City, Californian makes Visa cards.The company is known as MasterCard Inc. situated in the USA make Maestro card.
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What is Visa?

A visa is a card that is attached to a passport. This is an essential part when it comes to travelling to other countries. Without Visa, a person would not be accepted in a foreign country by authorities.

Also Read:  Nationalised vs Cooperative Banks: Difference and Comparison

There are multiple types of Visa cards, such as students Visa, Tourist Visas, transit and work visas, etc. The availability of visiting a country depends on the Visa, whether you can travel to a country once or twice or sometimes multiple visits.

Particular countries require medical screening or interviews before providing a Visa. Visas are the most essential travel documents.

visa

What is Maestro?

A service that is known as global debit card service known as MasterCard Enterprises owns the Maestro card. Maestro card also gives the benefits of prepaid cards. One can also call it a Maestro debit card.

The difference between a Maestro card and a prepaid card is just that a prepaid card doesn’t require a person to have a bank account. They are used to withdraw money by swiping through these machines.

In Maestro cards, the EMV chip stores the user’s information. Sometimes the magnetic stripes are also used to store the information.

So when the card is swiped, the information is sent to the bank to get affirmative authorization from the issuing bank. If the information is broken, the transaction will be cancelled immediately.

maestro card

Main Differences Between Visa and Maestro

  1. A Visa card came in handy almost a century ago, in 1993, when Maestro cards were introduced.
  2. By owning a visa card, a person can travel to the desired country, while the maestro card helps him to withdraw money from his account.
Difference Between Visa and Maestro
References
  1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00330121003600835
  2. https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.1145/328236.328147

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Chara Yadav
Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.

26 Comments

  1. The article is very informative and provides a deeper understanding of the functionalities of both Visa and Maestro cards.

    • Indeed, the article provides valuable insight that aids in making an informed decision about which card to use.

  2. I found this article to be very informative and enlightening. It has provided a comprehensive overview of Visa and Maestro and has cleared up any confusion. A great read!

  3. The information provided is quite in depth and makes it easier for individuals to choose the right card for their requirements.

  4. This article contains very useful and practical information about Visa and Maestro cards, and it’s explained in a clear and detailed way.

  5. The article provides a comprehensive comparison between Visa and Maestro, making it easy to understand and decide which card is more suitable for one’s needs.

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  10. The comparison table is really helpful for understanding the key differences between Visa and Maestro. It clearly highlights the distinctions between the two, making it easier for readers to comprehend. Great work!

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    • This article provides a well-researched and structured comparison of Visa and Maestro. The detailed information is truly valuable for readers seeking clarity on the topic.

  11. This article offers a concise comparison between Visa and Maestro, and I find it really enlightening. It makes it easier to understand the workings of both cards.

    • The detailed comparison is indeed helpful, especially when it comes to their origin, usage, and facilities. It’s a great resource.

  12. The information provided in the article is really important and useful, especially for people who don’t know the difference between Visa and Maestro. I am grateful for this article. Well done!

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    • I totally agree with you Chapman Adam. This article provides essential knowledge to those who want to know the difference.

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