Both Mastercard and Visa are owned by the same credit card companies and banks. There is really no difference between these cards either in how they treat consumers, or what they can do for you. There is also hardly any difference in the number of worldwide retailers that will accept these two cards.
Just about all british merchants will take these cards, although there may be a little difference in other countries. So in this case, it is quite irrelevant to consumers on which one to go for. A lot of banks offer both varieties, and it is up to the banks themselves to decide what interest rates they would like to charge you in the long run.
On the other hand, American Express cards are not as readily accepted in the UK, with some merchants hitting the cards with a percentage surcharge, which is perfectly legal as long as you are forewarned, and other retailers just refusing to accept them altogether.
Many banks offer 'gold' cards and also different coloured cards, which basically is just a marketing ploy by the banks. You should always check the interest rates and other terms and conditions on these types of offers with great scrutiny. Many banks will attempt to persuade you into having higher credit limits and more usage, by upgrading you to a gold or platinum card.
A few banks nowadays even offer a black card, which effectively come with services that most people neither want or need, not least be able to afford, for instance ordering and delivering expensive jewellery for you when you forget a loved ones birthday.
A lot of people sign up for credit cards that have a points system, usually for shopping vouchers or cashback. These should not be mixed up with similar cards that have high street names on them, therefore only being able to be used in one retailer, or a group of stores.
All these choices of card are fine, and help you in different ways to get the most out of your credit card. However, remember banks are not daft, and they need to be earning money from you, not providing free services from which they do not benefit. They are hoping that you will err in some costly way somewhere down the road, so to avoid hassle and debt, you need to know how to use your cards properly, benefitting yourself and not the bank.
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