As one of the most famous and successful investors of the modern era, Warren Buffett is looked up to by many retail investors. Buffett has amassed a fortune over the decades by holding positions in simple, high-quality businesses both personally and through his holding company Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B). One of Buffett's most significant early investments is lender and credit card company American Express (AXP). The appeal of American Express is centered around a profitable business model, people's propensity to borrow money, and a highly recognized brand name. However, just because Warren Buffett owns American Express doesn't mean that you need to in order to see wealth-generating returns over time. In fact, we like what other players in the charge/payment technology space offer over American Express. This includes Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), and Discover (DFS). We outline below where these alternatives stack up against American Express depending on whether you are a dividend focused investor, or care more about capital gains.

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