Most places won't sell you a money order with a credit card
The short answer is no — the vast majority of money order sellers, including Western Union, MoneyGram, the U.S. Postal Service, and grocery store customer service desks, do not accept credit cards as payment. They accept cash, debit cards, and sometimes bank transfers, but not credit cards. A few rare exceptions exist (some online money order services accept credit cards), but they are uncommon and often charge extra fees that make the transaction expensive.
The reason is practical: money orders are meant to be a safe way to send money when you don't want to mail cash or share your bank account number. Sellers treat them like cash transactions. Accepting a credit card would add fraud risk and processing costs that don't fit the business model. From the seller's perspective, if you have a credit card, you have other ways to send money that are faster and cheaper.
Key Takeaways
- Western Union, MoneyGram, the U.S. Postal Service, and most retail locations will not accept credit cards to buy money orders.
- Cash and debit cards are the standard payment methods for money orders at physical locations.
- If you need to send money and don't have cash or a debit card, a bank transfer, wire transfer, or payment app may be faster and cheaper than hunting for an alternative money order route.
- Some online money order services do accept credit cards, but they typically charge higher fees than in-person purchases.
Why credit card companies and money order sellers both resist this
Credit card companies discourage money order purchases because they classify them as cash advances. A cash advance is when you use your credit card to get actual cash or a cash-like product, and it comes with its own fees and interest rate — usually higher than your regular purchase rate. Even if a money order seller accepted your credit card, your card issuer might block the transaction or charge you a cash advance fee on top of what the seller charges.
Money order sellers, for their part, want to avoid the chargeback risk that comes with credit cards. If a customer disputes a credit card charge weeks later, the seller has to refund the money even if the money order was already sent and cashed. With cash or debit, that risk is much lower. The seller also avoids the processing fees that credit card networks charge for each transaction.
What payment methods actually work at major money order locations
At the U.S. Postal Service, Western Union, and MoneyGram, you can pay with cash or a debit card. Some locations also accept bank transfers or ACH payments if you're ordering online. Walmart and grocery store customer service desks that sell money orders follow the same rule: cash or debit card only.
If you're buying a money order online through a service like PayPal's money order feature or a specialized online money order company, check their payment options first — a few do accept credit cards, but they are the exception. When they do, expect to pay a higher fee (sometimes $5 to $10 or more) compared to the $1 to $3 you'd pay in person.
Alternatives if you don't have cash or a debit card
If you need to send money and don't have cash or a debit card available, consider whether a money order is actually the best tool. A bank transfer or wire transfer from your bank account is often faster and cheaper, even if you have to pay a small fee. If you don't have a bank account, payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Square Cash let you send money directly from a credit card to another person's account or card, with no intermediate step.
If the person you're paying specifically requires a money order (for example, a landlord or court), and you only have a credit card, you have a few options: withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card (which will charge a cash advance fee), use a debit card if you have one, or ask the recipient whether they would accept a cashier's check from your bank instead. A cashier's check is similar to a money order but comes from your bank account, so you can pay for it with a debit card or by drawing down your account balance.
The cost of trying to work around this restriction
If you use your credit card to get cash from an ATM so you can then buy a money order, you're paying at least two fees: the ATM fee (usually $2 to $5) and the cash advance fee from your credit card (typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount, with a minimum charge). A money order itself costs $1 to $3. So a $500 money order could end up costing you $25 to $40 in fees alone — far more than the money order itself.
This is why credit card companies and money order sellers both discourage the practice. The fees stack up quickly, and you end up paying more than you would with a direct transfer or a different payment method entirely.
Online money order services that do accept credit cards
A small number of online money order services will accept credit cards, including some through PayPal and a few specialized vendors. These services typically charge higher fees than in-person money orders — sometimes $5 to $15 per order depending on the amount — because they're absorbing the credit card processing cost and the cash advance risk.
If you go this route, read the fine print carefully. Some services charge the fee upfront, while others add it to the money order amount itself. Some also take longer to deliver (3 to 5 business days instead of when ready) because they're processing the order online rather than handing it to you in person. For most people, this is more expensive and slower than just using a debit card or finding an alternative payment method.
When you might actually need a money order
Money orders are useful in specific situations: paying rent or a security deposit to a landlord who won't accept other payment methods, paying a court fine, sending money through the mail to someone you don't know well, or paying a business that doesn't have a website or payment system. In most other cases — paying a friend, paying a bill, sending money to family — a bank transfer, wire transfer, or payment app is faster, cheaper, and easier.
If you're in one of those specific situations and only have a credit card, it's worth asking the recipient whether they would accept an alternative. Many landlords and courts will take a cashier's check, bank transfer, or even a payment app transfer if you explain the situation. You'll save money and avoid the hassle of trying to convert your credit card into cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to buy a money order online?
Most online money order services don't accept credit cards, but a few do — usually PayPal and specialized vendors. If they do accept credit cards, expect to pay a higher fee (often $5 to $15) than you would in person, and the order may take several business days to arrive.
What happens if I try to use my credit card at a money order counter?
The seller will decline it. They only accept cash or debit cards. If you only have a credit card, you'll need to withdraw cash from an ATM first, though this will trigger a cash advance fee from your card issuer.
Is there a difference between a money order and a cashier's check?
Both are safe ways to send money, but a cashier's check comes from your bank account and is issued by your bank, while a money order is purchased from a third party. Cashier's checks are usually free or low-cost if you have a bank account, and you can pay for one with a debit card or by drawing from your account balance.
Can I use a prepaid card to buy a money order?
Yes, if your prepaid card works like a debit card. Most money order sellers treat prepaid cards the same way they treat debit cards. Check with your prepaid card issuer to confirm it's accepted, since some prepaid cards have restrictions on certain types of transactions.
What's the cheapest way to send money if I only have a credit card?
A payment app like Venmo, PayPal, or Square Cash lets you send money directly from your credit card to another person's account, usually with a small fee (1 to 3 percent). This is often cheaper and faster than trying to convert your credit card to cash and then buying a money order.