Most money order sellers won't take credit cards directly
You cannot buy a money order with a credit card at most places that sell them. Banks, post offices, grocery stores, and check-cashing services typically accept only cash, debit cards, or bank transfers. A few online money order services do accept credit cards, but they charge extra fees and are slower than buying one in person.
The reason is straightforward: money orders are meant to be a safe payment method for people without bank accounts or those sending cash through the mail. Sellers treat them like cash transactions. Accepting credit cards would add fraud risk and processing costs that most retailers don't want to absorb.
Key Takeaways
- Post offices, banks, and grocery stores that sell money orders accept cash and debit cards, but not credit cards.
- A few online services let you buy money orders with a credit card, but they charge 2 to 5 percent fees on top of the base cost.
- If you need a money order and only have a credit card, your fastest option is to withdraw cash from an ATM using the card, then buy the money order with that cash.
- Some credit card issuers treat money order purchases as cash advances if you somehow complete the transaction, which means interest charges start when ready.
Where you can and cannot use a credit card for money orders
The United States Postal Service does not accept credit cards for money orders at any of its locations. You must pay with cash, a debit card, or a check. The same rule applies at most banks — even if you have a credit card from that bank, you cannot use it to buy a money order there.
Grocery stores and pharmacies that offer money order services (Walmart, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens) also decline credit cards. They process money orders as cash-equivalent transactions and keep their payment methods limited to cash and debit. Check-cashing stores follow the same pattern.
The one exception is a small number of online money order vendors. Services like MoneyGram online and a few smaller platforms do accept credit cards, but they add a processing fee of 2 to 5 percent on top of the money order fee itself. You also wait 1 to 3 business days for the money order to arrive by mail, rather than getting it when ready.
Why credit card companies may block or charge you
Even if a money order seller accepted your credit card, your card issuer might decline the transaction or treat it as a cash advance. A cash advance is when you use your credit card to get actual cash or a cash-like product. Unlike a regular purchase, cash advances charge interest from the day of the transaction — there is no grace period.
Cash advances also come with a separate fee, usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount. So if you somehow bought a $500 money order on a credit card, you might pay $15 to $25 just in the cash advance fee, plus interest starting when ready. Your credit card statement would show this as a cash advance, not a purchase.
Some card issuers will straightforward decline the transaction if they detect it is a money order purchase. Others flag it for fraud review. Neither outcome helps you buy the money order.
The fastest way to use a credit card to get a money order
If you only have a credit card and need a money order, the simplest path is to use your card at an ATM to withdraw cash, then buy the money order with that cash. This takes 10 minutes total and costs only the ATM fee (usually $2 to $3) plus the money order fee itself.
Go to an ATM that accepts your card — your bank's ATM, a network ATM, or a convenience store ATM. Withdraw the amount you need for the money order plus a small buffer for the money order fee. Then walk to a post office, bank, grocery store, or check-cashing service and buy the money order with the cash.
This method avoids the cash advance trap entirely because you are withdrawing cash, not buying a money order on credit. The ATM fee is a one-time cost, and you pay the standard money order fee (usually $1 to $3 depending on the amount and seller).
Online money order services that accept credit cards
If you cannot get to a physical location or prefer to order online, a few services do accept credit cards. MoneyGram's online platform lets you buy a money order with a credit or debit card and have it delivered by mail or picked up at a MoneyGram location. The fee structure is higher than in-person: you pay the base money order fee plus a credit card processing fee of around 3 to 5 percent.
Smaller online services like PayoneerMoney and a handful of others also accept credit cards, but they are less widely available and slower. Delivery typically takes 1 to 3 business days, and some require the recipient to pick up the money order rather than having it mailed to them.
For most situations, this route is more expensive and slower than walking to a post office with cash. Use it only if you cannot access an ATM or physical money order seller.
What to do if you do not have cash or a debit card
If you have a credit card but no way to withdraw cash and no debit card, you have a few options. First, ask a trusted friend or family member to buy the money order for you and let you reimburse them. This is free and when ready.
Second, check whether your credit card issuer offers a cash advance through their app or website. Some do, and you can request the cash be deposited to a linked bank account. Once it arrives (usually 1 to 2 business days), you can use that money to buy a money order. This costs the cash advance fee and interest, but it works if you have no other way.
Third, use an online money order service that accepts credit cards, accepting the higher fees and longer wait time as the cost of convenience.
Money order fees and limits by seller
| Seller | Payment Methods | Fee | Maximum Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Cash, debit card, check | $1.45 to $2.20 | $1,000 |
| Walmart | Cash, debit card | $0.88 to $1.48 | $1,000 |
| Western Union (in-store) | Cash, debit card | $1.50 to $2.50 | $1,000 |
| MoneyGram (online) | Credit card, debit card | $2 to $4 plus 3–5% processing fee | $1,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my credit card company let me buy a money order?
Most likely not. If a seller accepts credit cards for money orders (rare), your card issuer may decline it or treat it as a cash advance with extra fees and when ready interest. The safest assumption is that you cannot use a credit card for a money order at any traditional seller.
Is there a fee if I use a credit card cash advance to get a money order?
Yes. A cash advance typically costs 3 to 5 percent of the amount, plus interest starting when ready at a higher rate than regular purchases. So a $500 cash advance might cost $15 to $25 in fees alone, plus interest. Using an ATM with your credit card is cheaper.
Can I buy a money order online with a credit card?
A few online services like MoneyGram accept credit cards, but they charge 2 to 5 percent extra on top of the base money order fee, and delivery takes 1 to 3 business days. In-person purchases with cash are faster and cheaper.
What if I need a money order right now and only have a credit card?
Use your credit card at an ATM to withdraw cash, then buy the money order with that cash at a post office, bank, or grocery store. This takes about 10 minutes and costs only the ATM fee plus the money order fee — much less than a cash advance or online service.
Do all post offices accept debit cards for money orders?
Yes, all USPS locations accept debit cards for money orders. If you have a debit card, that is your best option after cash. If you only have a credit card, withdraw cash from an ATM first.