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 money order counters, do not take credit cards. They accept cash, debit cards, and sometimes checks, but not credit cards. A few rare exceptions exist, mostly online money order services, but they charge significantly more and come with their own restrictions.
The reason is straightforward: money orders are meant to be a safer alternative to cash for people who don't have bank accounts or don't want to carry large amounts of cash. Sellers treat them as a cash-like product. Accepting credit cards would create a different kind of transaction — one where you're borrowing money to buy a money order, which defeats the purpose and creates fraud risk for the seller.
Key Takeaways
- Western Union, MoneyGram, USPS, and retail money order counters all require cash or a debit card, not a credit card.
- Using a credit card to buy a money order counts as a cash advance on most cards, which means you pay an upfront fee and a higher interest rate than regular purchases.
- If you need to send money and have a credit card but no cash, a bank transfer or payment app is usually cheaper and faster than finding a workaround.
- Some online money order services accept credit cards, but they charge $5 to $10 per order plus the money order fee itself.
Why credit cards are rejected at money order counters
Money order sellers see credit card transactions as a red flag for fraud. If someone is using borrowed money to buy a money order, the seller has no way to verify the cardholder actually authorized the purchase or that the money order won't be used to commit fraud. The seller also becomes liable if a chargeback happens later — the customer disputes the charge with their credit card company, and the seller has to refund the money.
Additionally, money orders are designed for people without access to traditional banking. Accepting credit cards would blur that line and create operational headaches. Most money order sellers operate on thin margins and can't afford the chargeback risk or the payment processing fees that come with credit cards.
What happens if you try to use a credit card anyway
If a money order seller does accept your credit card — which is extremely rare — your card issuer will likely classify the transaction as a cash advance. This is different from a regular purchase and costs you more money in two ways.
First, you pay an upfront fee, usually 3% to 5% of the amount, charged when ready to your account. Second, the interest rate on a cash advance is higher than the rate on regular purchases — often 5% to 10% higher — and interest starts accruing right away, with no grace period. If you buy a $500 money order on a credit card and your cash advance fee is 5%, you've already paid $25 before the money order even leaves the counter.
Because of these costs, using a credit card to buy a money order is almost never the cheapest option, even if a seller technically allows it.
Actual ways to get a money order without cash
If you don't have cash or a debit card on hand, you have several real options that don't involve a credit card.
Use a debit card instead. Most money order sellers accept debit cards the same way they accept cash. If you have a debit card linked to a checking account, this is your simplest path. The transaction posts when ready, and you pay only the money order fee itself — usually $1 to $3 depending on the amount and the seller.
Withdraw cash from an ATM with your credit card. Many credit cards let you withdraw cash at ATMs, though this also counts as a cash advance and carries the same fees and interest rates. However, you'd be paying the cash advance fee once, then buying the money order with that cash. This is still more expensive than using a debit card, but it's a real option if you have no other way to get cash.
Ask the money order seller if they accept checks. Some USPS locations and retail counters will sell you a money order if you pay with a personal check. This works if you have a checking account and checks on hand. The seller holds the check until the money order clears, which takes a few business days.
Use a bank transfer or payment app instead. If the person you're sending money to has a bank account, apps like Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, or a direct bank transfer are faster, cheaper, and don't require a money order at all. You can link a credit card to most of these apps, and while some charge a fee for credit card payments, it's usually lower than a cash advance fee plus a money order fee combined.
Online money order services that accept credit cards
A small number of online platforms will sell you a money order and accept a credit card, but the cost is high enough that it's rarely worth it.
Services like Sezzle Money Orders and some third-party money order delivery apps charge $5 to $10 per transaction on top of the money order fee itself. They also typically take 1 to 3 business days to deliver the money order to the recipient, whereas a money order bought in person is available when ready. If your credit card charges a cash advance fee on top of that, you could easily pay $15 to $20 in fees for a single money order.
These services are useful only if you have no other way to get a money order and the delay doesn't matter — for example, if you're paying a bill that isn't due for several days.
When you actually need a money order
Money orders are most commonly used for three things: paying rent or a security deposit to a landlord who won't accept other payment methods, sending money to someone who doesn't have a bank account, or paying a bill to an organization that requires a money order specifically.
In most of these cases, there's time to plan ahead. If you know you need a money order, get cash or use your debit card before you go to the money order counter. If you don't have a debit card, many banks will issue one for free if you open a checking account, and some banks let you open an account online in minutes.
If you're in a genuine emergency — you need a money order today and have no cash or debit card — your best option is to borrow cash from someone you know, not to try to use a credit card. The fees and interest charges will cost you more than almost any other solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to withdraw cash and then buy a money order with that cash?
Yes, but it's expensive. Withdrawing cash with a credit card counts as a cash advance and charges you an upfront fee (usually 3% to 5%) plus a higher interest rate. You'd then pay the money order fee on top of that. Unless you have no other option, using a debit card or a bank transfer is cheaper.
Will using a credit card to buy a money order hurt my credit score?
Not directly. The transaction itself doesn't appear on your credit report. However, if the cash advance pushes your credit card balance higher and increases your credit utilization ratio, that could have a small negative impact on your score over time.
What if I need to send money urgently and don't have cash?
A bank transfer, Venmo, PayPal, or another payment app is almost always faster and cheaper than a money order. If the recipient doesn't have a bank account, ask if they can receive money through one of these apps instead, or offer to pay them back in cash later.
Do any major money order sellers accept credit cards at all?
Western Union, MoneyGram, USPS, and Walmart money order counters do not accept credit cards. A few small online services do, but they charge $5 to $10 per transaction in addition to the money order fee.
Is there a way to buy a money order without paying extra fees?
Yes — use cash or a debit card. You'll pay only the money order fee itself, which is typically $1 to $3. This is the cheapest and most straightforward way to buy a money order.