Most money order sellers won't take credit cards directly
You cannot buy a money order with a credit card at most locations. Post offices, grocery stores, Walmart, and Western Union typically accept only cash, debit cards, or bank transfers. A few money order sellers—mainly online services—do take credit cards, but they charge extra fees on top of the money order cost itself.
The reason is straightforward: money orders are a cash-equivalent product. The seller assumes the risk that your payment will clear. When you pay with a credit card, the seller faces a chargeback risk if you dispute the charge later. That risk is why most brick-and-mortar locations stick to cash and debit only.
Key Takeaways
- Post offices, Walmart, and grocery stores do not accept credit cards for money orders; you will need cash or a debit card.
- Online money order services like MoneyGram and Western Union's websites may accept credit cards but charge processing fees of 2% to 4% on top of the money order fee.
- A debit card is the easiest alternative if you do not have cash on hand, since most in-person sellers take debit without extra charges.
- Using a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM, then buying the money order with that cash, costs you a cash advance fee and interest, making it more expensive than other options.
Where you can use a credit card for a money order
Online money order services are your main option. MoneyGram and Western Union both allow credit card purchases through their websites and mobile apps. You enter your card details, the money order amount, and the recipient's information. The service charges a processing fee—typically 2% to 4% of the money order amount—on top of the base money order fee.
A few smaller online platforms also accept credit cards, but they follow the same model: credit card payment plus a processing surcharge. Before you use this route, calculate the total cost. A $500 money order with a 3% credit card fee and a $1.50 base fee costs you $16.50 in charges. That same money order bought with cash at a post office costs $1.50.
Why debit cards are better than credit cards
If you do not have cash, a debit card is your best option. Post offices, Walmart, grocery stores, and Western Union locations all take debit cards without charging extra fees. You pay only the money order fee itself—usually $1 to $2 depending on the amount and location.
Debit cards work because the money comes directly from your bank account, not from a line of credit. The seller has no chargeback risk, so there is no reason to charge you more. If you have a debit card, use it instead of a credit card every time.
The cost of using a credit card cash advance
Some people try to withdraw cash from an ATM using a credit card, then use that cash to buy a money order. This approach is expensive and should be avoided. Credit card cash advances charge a fee (usually 3% to 5% of the amount) plus interest that starts accruing when ready—not after a grace period like a purchase would.
On a $500 cash advance, you might pay $15 to $25 in fees plus daily interest. Add the money order fee on top, and your total cost is $17 to $27. That is 10 to 18 times more than buying the money order with cash or a debit card. Cash advances are one of the most expensive ways to access money on a credit card.
Where to buy money orders without a credit card
Post offices accept cash and debit cards. Walmart and most grocery stores (Kroger, Safeway, Publix) accept both. Western Union and MoneyGram have physical locations in many areas—check their locator tools on their websites to find one near you. These locations take cash and debit cards.
If you have neither cash nor a debit card, ask a friend or family member to buy the money order on your behalf. They can pay with their card or cash, and you can reimburse them. This is simpler and cheaper than paying credit card processing fees or cash advance charges.
When online money order services make sense
Online services are worth the extra cost only in specific situations. If you need a money order at 11 p.m. and all physical locations are closed, paying a 3% fee to buy one online may be worth it. If you are sending money internationally and need a service that handles currency conversion, the fee is part of the service cost.
For routine money orders during business hours, the fee is not worth paying. Walk into a post office or Walmart with your debit card or cash. The transaction takes five minutes and costs you only the base fee.
What happens if you dispute a credit card money order purchase
If you buy a money order with a credit card and later dispute the charge, the card issuer will investigate. Money orders are considered non-reversible transactions by most card networks, so your dispute may be denied. The seller has already issued the money order, and reversing the payment does not undo that.
This is another reason sellers avoid credit cards. They know that if a dispute is filed, they may not get paid. If you use a credit card and something goes wrong—the money order is lost, the recipient never received it—your recourse is limited. Paying with cash or debit avoids this problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card at a post office to buy a money order?
No. The U.S. Postal Service accepts cash and debit cards only. If you want to use a credit card, you must buy the money order through an online service like MoneyGram or Western Union, which will charge you a processing fee.
Will Walmart take my credit card for a money order?
Walmart's money order service accepts cash and debit cards, not credit cards. You can use a credit card to buy other items at Walmart, but not for money orders specifically.
What if I only have a credit card and no other payment method?
Use an online money order service that accepts credit cards. MoneyGram and Western Union both do. You will pay a processing fee of 2% to 4% on top of the money order cost, but it is cheaper than a credit card cash advance.
Does using a credit card to buy a money order build credit?
No. Money order purchases do not report to credit bureaus because they are not credit transactions. Your credit card issuer sees it as a purchase, but the money order company does not report it. Only the credit card payment itself affects your credit history.
Can I use a prepaid credit card to buy a money order?
Most prepaid cards function like debit cards and are accepted at post offices, Walmart, and other money order sellers without extra fees. Check with your prepaid card issuer to confirm it is accepted, but most work the same way as a regular debit card.