PayPal Money Order: Can You Buy One and How Does It Work?
Written by
Taylor Milam-Samuel
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Even with digital payment apps widely available, there are still times when you might need to send a money order. Banks and other financial services offer them, and some digital platforms may as well. But can you get a PayPal money order? Here’s what you need to know.
Can You Buy a Money Order Online With PayPal?
You can’t buy a PayPal money order. The company doesn’t support the direct sending of money orders.
But you might be able to use another PayPal feature to send the money. For example, you can send money to someone directly through the app, use money on your PayPal debit card, or transfer money to your bank account.
Step-by-Step Guide To Buying a Money Order With PayPal
You can’t use your PayPal account to purchase a money order since you can’t buy a money order online. But there are ways you can use some features that come with PayPal to set up a money order. Here are the options.
Transfer to Your Bank Account
You can transfer money from your PayPal account into a bank account and then withdraw the funds at an ATM or bank to buy a money order.
Follow these steps once you’re ready to transfer money:
- Sign in to your account.
- Click on your PayPal wallet.
- Select “Transfer to Bank.”
- Confirm if you want to transfer instantly for a fee (1.75% of the amount you transfer) or in 1-3 days for free.
- Click “Transfer Now.”
Use Your PayPal Debit Card
PayPal also offers a debit card. It’s not automatically a feature on your account. Instead, you must sign up for it. But once you have it, the debit card works like any other card with a Mastercard logo. That means you can use your PayPal debit card to purchase a money order at places that sell them and accept Mastercards.
When you use your PayPal debit card to purchase a money order, make sure to process your purchase as a PIN transaction, where you enter your PIN to complete the purchase.
Best Alternatives To Buying a Money Order With PayPal
Some of the best places to buy money orders include Western Union, CVS, Walmart, 7-Eleven, banks, credit unions and several grocery store chains across the U.S.
Each company charges different fees and policies. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which option is the best.
| Company | Fees | Policies |
|---|---|---|
| Western Union | Up to 6% transfer fee | Can send up to $3,000 or $7,500 through an agent |
| CVS | Depends on where you send money and the amount | CVS uses MoneyGram to process orders |
| Walmart | Up to $1 maximum | -Paper money orders that you can drop off in the mail -Walmart partners with Western Union to send money |
| MoneyGram | Depends on where you send money and the amount | Can usually send up to $10,000 |
| USPS | -$2.35 for $0.01 to $500 -$3.40 for $500.01 to $1,000 |
Can send up to $1,000 |
When Should You Use a Money Order?
Because money orders do not contain your bank account information, they can make it harder for someone to hack your bank account. You might want to use a money order to:
- Pay a bill in the mail.
- Send money in the mail as a gift.
- Pay personal debts from your checking account.
- Mail money to loved ones overseas — money orders come with tracking that checks do not.
- To pay a company that doesn’t take personal checks.
Money orders provide an effective and safe way to send money in different circumstances. You usually have to pay a small fee to send one, but it’s often worth it for the peace of mind. Using a money order in different circumstances, like a deposit for an apartment rental, might also be necessary.
Final Take
Even though you can’t get a PayPal money order, you can use your account to set up a money order another way. You can transfer money to your bank account in order to purchase a money order through your bank. You can also use Your PayPal debit card to send a money order to any business that offers the service. PayPal can be a helpful tool when you need to quickly set up a money order with minimal hassle.
FAQ
Money orders are a safe and effective way to transfer funds in different situations. You can't use PayPal to send a money order directly, but you can use your account to set up a money order in different ways. Here are answers to common questions about how it works.- How do I send money via PayPal online?
- PayPal makes it easy to send money online. You can send funds directly to the recipient's PayPal.Me link or by following these steps:
- Click on "Send and Request."
- Enter the information for the recipient, like phone number or email.
- Enter the amount of money you want to send.
- Select the payment method.
- Click "Send."
- PayPal makes it easy to send money online. You can send funds directly to the recipient's PayPal.Me link or by following these steps:
- Can I use PayPal at Western Union?
- You can use your PayPal debit card at Western Union to send a money order. Your PayPal debit card functions like every other debit card, which means you can use it to make payments and fund money orders.
- Can I buy a money order online with a debit card?
- You can't buy a money order online with a debit card. However, you can use your debit card at Walmart, the U.S. Post Office, a local bank branch and other locations that sell money orders. You'll need to make sure to run your transaction through as "debit," not "credit," and choose the option to enter a PIN for purchase.
Dawn Allcot contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
