Charge vs. Fee: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Charge is a demand for payment for services or privileges, while a fee is a payment made for professional advice or services.
Key Differences
A charge often refers to the price asked for goods, services, or admission, reflecting a broader usage, while a fee typically implies a payment for a specific service, often professional or official in nature. Charges are commonly associated with everyday transactions, whereas fees are more specific and specialized.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charges can be mandatory or optional, often seen in various industries like hospitality or transportation, whereas fees are usually fixed and associated with specialized services, like legal or educational services. Charges can vary based on different factors, while fees are typically standard for specific services.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
The term 'charge' can also imply a financial responsibility or liability imposed on someone, whereas a fee is a set amount charged for a particular service or privilege. Charges can fluctuate based on usage or consumption, while fees are often predetermined and fixed.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
In legal or financial contexts, charges can imply penalties or dues levied by authorities, contrasting with fees, which are more about compensation for expert services. Charges are versatile in application, covering a wide range of scenarios, whereas fees are more narrowly defined.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Finally, charges can encompass a broader range of financial demands, including costs, penalties, or tariffs, while fees specifically refer to payments made in exchange for advice, service, or expertise. This distinction highlights the more exclusive and professional connotation of fees compared to the more general and varied application of charges.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Payment demand for services/goods
Payment for professional services
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Application
Broad (goods, services, penalties)
Specific (legal, consulting services)
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Dec 01, 2023
Context
Wider range (commercial, legal)
Specialized services (legal, educational)
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Dec 01, 2023
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Charge and Fee Definitions
Charge
A command or responsibility given to someone.
He was given the charge of the new project team.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Fee
Payment for professional services.
The lawyer's fee for the case was quite high.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
To impose a duty, responsibility, or obligation on
Charged him with the task of watching the young swimmers.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
A fixed sum for a privilege or license.
There’s an annual fee for renewing the software license.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
To instruct or urge authoritatively; command
Charged her not to reveal the source of information.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Fee
A charge for a specific service in education or healthcare.
The university's tuition fee includes access to all facilities.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
(Law) To instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
A payment made to agents or brokers for services.
The real estate agent took a fee for facilitating the property sale.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
To set or ask (a given amount) as a price
Charges ten dollars for a haircut.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
A fixed sum charged, as by an institution or by law, for a privilege
A license fee.
Tuition fees.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To hold financially liable; demand payment from
Charged her for the balance due.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To purchase on credit
Paid cash for the stockings but charged the new coat.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To load (a gun or other firearm) with a quantity of explosive
Charged the musket with powder.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
In feudal law, an estate in land granted by a lord to his vassal on condition of homage and service. Also called feud2, fief.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To pervade or fill, as with a feeling or quality
The atmosphere was charged with tension.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To make a claim of wrongdoing against; accuse or blame
The prosecutors charged him with car theft. Critics charged the writer with a lack of originality.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To put the blame for; attribute or impute
Charged the accident to the driver's inexperience.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
(feudal law) A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(Basketball) To bump or run into (a defender) illegally while in possession of the ball or having just made a pass or shot.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
(legal) An inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(Sports) To bump (an opponent) so as to knock off balance or gain control of the ball, as in soccer.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
(legal) An estate of inheritance in land, either absolute and without limitation to any particular class of heirs (fee simple) or limited to a particular class of heirs (fee tail).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(Sports) To body-check (an opponent) illegally, from behind or after taking more than two strides, especially in ice hockey.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
(obsolete) A prize or reward. Only used in the set phrase "A finder's fee" in Modern English.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
An additional monetary payment charged for a service or good that is minor compared to the underlying cost.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
Property; possession; tenure.
Once did she hold the gorgeous East in fee.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
Reward or compensation for services rendered or to be rendered; especially, payment for professional services, of optional amount, or fixed by custom or laws; charge; pay; perquisite; as, the fees of lawyers and physicians; the fees of office; clerk's fees; sheriff's fees; marriage fees, etc.
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To demand or ask payment
Did not charge for the second cup of coffee.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
An estate of inheritance supposed to be held either mediately or immediately from the sovereign, and absolutely vested in the owner.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
An estate of inheritance belonging to the owner, and transmissible to his heirs, absolutely and simply, without condition attached to the tenure.
Buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.
The patient . . . fees the doctor.
There's not a one of them but in his houseI keep a servant feed.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Expense; cost
Added to the bill a charge for replacing the thermostat.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Fee
Give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the agreed-on compensation;
Remember to tip the waiter
Fee the steward
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A debt or an entry in an account recording a debt
Are you paying cash or is this a charge?.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A weight or burden; a load
A freighter relieved of its charge of cargo.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An assigned duty or task; a responsibility
The commission's charge was to determine the facts.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Supervision; management
The scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
One that is entrusted to another's care or management
The baby sitter's three young charges.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Instruction given by a judge to a jury about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A claim of wrongdoing; an accusation
A charge of murder.
Pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A rushing, forceful attack
Repelled the charge of enemy troops.
The charge of a herd of elephants.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the electromagnetic force, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space, measured in coulombs, ampere-hours, or units of elementary charge. Also called electric charge.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(Informal) A feeling of pleasant excitement; a thrill
Got a real charge out of the movie.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(Heraldry) A figure or device represented on the field of an escutcheon.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The amount of money levied for a service.
There will be a charge of five dollars.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An official description (by the police or a court) of a crime that somebody may be guilty of.
Two charges of manslaughter
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An accusation by a person or organization.
That's a slanderous charge of abuse of trust.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The scope of someone's responsibility.
The child was in the nanny's charge.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Someone or something entrusted to one's care, such as a child to a babysitter or a student to a teacher.
The child was a charge of the nanny.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A load or burden; cargo.
The ship had a charge of colonists and their belongings.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An instruction.
I gave him the charge to get the deal closed by the end of the month.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(basketball) An offensive foul in which the player with the ball moves into a stationary defender.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(weaponry) A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack.
To bring a weapon to the charge
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A measure of thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; a charre.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(ecclesiastical) An address given at a church service concluding a visitation.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(transitive) To assign (a debit) to an account.
Let's charge this to marketing.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(transitive) To pay on account, as by using a credit card.
Can I charge my purchase to my credit card?
Can I charge this purchase?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(ambitransitive) To require payment (of) (a price or fee, for goods, services, etc.).
To charge high for goods
I won't charge you for the wheat.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(law) To formally accuse (a person) of a crime.
I'm charging you with assault and battery.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To ornament with or cause to bear.
To charge an architectural member with a moulding
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(heraldry) To add to or represent on.
He charges his shield with three roses or.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(transitive) To load equipment with material required for its use, as a firearm with powder, a fire hose with water, a chemical reactor with raw materials.
Charge your weapons; we're moving up.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(transitive) To cause to take on an electric charge.
Rubbing amber with wool will charge it quickly.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(transitive) To replenish energy to (a battery, or a device containing a battery) by use of an electrical device plugged into a power outlet.
He charged the battery overnight.
Don't forget to charge the drill.
I charge my phone every night.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To replenish energy.
The battery is still charging: I can't use it yet.
His cell phone charges very quickly, whereas mine takes forever.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(intransitive) To move forward quickly and forcefully, particularly in combat and/or on horseback.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To attack by moving forward quickly in a group.
The impetuous corps charged the enemy lines.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To take a few steps down the pitch towards the bowler as they deliver the ball, either to disrupt the length of the delivery, or to get into a better position to hit the ball.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To lie on the belly and be still. A command given by a hunter to a dog
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill.
A carte that charged was with hay.
The charging of children's memories with rules.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent.
Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for.
When land shall be charged by any lien.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge.
No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crimeOn native sloth and negligence of time.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of.
If he did that wrong you charge him with.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc.
Their battering cannon charged to the mouths.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack.
Charged our main battle's front.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets.
Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron.
"Charge for the guns!" he said.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To squat on its belly and be still; - a command given by a sportsman to a dog.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty.
'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An order; a mandate or command; an injunction.
The king gave cherge concerning Absalom.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged.
The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; - usually in the plural.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge.
Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies.
The charge of the light brigade.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; - called also charre.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense;
He was arrested on a charge of larceny
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence;
The newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Request for payment of a debt;
They submitted their charges at the end of each month
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A impetuous rush toward someone or something;
The wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary
The battle began with a cavalry charge
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons;
The battery needed a fresh charge
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Financial liabilities (such as a tax);
The charges against the estate
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A person committed to your care;
The teacher led her charges across the street
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Attention and management implying responsibility for safety;
He is in the care of a bodyguard
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A special assignment that is given to a person or group;
A confidential mission to London
His charge was deliver a message
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A formal statement of a command or injunction to do something;
The judge's charge to the jury
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time;
This cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
(psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object;
Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
To make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle;
He saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against;
He charged me director with indifference
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Demand payment;
Will I get charged for this service?
We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Move quickly and violently;
The car tore down the street
He came charging into my office
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to;
He was appointed deputy manager
She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
File a formal charge against;
The suspect was charged with murdering his wife
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Make an accusatory claim;
The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
He was committed to prison
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt;
Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Cause to be agitated, excited, or roused;
The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Place a heraldic bearing on;
Charge all weapons, shields, and banners
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Direct into a position for use;
Point a gun
He charged his weapon at me
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to;
He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Instruct or command with authority;
The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Attribute responsibility to;
We blamed the accident on her
The tragedy was charged to her inexperience
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Set or ask for a certain price;
How much do you charge for lunch?
This fellow charges $100 for a massage
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on;
Charge a conductor
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
Energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge;
I need to charge my car battery
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Charge
An amount demanded for a service or goods.
The restaurant added a service charge to our bill.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
A financial liability or responsibility.
The company faced a hefty charge for environmental cleanup.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
A formal accusation in legal context.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Charge
An explosive amount in a weapon or for demolition.
The demolition team set a charge to bring down the old building.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is a charge always monetary?
Primarily, but it can also refer to responsibilities or legal accusations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
What is an example of a charge?
A hotel room rate per night is a type of charge.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can a fee be negotiated?
In some cases, fees can be negotiated, especially in professional services.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can charges vary?
Yes, charges can fluctuate based on usage or other factors.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Are charges applicable in legal contexts?
Yes, including financial penalties or formal accusations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Do fees apply to educational services?
Yes, such as tuition fees for university courses.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Do charges apply to products?
Yes, charges can apply to both products and services.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can fees be waived?
Rarely, as they are often for specific, non-negotiable services.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Are fees limited to services?
Mostly, fees are for services, especially specialized ones.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Is a fee always a one-time payment?
Fees can be one-time or periodic, like annual membership fees.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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Dua Fatima
Hifza Nasir
