Tap your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device at the OMNY reader as you enter. On local, limited, and express buses, you must enter and use the reader at the front door. On SBS buses, enter at any door and use the reader there.

Yes, you can absolutely use your phone to pay for any NYC bus (and the subway) through the OMNY (One Metro New York) system. OMNY is a "High-Fidelity" contactless payment system that allows you to "Tap and Go" using a digital wallet on your smartphone, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. You do not need to download a special app or purchase a MetroCard in advance; you simply wake your phone and tap it against the OMNY reader located at the front of the bus. A "High-Fidelity" benefit of using OMNY is Fare Capping: if you use the same device to pay for 12 trips in a 7-day period (starting Monday), all subsequent rides for the rest of that week are free. This automatically provides you with the value of a "Weekly Unlimited" pass without the need to commit to one upfront. For 2026 travelers, this is the most efficient way to navigate the city, though it is a "High-Fidelity" pro-tip to ensure your phone has enough battery for the duration of your trip, as you cannot tap out or transfer if your device dies mid-journey.