How to ride NYC Metro free?

Once you've taken 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, you can ride free for the rest of the week. Here's an example: A rider uses the subway to get to and from work, and takes it on weekends to go into Manhattan to meet friends.



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Subways and local buses Get free rides after 12 fares within seven days using the same device or contactless card with fare capping. Learn more about how to get free rides with OMNY.

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Riding the subway is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city. For most riders, the subway fare is $2.90. Reduced fares are available for people 65 and older, people with disabilities, and low-income New Yorkers. Learn more about fares.

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Since MetroCards are still available until the end of 2024, so until then, it may not be worth buying an OMNY card, which costs $4 more than a MetroCard. On the other hand, if you use a pay-per-ride MetroCard, you do not get to take advantage of the OMNY fare cap mentioned above.

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OMNY is our contactless payment system. You don't have to sign up or download an app to use OMNY — simply use your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device to tap and go. You'll pay the same base fare — $2.90 — and still get free transfers.

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All you have to do is tap! There is no sign-up, registration, or app required. Simply tap and go with the same contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card. Once you've hit 12 paid trips in a seven-day period, the rest of your rides for that week will automatically be free.

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Benefits of OMNY include: Free transfers – Use the same card or device for both legs of your trip to get a free transfer. Free trips – Pay for 12 rides using the same card or device in a 7-day period, and all additional rides within the week are free. Learn more here.

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OMNY card. A physical card is offered for people without access to mobile devices or contactless bank cards to load value onto and access the system. The card is thicker than the MetroCard it replaced, and is valid for seven years from purchase.

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Unlimited Ride MetroCards Grace Period The 7-day unlimited-ride MetroCard will increase from $33.00 to $34.00, and the 7-day Express Bus Plus will increase from $62.00 to $64.00.

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What is this? Select Single Ride if you only need one ticket for one trip and pay $3. To purchase a Pay-Per-Ride Card or a 7-Days-Unlimited Card press MetroCard. Select $9 MetroCard, if you want to buy a Pay-Per-Ride Card and you want to get done quick.

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Fair Fares is open to New York City residents aged 16-84 living at or below the federal poverty line (earning an annual income of less than $12,880 for an individual to $26,000 for a family of four).

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What does “OMNY” mean? OMNY, which stands for One Metro New York, is based on the concept of unifying fare payments and ticketing across multiple modes of transportation. We believe that transportation is an essential service that connects communities and brings the diversity and energy of New York together.

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One difference between MetroCard and OMNY is that your free transfer will not be confirmed at the OMNY reader. If your trip qualifies for a free transfer, you will not be charged for that trip. You can register for an OMNY account or sign in to view your trips and charges.

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Can I still pay for multiple riders with OMNY? Yes. The same pass-back rules that apply to MetroCard also apply to OMNY. You can tap and pay for yourself and up to 3 additional riders with the same payment method on a single trip.

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An OMNY card works the same as a contactless credit or debit card — all you have to do is tap and go. You can also use an OMNY card to take advantage of our fare capping program.

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Effective March 3, 2013, a $1.00 fee is charged for each new MetroCard purchased at an MTA New York City Transit MetroCard Vending Machine, station booth, or commuter rail station.

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Choose how, when, and where to pay the fare:
  1. Tap your contactless card. Check if your contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card has the contactless symbol on the front or back. ...
  2. Tap your phone or smart device. ...
  3. Tap an OMNY card.


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Starting in 2023, the MTA will begin replacing the decades-old MetroCard machines with OMNY vending machines. The MetroCard's complete removal is expected to be complete by the end of next year. Starting 2024, OMNY payment will be mandatory at all MTA subway stations.

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Other OMNY Information See the MTA website on this for more information. The system currently only supports full-fare, Pay-per-ride, Reduced-Fare and the weekly Unlimited Ride options. It does not yet support the monthly Unlimited Ride option, which we do not expect to arrive until 2023/2024.

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