Why is OMNY better than MetroCard?

Say hello to an easier, more equitable way to pay your fare: the 7-day fare cap with OMNY! Effective August 20, you can start any day of the week: pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and any additional rides are free. And, unlike with MetroCard, you don't have to pay upfront. Just tap and pay as you go.



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An even better weekly fare discount Say hello to an easier, more equitable way to pay your fare: the 7-day fare cap with OMNY! Effective August 20, you can start any day of the week: pay for 12 rides in a 7-day period and any additional rides are free. And, unlike with MetroCard, you don't have to pay upfront.

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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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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 only offers the “pay-per-ride” option so you will pay full price every time you tap to pay. Unlimited passes and other discount prices will be added to the system sometime between late 2022 to 2023.

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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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Customers will automatically receive free, unlimited rides for the rest of the week once they have paid $34 (or $17 for registered Reduced-Fare customers) in fares — the same as taking 12 trips. Group trips, express bus taps, and transfers do not count toward the weekly cap.

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You do not need an OMNY card to tap and pay the fare. Use your own contactless credit, debit, reloadable prepaid card, or a smart phone or device with digital wallet enabled.

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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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Important: You are limited to tapping and paying for yourself and 3 additional riders with the same payment method at a single OMNY reader. You may continue using the same payment method at a different OMNY reader. However, if you do so, the 4 free transfers associated with the original 4 taps will be forfeited.

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The MTA said it wants to get out of the business of selling physical cards that expire after 18 months, which is the expiration time for MetroCards. The reloadable OMNY cards are thicker and will expire after seven years.

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OMNY is available throughout New York City You can use OMNY with your own contactless card or smart device.

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Nearly half of all subway riders are using OMNY to tap into the system with two million riders using OMNY every day. OMNY has processed cards from all of the 195 countries that issue bank cards and 68 percent of OMNY transactions are made by customers tapping digital wallets in phones and wearables.

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OMNY is accepted on all New York City buses. Fares can also be paid with a MetroCard, coins, or SingleRide ticket. Some buses are fare-free: Q70-LaGuardia Link to and from LaGuardia Airport.

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Regular Pay Per Ride MetroCards: These can be shared with up to 4 people per card. You can each swipe the turnstile separately or the first person can swipe 4x's and have everyone follow through the turnstile.

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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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OMNY readers are point-of-sale terminals, allowing you to pay your fare and enter the system – all in a split second. Just like you swipe or dip your MetroCard at MetroCard readers, you can tap your contactless card, your smart device, or an OMNY card at OMNY readers.

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Once you take a single credit card and load it onto a device, phone or watch, that credit card is given its own identity, via the device. Therefore, multiple people can load one credit card onto multiple devices and the fare cap system will work.

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The OMNY system is designed by Cubic Transportation Systems, using technology licensed from Transport for London's Oyster card. The system accepts payments through contactless bank cards and mobile payments as well as physical OMNY cards.

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