OMNY: A New Way to Pay for Public Transportation in New York

If you are a frequent user of public transportation in New York, you might have noticed a new option to pay your fare: OMNY. OMNY stands for One Metro New York, and it is a contactless fare payment system that lets you tap and go with your smartphone, wearable device, or contactless card. OMNY is designed to make your travel easier, faster, and more convenient.

OMNY was launched by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in 2019 as a pilot program on select subway stations and buses. Since then, it has expanded to cover all subways and buses in the city, as well as some commuter railroads and paratransit services. By 2024, OMNY will replace the MetroCard as the only way to pay for public transportation in the region.

How does OMNY work?

To use OMNY, you need a contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card, a digital wallet supported by your smartphone, smartwatch, or wearable device, or an OMNY card. You can check if your card has a contactless symbol on the front or back. If so, you can tap it at an OMNY reader to pay the fare and go. You can also add a payment card to your digital wallet, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Fitbit Pay, and tap your device at an OMNY reader. Alternatively, you can buy and load value on an OMNY card at select retail locations or vending machines, and tap it at an OMNY reader.

OMNY readers are located at subway turnstiles, bus fareboxes, and commuter railroad ticket gates. They are marked with the OMNY logo and a blue light. When you tap your card or device at an OMNY reader, you will see a green check mark and hear a beep to confirm your payment. You will also receive a notification on your device or an email receipt if you have registered for an OMNY account.

What are the benefits of using OMNY?

OMNY offers several benefits for public transportation users in New York:

• Convenience: You don’t need to carry cash or buy a MetroCard. You can use the same card or device that you use for other purchases.
• Speed: You don’t need to swipe or insert your card. You can just tap and go.
• Security: You don’t need to worry about losing or damaging your card. You can also protect your card or device with a PIN or biometric authentication.
• Savings: You can enjoy free rides with the 7-day fare cap. If you start tapping any day of the week, $34 is the most you will pay in a week. You can also get reduced fares if you are eligible for certain programs.
• Features: You can access convenient features when you register for an OMNY account. You can view your trips and charges, track your progress toward the 7-day fare cap, manage your travel cards, contact customer service, and more.

How can I get started with OMNY?

To get started with OMNY, you can follow these simple steps:

• Choose your payment method: Decide whether you want to use a contactless card, a digital wallet, or an OMNY card to pay your fare.
• Tap and go: Tap your card or device at an OMNY reader when you enter the subway or bus. Make sure to tap again when you transfer or exit if required.
• Register for an account: Visit the OMNY website to sign up for a free, optional OMNY account. You can also download the OMNY mobile app when it becomes available.
• Enjoy your ride: Sit back and relax as you travel across New York with OMNY.

For more information about OMNY, you can watch this video, visit this FAQ page, or contact customer service.

What is the cost of using OMNY?

The cost of using OMNY depends on the type of service and the fare option you choose. Here are some possible scenarios:

• If you use a contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card, or a digital wallet supported by your smartphone, smartwatch, or wearable device, you can pay the full fare of $2.90 for subways and local, limited, and Select Bus Service buses¹, or $7 for express buses¹. You can also enjoy free rides with the 7-day fare cap. If you start tapping any day of the week, $34 is the most you will pay in a week².
• If you use an OMNY card, which is a reloadable prepaid card that you can buy and load value on at select retail locations or vending machines, you can pay the same fare as above, but you will not be eligible for the 7-day fare cap². You can also use cash to buy and reload your OMNY card at select locations³.
• If you are eligible for reduced fares, such as seniors, people with disabilities, students, or paratransit riders, you can pay half the full fare using OMNY. You need to register for an OMNY account and switch from your Reduced-Fare MetroCard to OMNY. You can also enjoy free rides with the 7-day fare cap. If you start tapping any day of the week, $17 is the most you will pay in a week²⁴.

For more information about OMNY fares and options, you can visit the OMNY website or contact customer service.

How can I check my balance on OMNY?

There are a few ways you can check your balance on OMNY:

• If you have an OMNY account, you can sign in to your personalized dashboard and view your trips and charges. You can also reload your OMNY card online if you have one1.
• If you don’t have an OMNY account, you can still check your balance by entering your payment card information on the OMNY website. You can also view your charges on your bank statement or app2.
• If you use cash to buy and reload your OMNY card, you can check your balance at select retail locations or vending machines2. You can also see your balance on the OMNY reader when you tap your card3.

Can I use OMNY for multiple people?

Yes, you can use OMNY for multiple people, but there are some limitations and conditions you should be aware of. According to the OMNY website1, you can tap and pay for yourself and up to 3 additional riders with the same payment method on a single trip. You will need to tap your payment method for each person who is riding with you. Each tap will result in a full-fare charge. However, only your first tap on the subway and local bus will count toward reaching the 7-day fare cap, or, if you’ve already reached the cap, only the first tap will be free. Express bus rides do not count toward the 7-day fare cap. Also, if you are traveling with more than 3 additional riders, it is recommended that you use multiple payment methods to prevent the forfeiture of free transfers. Each payment method can support up to 4 riders and 4 free transfers on a single trip1.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of the 7-day fare cap, you should use separate credit cards or devices for each person, or get everyone Metrocards. Otherwise, you will end up paying more than necessary for your group travel. As one traveler commented on Tripadvisor2, “The Omny fare cap doesn’t work with multiple travelers on the same card. Either separate credit cards need to be used for everyone, or get everyone Metrocards.”