The MetroCard has been retired. How to pay for the New York subway with OMNY in 2026: the $3.00 fare, the $35 seven-day cap, OMNY cards, reduced fares and tips for visitors.
How to Get the OMNY
You do not need to buy anything if you have a contactless bank card, phone or watch: just tap it at the turnstile. If you do not, buy a reusable OMNY card at a station vending machine or at participating stores, and load money on it.
OMNY Benefits
- Flat $3.00 fare for every subway and local bus ride.
- Seven-day cap: you never pay more than $35 in any seven days, counted from your first tap.
- Free transfers between subway and local buses within two hours.
- Works with contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards, and with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
- No card to buy for most visitors: your own bank card or phone is your ticket.
What changed in 2026
- The base fare rose from $2.90 to $3.00 in January 2026.
- The MetroCard was retired: it can no longer be bought or refilled.
- The 7-day and 30-day unlimited MetroCards were replaced by the OMNY seven-day cap of $35.
- The cap is counted over any seven days from your first tap, not a fixed Monday to Sunday week.
How to pay with OMNY, step by step
- Hold your contactless card, phone or watch, or OMNY card, flat over the OMNY reader on the turnstile.
- Wait for the screen to say GO, then walk through. There is no need to tap when you leave.
- Transfer to a local bus within two hours and tap again: the transfer is free.
- Keep using the same card or device all week, so your rides count towards the $35 cap.
How much you pay in a week
| Rides in seven days | Pay per ride | With the OMNY cap |
|---|---|---|
| 5 rides | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| 10 rides | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| 12 rides | $36.00 | $35.00 (capped) |
| 20 rides | $60.00 | $35.00 (capped) |
The cap applies to subway and local bus rides. Express buses and the AirTrain JFK have their own fares.
Tips for visitors
- Check whether your bank charges a foreign transaction fee on contactless payments in US dollars.
- Use the same card or device every time. Switching between your phone and the card in your wallet splits your rides and delays the cap.
- Children under 44 inches (112 cm) ride free with a paying adult, up to three per adult.
- Tap once per person per ride; the reader shows GO for each tap.
Fare Reference (USD)
Payment methods: OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch · OMNY card (reusable, sold at stores and station machines) · Reduced-fare OMNY (seniors and riders with disabilities).
💡 Tap the same card or phone for every ride. Once you have paid $35 within seven days of your first tap, the rest of your subway and local bus rides in that seven-day period are free.
| Journey | Off-Peak (USD) | Peak (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Subway or local bus ride | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| OMNY seven-day fare cap | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Reduced fare ride | $1.50 | $1.50 |
| Express bus ride | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| AirTrain JFK (paid at Jamaica or Howard Beach) | $8.75 | $8.75 |
Peak hours: No peak pricing. The same $3.00 fare applies 24 hours a day.
Tips for Using the OMNY
- Tap in and tap out with the same card at every gate. The fare is worked out when you exit.
- Top up before you travel, through the official New York City Subway app or website where available, or at station machines.
- If you lose the card, contact Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Many systems can move the balance to a new card.
- Travelling to or from the airport? See the airport transfer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a MetroCard in 2026?
No. The MetroCard was retired at the end of 2025 and can no longer be bought or refilled. Tap a contactless card or phone, or use an OMNY card, instead.
How does the OMNY fare cap work?
The cap is counted over seven days from your first tap. Once you have paid $35 in that period with the same card or device, the rest of your subway and local bus rides in those seven days are free. Then a new seven-day period starts.
Can two people use the same card?
Yes, you can tap the same card or device for more than one person, but only the first rider's trips count towards the fare cap and free transfers. For a group staying several days, it is usually cheaper for each person to use their own card.
Is there still a 30-day unlimited pass?
Not for the subway and local buses. The 30-day unlimited option was dropped in 2026, and the OMNY seven-day cap is now the way to get unlimited rides.
See also: New York City Subway ticket prices · Airport connection · Full New York City Subway guide
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Fares and card terms change from time to time, so verify before travel.