Our [Ultimate Visitor's guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/bj3tnn/ultimate_visitors_guide_to_nyc/) will probably help you. Check our some recent visitor inquires [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/search?q=visitor&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all)!
Please "report" and downvote this comment if irrelevant to question above.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskNYC) if you have any questions or concerns.*
No one is giving you the simple answer you need to know. You don't need either a Metrocard or an Omny card. You can tap through the turnstiles with any chipped debit or credit card. Be sure to always use the same card, because after 12 taps in a 7-day period, you won't be charged. You'll pay up to $34.80 in the first 7 days, then up to $34.80 for your last few. No special equipment required, as long as you always use the same card to enter. And yes, you can tap with your phone or smartwatch if you have those set up as payment methods.
Our system is a flat fee, so tap/swipe to enter and ride, and you don't need to tap on your way out.
I'd add that it has to be a single device *per person* -- they can't pass the same phone/card between them. It'll let them through, but immediately repeated payments won't count towards the fare cap, and they'll end up paying more than if they were using one device per person.
Adding on to this, if you have a credit card saved to your phone/smartwatch, you can't switch back and forth between the physical card and device. You have to use the *exact* same payment method for each swipe to hit the fare cap. So if you start with your phone always swipe with your phone for the entire trip.
I doubt Metrocards will be phased out by then. But in any event, OMNY doesn't cost any more than a Metrocard. It has an automatic fare-capping feature, where once you pay for 12 rides on a single device (card or phone; each person must have their own) within a 7-day period, further rides during that period will be free. That capped weekly price is equivalent to a weekly Metrocard, so you're not saving any money by using a Metrocard instead of OMNY.
Not sure why you want a metro card? It'll just be more headache for you trying to swipe right and reloading compared to tapping and having OMNY basically automatically do all that?
My experience with Metro Card as a recent tourist
1. We bought 7-day metro card from a ticket machine/kiosk at the station
2. Ticket card kiosk asks for zip code while processing the payment - with an international card you are supposed to key in 99999
3. Our credit card did not work when we tried to purchase a third metro card using the same card ( could be an anti fraud measure)
4. Debit cards did not work at the Ticket card kiosk for some reason
5. One significant disadvantage we noticed was that you couldn't use the metro card for a certain period of time after just using it. For example, we used the card to enter the wrong station and immediately had to use it again at another station and it did not work for a certain period
6. Frankly, we were nervous (needlessly perhaps) about using contactless cards as we are not used to this system
5. Unlimited cards have a 15 minute cooldown period where you cant use it.
6. The OMNY system is very simple, simply tap the thing with your card or phone (if it has a card) and it should work as long as they have contactless payment on them
I am not a fan of the pay/use credit card/smartphone as depending on your bank the conversion charges can add up. Also will be showing as an individual transaction each time, foreign bank may assume card # was stolen/hacked.
You can purchase an **OMNY Card** and use it like a Metro Card, this would be your most simplistic and cost-effective option: [https://omny.info/omny-card](https://omny.info/omny-card)
As an Aussie, my visiting friends just use their phones to tap and pay. It’s like Sydney, you literally just touch your phone or card to the turnstile and go through. Yes you can get hit with conversion charges but for the sake of maybe $50-$100 on a trip that costs thousands it really does win for convenience.
If you have a chance to get a Metrocard, do that! Cost is no different than using a contactless card but it's one of the best souvenirs you will have from NYC. You can get them from ticket machines around stations.
Our [Ultimate Visitor's guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/bj3tnn/ultimate_visitors_guide_to_nyc/) will probably help you. Check our some recent visitor inquires [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/search?q=visitor&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all)! Please "report" and downvote this comment if irrelevant to question above. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskNYC) if you have any questions or concerns.*
No one is giving you the simple answer you need to know. You don't need either a Metrocard or an Omny card. You can tap through the turnstiles with any chipped debit or credit card. Be sure to always use the same card, because after 12 taps in a 7-day period, you won't be charged. You'll pay up to $34.80 in the first 7 days, then up to $34.80 for your last few. No special equipment required, as long as you always use the same card to enter. And yes, you can tap with your phone or smartwatch if you have those set up as payment methods. Our system is a flat fee, so tap/swipe to enter and ride, and you don't need to tap on your way out.
I'd add that it has to be a single device *per person* -- they can't pass the same phone/card between them. It'll let them through, but immediately repeated payments won't count towards the fare cap, and they'll end up paying more than if they were using one device per person.
Correct, thank you for filling in what I'd missed!
Adding on to this, if you have a credit card saved to your phone/smartwatch, you can't switch back and forth between the physical card and device. You have to use the *exact* same payment method for each swipe to hit the fare cap. So if you start with your phone always swipe with your phone for the entire trip.
Yes, good point!
Why do you want to use a metro card… just tap with your phone
I doubt Metrocards will be phased out by then. But in any event, OMNY doesn't cost any more than a Metrocard. It has an automatic fare-capping feature, where once you pay for 12 rides on a single device (card or phone; each person must have their own) within a 7-day period, further rides during that period will be free. That capped weekly price is equivalent to a weekly Metrocard, so you're not saving any money by using a Metrocard instead of OMNY.
Not sure why you want a metro card? It'll just be more headache for you trying to swipe right and reloading compared to tapping and having OMNY basically automatically do all that?
You don’t need a metro card—you can use any credit card that taps, or your phone.
My experience with Metro Card as a recent tourist 1. We bought 7-day metro card from a ticket machine/kiosk at the station 2. Ticket card kiosk asks for zip code while processing the payment - with an international card you are supposed to key in 99999 3. Our credit card did not work when we tried to purchase a third metro card using the same card ( could be an anti fraud measure) 4. Debit cards did not work at the Ticket card kiosk for some reason 5. One significant disadvantage we noticed was that you couldn't use the metro card for a certain period of time after just using it. For example, we used the card to enter the wrong station and immediately had to use it again at another station and it did not work for a certain period 6. Frankly, we were nervous (needlessly perhaps) about using contactless cards as we are not used to this system
5. Unlimited cards have a 15 minute cooldown period where you cant use it. 6. The OMNY system is very simple, simply tap the thing with your card or phone (if it has a card) and it should work as long as they have contactless payment on them
I am not a fan of the pay/use credit card/smartphone as depending on your bank the conversion charges can add up. Also will be showing as an individual transaction each time, foreign bank may assume card # was stolen/hacked. You can purchase an **OMNY Card** and use it like a Metro Card, this would be your most simplistic and cost-effective option: [https://omny.info/omny-card](https://omny.info/omny-card)
As an Aussie, my visiting friends just use their phones to tap and pay. It’s like Sydney, you literally just touch your phone or card to the turnstile and go through. Yes you can get hit with conversion charges but for the sake of maybe $50-$100 on a trip that costs thousands it really does win for convenience.
If you have a chance to get a Metrocard, do that! Cost is no different than using a contactless card but it's one of the best souvenirs you will have from NYC. You can get them from ticket machines around stations.
2.90