Vending
NYC Subway's MetroCard ending, OMNY taking over
Photo: Adobe
November 25, 2025
New York City's subway system is poised to complete its transition away from the yellow MetroCard, beginning in 2026, according to reporting by MSN. The shift will see the OMNY contactless payment system become the standard for riders.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will stop selling and distributing MetroCards after Dec. 31, 2025. While existing MetroCards will still be accepted for use into the new year, the tap-and-go OMNY system — which accepts physical OMNY cards, as well as physical and digital credit and debit cards — will fully replace the swipe-based method.
Key details about the transition:
- OMNY acceptance: OMNY is already accepted at all MTA subway stations. Riders can use an OMNY card, tap a credit/debit card, or utilize a smartphone/smart device with a digital wallet to enter the system.
- OMNY card availability: Physical OMNY cards, which are black and white, are available for purchase at vending machines in subway stations and at various retail stores, including Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven.
- Fare benefits: The OMNY system maintains free transfers. Additionally, it features a fare-capping policy: once a rider uses the same card or device 12 times in one week, all subsequent rides that week are free.
- Usage restriction: A single credit or debit card used in the OMNY system cannot be tapped multiple times to pay for more than one person on the same trip.
The transition to OMNY, which also works on select bus services, marks the end of the MetroCard's three-decade run in the city.
