Using contactless payment (card or device) is generally much cheaper than buying individual paper tube tickets, as it offers the same lower pay-as-you-go rates as an Oyster card and automatically applies daily and weekly caps. Paper tickets are almost always the most expensive option, whereas contactless saves time and money without requiring pre-paid credit.
Fares and capping are exactly the same whether you use an Oyster card or a contactless payment method. That means you'll never pay more than the daily or weekly maximum when travelling across different zones – whichever method you use.
Pay as you go
You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance. You can pay as you go using contactless (card or device), an Oyster card or a Visitor Oyster card. It also offers great value as pay as you go is cheaper than buying single tickets and you get daily and weekly capping.
Pay as you go with contactless may not always be the cheapest way to pay for your journey. For example: If you have a Railcard or are eligible for other discounts (like a Child discount), it may be cheaper to buy a ticket for your journey. Currently discounts cannot be applied to pay as you go with contactless.
Quicker transactions and shorter queues at the checkout are the most significant advantages of contactless payment. Handling cash is not a concern at the checkout. You also don't have the hassle of punching in your PIN. Tap-to-pay technology is more reliable and secure than other forms of payment.
Potential security concerns
Because contactless payments require neither PIN nor signature authorisation, lost or stolen contactless cards can be used to make fraudulent transactions.
Using pay as you go (paying only for the journeys you make when you travel) is the easiest and cheapest way to pay for travel in London. You don't have to work out the cost of your journey in advance or buy tickets. You can pay as you go using: A contactless card or device (overseas charges may apply)
Use contactless or an Oyster card to pay as you go for your travel in London on all our transport services. Pay as you go means that you only pay for the journeys you make when you travel. With pay as you go, you don't need to buy a ticket before you travel.
Cheaper pay as you go fares are available during off-peak hours, meaning you can save money travelling outside of hours 06:30 – 09:30 and 16:00 – 19:00 on weekdays. Off-peak fares also apply all day on weekends and bank holidays.
The London bus 1-hour rule refers to the Hopper fare, allowing unlimited journeys on London buses and trams within one hour of the first tap-in, for a single £1.75 charge (as of early 2025). You must use the same Oyster or contactless card/device for all taps, and it works automatically, enabling free transfers between bus and tram services within that hour.
As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card.
You can buy single and return tickets from:
2.4 Only one person at a time can use the same contactless card or device for travel. You may pay another person's contactless pay as you go fare only if they are travelling with you and you have paid your fare by another means.
Pay as you go with contactless and pay as you go with Oyster usually cost the same. However, pay as you go with Oyster is not valid for travel to and from all the new pay as you go with contactless stations.
You can use a contactless card as many times as you like within a day so long as each purchase is under £100. Just bear in mind that you may be asked to use chip and PIN after using contactless a few times in a row. Don't worry, it's just an extra security measure to check it's you making any payments.
Get an 18+ Student Oyster photocard
You can save 30% on Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes with our 18+ Student Oyster photocard. You can also use this Oyster card to pay as you go but you won't receive the 30% discount.
How to save money in London
First, a quick overview of how to get cheap train tickets...
There is no need to queue for a ticket, buy a ticket or top up before you travel. When you pay as you go with contactless, you will be charged the cheapest adult fare for your journey on the day and time of your travel. For most people, this fare is the same as a ticket bought on the day.
The 2/3/4 rule is a guideline, primarily used by Bank of America, that limits how many new credit cards you can get: no more than 2 in 30 days, 3 in 12 months, and 4 in 24 months, helping to prevent over-application and manage hard inquiries on your credit report. While not universal, it's a useful benchmark for responsible card application, though other banks have different rules (like Chase's 5/24 rule).
It's usually cheaper to make payments via the EFTPOS network. You can do this by swiping or inserting your card and selecting the 'Savings' payment option. Options like 'tap and go' or paying with your digital wallet are likely to attract higher fees, as they default to the Visa or Mastercard network.