Tap and Save

Get to Know Tap&Save

Metro's Newest Payment System That Guarantees You the Lowest Fare

How Tap&Save Works

Mobile tickets are no longer available for purchase in the Transit app.
To ride, load funds to your EZFare Wallet, scan your QR code at the validator, and your fare will be automatically deducted.
If you’re new to the EZFare Wallet, previously loaded funds, or new to the Transit app, follow the steps below to get started.

Previously purchased individual passes remain valid for 180 days from the date of purchase.

  • Download the Transit app
  • Select “Buy” at the bottom of the Transit app.
  • Ensure Metro is selected as your transit system.
  • Select “Add Value.” (If this does not appear, you may need to go into account settings and create a Transit app and EZFare account.)
  • Select “Pay with your mobile phone.”
  • Create a Transit app account
  • Add your payment method
  • Select the value you want to add
  • Proceed to payment
  • Place your order
  • After purchase is confirmed, tap “Ride Now” to access your personal QR code.
  • When boarding the bus, scan your QR code on the validator
  • Your fare is automatically deducted.

To get started, select “Buy” at the bottom of the Transit app.

  • Open the Transit app
  • Tap “Ride Now” at the bottom of the main Transit app screen
  • Load Funds if needed.
  • When boarding the bus, scan your QR code on the validator
  • Your fare is automatically deducted.

To get started, select “Ride Now” at the bottom of the Transit app.

  • EZFare Smart Card
  • Purchase a smart card for $5 at Metro’s sales office.
  • Load funds with cash or credit card.Smart Cards are available for $5 from the Metro sales office.
  • The Smart Card is reloadable online and at select retailers. Smart cards go on sale July 16, 2025.
  • Tap your card when boarding.

How You Save

Daily and monthly fare capping:

  • Local routes cap at $4.40/day or $88/month
  • Express routes cap at $6.00/day or $120/month
  • Metro/TANK routes cap at $5.00/day or $105/month
  • Once you reach the cap, additional rides are free for the rest of that period.

 

Still Prefer Passes or Cash?

  • Paper passes are still available online and at Metro’s sales office.

  • Cash is still accepted on board.

  • Paper passes and cash do not qualify for fare capping.

With Tap&Save, you earn passes as you ride—no pre-planning needed. It’s the easiest way to ride smarter, save more, and get where you need to go.

Video Tutorials

What is Tap&Save?

Getting Started with Tap&Save

Tap&Save FAQs

Instead of buying day or monthly passes in advance, you can earn them as you go! Tap&Save rewards riders for traveling by automatically providing ‘period passes’ based on how much they ride over 24-hour and 30-day periods. This is known in the transit industry as “fare capping.” Once riders travel enough to reach the dollar value of a 24-hour or 30-day pass, our system will automatically “cap” their account, so the rest of their trips during these time periods are free of charge. This provides the guaranteed lowest fare. Fare capping offers a more equitable option by allowing riders to pay per trip while still unlocking the savings of a 30-day pass.   

For Metro’s Local routes, single rides are $2.20, and 24-hour passes are $4.40. The 24-hour fare-capping period begins at the first ride. Alex catches a bus at 8 a.m. and pays $2.20 for the ride. Later that day at 4 p.m., he rides again and pays the $2.20 fare. He’s now paid a total of $4.40 which equals the cost of a day pass. Until 8 a.m. on the following day, Alex can take additional Local trips free of charge because he has paid the value of a 24-hour pass.  

 

Local 30-day passes are $88. If Alex rides the bus enough times in a 30-day period to pay $88 in total fare, he will not have to pay any more fare for Local routes for the remaining days left in the 30-day period. 

Tap&Save is part of Metro’s new fare collection system in which customer information is held in a digital account, and payment is accessed by tapping a smart card or scanning a secure barcode on your smart phone. For Metro riders, this means you’ll use either the Transit app with EZfare or an EZfare smart card to create an account, load funds with cash or a credit card, then scan your account barcode on the validator when boarding the bus. The appropriate fare will be automatically deducted from your account after scanning. A customer must have a Metro account within the Transit app or attached to an EZfare smartcard to receive the benefits of fare capping as this is how we will keep track of your total fares paid per day and per month

Metro will continue to honor free transfers. When customers pay for one ride, it automatically comes with 2 transfers that must be used within 2 hours. When a rider account has reached a 24-hour or 30-day pass, all rides in those time periods are free, including transfers. 

Metro buses are unable to validate every single credit card, as this would significantly increase the time it takes for passengers to pay their fares and board the bus. That’s why we’re excited to implement our new payment system so you can just tap and ride: the more people using this payment method, the more time is saved during the boarding process! 

Nope! Paper ticket day passes, 30-day passes, and stored value cards will continue to be sold at Metro’s sales office, Metro’s Fair Deal office, at our ticket vending machines, and on our website. Just remember that since Metro is unable to track these in your EZfare account, they will not count toward fare capping. Day pass sales on board Metro buses will continue. 

Our goal is to prevent customers from paying more than they should to ride Metro. Under Metro’s new payment system, we will reward frequent riders by upgrading them to 24-hour and 30-day passes when they have paid the value of those passes with single rides. This will allow us to deliver social equity for all passengers by removing the cost barriers associated with paying upfront for a 24-hour or 30-day pass. Metro is simplifying the passenger experience by providing a contactless method of payment that allows you to simply tap and ride without the need to purchase tickets in advance and figure out the “right” ticket type needed for your trip.  

Download the Transit app on your mobile device. Select EZfare to buy fare and pay with a QR code. You will be prompted to create an account using your email address and add a payment method. From here, you can either add a credit card or select another payment option. If you select another payment option, you’ll be presented with a barcode to scan at Metro’s sales office and select retailers to pay with cash and load funds. Once your account is loaded, you’re ready to Tap&Save! 

Payment is processed instantaneously, so once you’ve received confirmation that your payment has gone through to load funds to your account, you’re ready to ride. 

Yes. All mobile tickets now expire 180 days after the purchase date, so any previously purchased tickets will still be valid until they expire. 

Yes. When you activate your new phone, re-download the Transit app and log in to access your account. 

Contact Metro Customer Care at 513-632-7575 or customerservice@go-metro.com immediately to freeze your account. Download the app on your new phone, then contact Customer Care for assistance in unfreezing your account.  

You are responsible for showing proof of valid fare to Metro operators or other authorized personnel. If you are unable to display the ticket on your mobile device, it is not valid. We recommend carrying a travel battery pack to avoid this. 

Your barcode must be able to be read and displayed, or it is not valid. 

Masabi, who supports the purchasing portion of the application, is the leading provider of mobile payment technology for public transportation agencies across the world and is committed to customer account security. Transit with EZfare uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to securely transfer sensitive data between the application and servers. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain secure. 

Riders without smartphones have the option to purchase an EZfare smart card to hold their account information and pay their fares. These smart cards can be purchased for $5 at Metro’s sales office and TANK. These cards can be loaded with funds at the Metro sales office or TANK with either cash or credit card, online through the EZfare portal with a credit card, or at participating retailers with cash. Participating retailers can be found at map.payithere.com. 

Just like the Transit app, simply tap your card on the validator when boarding the bus and the correct fare will be automatically deducted. 

Smart card users will need to create an account and login to the online EZfare portal at ezfare.justride.tickets. From this online portal, they can register their smart card, load funds via credit card, and view their account balance. 

While an email address is not required for EZfare smart cards, Metro encourages all customers to register their card with an email address as it provides participation in fare capping and is the best protection if the card is lost or stolen. This way, Metro can deactivate a lost smart card and assist with setting up a new one on the account. Without an email address, this functionality is not possible. Credit card information is not required. 

No. Punching holes in the smart cards could damage the internal chip that the validator reads on the bus and/or the barcode on the back of the card that is required to load funds. 

Please contact Metro’s Customer Care at 513-632-7575 or customerservice@go-metro.com to report lost or stolen smart cards associated with EZfare accounts. If an account is established via mobile app or with a smart card that has been registered and tied to the account, Metro can deactivate the lost smart card and assist with setting up a new one with the account. If funds are loaded onto a smart card without an account being created, the funds cannot be recovered. Metro is not responsible for replacing lost or stolen smart cards. New ones can be purchased for $5 at the locations listed above. 

Customers can still pay cash on board, but it will not count toward fare capping.  

Multiple smart cards can be attached to a single EZfare account. With a shared account, one person can load funds for everyone in the household. Each family member uses their own smart card, with fares automatically taken from the shared balance of the family account—so no need to add funds to each card separately. Everyone still travels as an individual, so fare capping will apply separately to each user based on their ridership. 

At this time, no changes will take place for Fare Deal and MVP programs. Fare capping will not apply to these programs, and customers will continue to use their physical ID cards. 

All Metro Access rides will continue to be a flat fare; therefore, fare capping will not apply at this time. Metro Access riders will have the option to use an EZfare smart card to pay their fare, which will also work as their Access ID. Metro staff will assist with EZfare account set up and registration. You can also connect your account to the EZfare mobile app to pay fares with your phone.  

Since MetroNow! does not sell 24-hour or 30-day passes, at this time the service will not cap fares, and all rides will continue to cost a flat rate per trip. MetroNow! riders will continue to pay for their trips in the EZfare mobile app or with cash. For those paying with the EZfare app, you will no longer be required to purchase a ticket before you ride. Instead, you will load funds to your EZfare account, then scan your account barcode on the validator when boarding the vehicle. The appropriate fare will be automatically deducted from your account after scanning. MetroNow! riders may also use an EZfare smart card if they do not have access to a smartphone. 

For more information, please visit go-metro.com or contact Metro’s Customer Care Center at 513-632-7575 or customerservice@go-metro.com. 

Updates to Fares

Updated Fares

Now In Effect:

Local Routes:
Single Ride:  $2.20
1/2 Off, Single Ride:  $1.10*
Day Pass:  $4.40
1/2 Off, Day Pass:  $2.20*
Five Ride Ticket:  $11.00
30-Day Pass:  $88.00
*New: Routes that have been previously designated as commuter services will now be called Local Routes. 

Express Routes: 
Single Ride:  $3.00
Day Pass: $6.00
1/2 Off, Single Ride: $1.50*
30-Day Pass:  $120.00
*New: All routes with an “X” in their title are Express Routes.

MetroNow! & Access
MetroNow! One-Way:  $2.50
Access One-Way:  $4.40

Metro/TANK
Day Pass:  $5.00
30-Day Pass: $105.00

Reduced Fare
Fare Deal & MVP Stickers: $44.00*
UC/Cincy State Students: $1.10 (this program will continue to be offered at no cost until further notice)

*Metro’s Fare Deal program allows eligible riders to obtain a Fare Deal identification card valid for half-price fares on any Metro trip. Learn more about the Fare Deal Program.

*Metro’s MVP Program is a half-fare discount program available to military veterans and active-duty service members. Learn more about the MVP program.

Child Fare Update

Children under 55 inches in height will ride free with a paying adult, with a limit of two children per fare-paying adult. Children over 55 inches tall will pay full fare.

To support this change, each bus will feature a height indicator at the 55-inch mark to help operators and customers easily determine eligibility.

This update is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which report the average height of a 10-year-old child is 54.5 inches—regardless of gender.

Fare Restructure FAQ

Metro’s fare structure is still more complex than it needs to be. Under this proposal, the result will be just two fares based on the type of service provided – local and express. Express service will be identified by the inclusion of an “X” in the route name; for example, Rt. 23X Tri-County-Forest Park Express. Customers will always know their fare based on the name of the route they are riding.

• Regular, modest fare increases have always been planned for Reinventing Metro so Metro can continue to expand route span and frequency, launch new services, and improve the overall customer experience.

• Due to inflation, the cost of goods and services has increased and Metro’s fare revenue must keep pace with this increased cost of doing business.

The half-fare paid by Fare Deal and Metro Veterans Program (MVP) participants will be $1.10 for all local routes operating within Hamilton County and $1.50 for express routes operating in Hamilton County.

The cost of the monthly Fare Deal sticker will be $44.00.

The fare for MetroNow! will be $2.50.

The one-way fare for Access trips will be $4.40, and Access 10-ride ticket books will cost $44.00.

For customers using the Transit app with EZfare, all Metro transfers will continue to be free and good for continuous travel on up to two Metro buses or for 120 minutes, whichever comes first. Free transfers will be available for every Metro single ride purchased using the Transit with EZFare app.

The fare for these two counties will be consolidated and these services will have a one-way fare of $3.00 each since they are express services with an “X” in their names.

These programs are offered under negotiated contracts with these educational institutions and their fare will be $1.10 regardless of the type of service.

• The cost for a 30-day rolling pass for all local routes will be $88.

• The cost for a 30-day rolling pass for all express routes will be $120.

• The cost for the Metro/TANK 30-day rolling pass will remain $105 to encourage regional mobility.

Based on customer feedback received during the comment period, the child’s fare policy will change:

• Children under 55 inches in height will ride free with a paying adult.

• Limit two free children with each paying adult.

• Children over 55 inches tall will pay full fare.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO,) the average height of a 10-year old child is 54.5 inches regardless of gender.

• A sign will be placed on each bus at 55 inches to aid operators and customers in identifying eligibility for the child’s fare.

The Metro fare simplification will be effective July 16, 2025.

Day passes good for unlimited rides during the transit day for all local routes will cost $4.40 and a day pass for express routes will cost $6.00. The Metro/TANK day pass cost will remain $5.00 to encourage regional mobility.

No, Metro will continue to offer regional stored-value cards for $10, $20, and $30 that can be used like cash on any Metro or TANK route.

Metro is pleased to offer a new program called Tap&Save which can actually save frequent riders money when they ride multiple times in a 24-hour or 30-day period:

• Tap&Save guarantees the lowest Metro fixed-route fare over a 24-hour or 30-day period.

• Once you reach the 24-hour or 30-day fare rate, you won’t be charged for additional rides during that period.

• For those customers who do not use the Transit with EZfare app, a reloadable EZfare smart card will be available for a $5.00 purchase price to enjoy the Tap&Save benefits.

• Fares are automatically tracked as you ride using your smart card or the Transit App with EZfare.

• Simply keep scanning or tapping your card—no need to worry about overspending.

• Charges resume at the start of the next fare cap period (24-hour or 30-day.)

• Another benefit of Tap&Save is that, instead of having to pay $88 or $120 up front for a 30-day pass, riders can pay fare one ride at a time and still earn the benefits of a 30-day pass.

• Single-ride tickets, day passes, and 30-day rolling passes will no longer be available to purchase in the Transit with EZfare app.

• Instead, riders may still purchase day passes, 5-ride passes, and 30-day rolling passes at the Metro sales office, online, or through the ticket vending machines downtown, uptown, and at the Northside, Glenway Crossing, and Oakley transit centers.

• 5-ride tickets and 30-day rolling passes purchased at the Metro sales office or from a ticket vending machine will not be eligible for free fare under the Tap&Save program.

Metro will honor all pre-purchased fare depending on how it was purchased:

• Metro will accept all single-ride tickets, day passes, and 30-day rolling passes purchased in the Transit with EZfare app 180 days from date of purchase.

• Metro will accept any pre-paid Access tickets until the end of this calendar year, Dec. 31, 2025.

• All Fare Deal stickers go on sale for the following month on the 15th of the previous month.

• If you buy a Fare Deal sticker on June 16, it will cost $40 since the fare restructuring won’t go into effect until July 16.

• When sales of the August sticker begin on July 15, the new price will be $44.

Routes that have been previously designated as commuter services will now be called local services, whose fare will be $2.20. These routes include:
• Rt. 2 Madeira
• Rt. 12 Madisonville
• Rt. 25 Mt. Lookout
• Rt. 30 Beechmont
• Rt. 38 Glenway Crossing-Uptown
• Rt. 40 Montana
• Rt. 77 Delhi
• Rt. 81 Mt. Washington

Rt. 71X is an express route with an “X” in its name, so your fare will be $3.00.

All routes with an “X” in their title are express routes with a $3.00 fare including:
• 3X Montgomery Express
• 23X Tri-County/Forest Park Express
• 29X Milford Express
• 52X Harrison Express
• 71X Kings Island Express
• 72X Kings Island Direct Express (seasonally service to Kings Island)
• 74X Colerain Express
• 82X Eastgate Express

Here is a comparison of Metro’s single-ride base (local) fare with some peer cities:

Cincinnati (Metro) $2.00
Columbus (COTA) $2.00
Cleveland (GCRTA) $2.50
Dayton (GDRTA) $2.20
Indianapolis (IndyGO) $1.75
Louisville (TARC) $1.75
Northern KY (TANK) $2.00

Earn Rewards Just for Riding

These updates build on the excitement of Metro’s new Rider Rewards program, launched in April 2025. Riders can earn points every time they ride and redeem them for free rides, gift cards, and more.

Tap&Save + Rider Rewards = More Savings, More Perks.

It’s all part of Metro’s commitment to making public transit easier, more affordable, and rewarding for everyone.

Get Started
Metro Rider Rewards Program