If you're planning to travel on London's public transport network in 2025, you’ll need to choose between two major payment options: the Oyster card and contactless payment. While both offer seamless access to the capital's extensive transport system, there are key differences in terms of value, ease of use, and suitability depending on your circumstances.
This updated guide compares Oyster and contactless to help you decide which is better for commuting, visiting, or living in London.
An Oyster card is a smartcard issued by Transport for London (TfL). It is accepted on the Tube, buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, and some National Rail services in the London fare zones.
Key Benefits of an Oyster Card:
Can be used with pay-as-you-go credit or Travelcards
Offers daily fare capping
Provides access to discounted fares for children, students, and senior passengers
Credit does not expire and can be refunded
Separate from your bank account, making it easier to track travel spending
You can top up an Oyster card at ticket machines, online, or through the TfL Go app.
Contactless payment allows you to use a bank card, mobile phone, or smartwatch to pay for travel by tapping in and out at card readers across the TfL network.
Key Benefits of Contactless:
No need to top up or manage a separate card
Daily and weekly fare capping is applied automatically
Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major debit/credit cards
Ideal for regular commuters and visitors with UK-issued or compatible international cards
To ensure correct fare calculation, it’s important to use the same card or device for all journeys.
As of 2025, Oyster and contactless fares are identical for pay-as-you-go journeys on Tube, bus, and rail services within London.
However, there is a key difference in capping:
Feature Oyster Card Contactless Payment Daily Capping Yes Yes Weekly Capping No (unless Travelcard is added) Yes (Mon–Sun automatically)
Contactless provides better value for frequent travellers, especially those who commute throughout the week and want automatic weekly capping without needing to load a Travelcard.
Contactless offers the highest level of convenience, especially for those who already carry a bank card or use a smartphone for payments. There is no need to manage balance or top-ups, and capping is applied automatically.
Oyster remains useful for those who want to prepay, monitor travel spend more precisely, or are eligible for fare discounts.
Both Oyster and contactless allow you to view your journey history and manage your travel:
Oyster journey data can be accessed via the TfL website or app, and refunds can be processed for incomplete or delayed journeys.
Contactless journey data is available through your TfL account and refunds are applied back to your payment card.
To access full travel records and claim refunds, you must register your card or device with TfL.
An Oyster card is recommended if:
You are eligible for concessionary fares (children, students, over-60s, disabled passengers)
You have a non-UK bank card that does not support contactless payment
You prefer to manage your travel budget separately from your bank account
Contactless payment is ideal if:
You are a regular commuter or London resident
You want the benefit of weekly fare capping without managing top-ups
You already use a contactless card or smartphone for payments
You are visiting London and have a compatible payment card
Best For Recommended Option Commuters Contactless Tourists with UK cards Contactless Concessionary fares Oyster Budget-conscious travellers Oyster Simplicity and automation Contactless
Contactless is the best choice for most users in 2025, offering maximum flexibility, ease of use, and cost-efficiency, especially for frequent travellers.
However, the Oyster card remains valuable for specific user groups, particularly those eligible for discounted fares and those without access to compatible contactless cards.
Additional Tips for Travelling in London
Always tap in and out on Tube, DLR, Overground, and National Rail services. On buses and trams, only tap in.
Use the TfL Go app to check real-time service updates, top up Oyster cards, and monitor your journey history.
Create a TfL account to manage refunds, track capping limits, and review your recent trips.
Useful Resources
Please leave your message here, and a member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can reach us at info@chbl.uk or call us at +44 (0) 207 903 6881.
International House, 1 St. Katharine's Way
London, E1W 1UN
30 Churchill Place, London, E14 5RE
