Oyster Card vs Contactless. Which Is Cheaper for London Transport

---

title: "Oyster Card vs Contactless. Which Is Cheaper for London Transport"

author: Alex

published: false

tags:

- transport

- london

- guide

---

London transport accepts both Oyster cards and contactless bank cards. Both cap daily spending automatically. Neither is universally superior. The best choice depends on your specific situation.

How the Caps Work

Both Oyster and contactless apply daily and weekly caps. Once you reach the cap, additional journeys cost nothing. The caps vary by travel zones and whether you include rail services or stick to buses and trams.

Daily caps reset at midnight. Weekly caps operate Monday through Sunday. This Monday start is crucial for visitors arriving midweek.

Contactless Advantages

Contactless requires no upfront purchase or deposit. You tap your existing bank card and go. For occasional visitors, this convenience outweighs any minor cost differences.

Contactless automatically calculates weekly caps. If you travel frequently enough to hit the weekly limit, contactless stops charging while Oyster continues deducting daily amounts unless you manually purchase a weekly travelcard.

Oyster Advantations

Oyster cards offer discounts not available to contactless users. National Railcard holders can link their discount to Oyster for reduced off-peak fares. This includes 16-25 Railcard, Senior Railcard, and Disabled Persons Railcard holders.

Children travel free on Oyster with a Zip card. Contactless has no equivalent child fare mechanism. Families should use Oyster for children even if adults prefer contactless.

Visitor Oyster Card

The Visitor Oyster Card sold at airports and online includes pre-loaded credit and a non-refundable deposit. It offers no financial advantage over standard Oyster purchased at Tube stations. The only benefit is convenience for those wanting transport sorted before arrival.

Cost Comparison

For most adult travellers without railcards, costs are identical. The differences emerge for frequent travellers hitting weekly caps and those eligible for discounts. Calculate based on your trip length and eligibility.

Final Thought

Use contactless for short visits without railcard discounts. Use Oyster if you have a railcard to link, are travelling with children, or prefer separating transport spending from your main bank account. Both work reliably. Neither choice is a mistake.