Presto Card vs. Credit Card: How to Choose

• Brampton Transit
• Burlington Transit
• Durham Region Transit (DRT)
• GO Transit
• Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)
• MiWay
• Oakville Transit
• OC Transpo (Presto in Google Wallet not accepted)
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
• UP Express
• York Region Transit/Viva (YRT/Viva)

Presto partners with 11 different transit agencies in Ontario, and according to its website, using Presto guarantees that you’ll pay the lowest fare. For instance, some transit agencies may offer Presto users a discount, or fares may be free after paying with a Presto card a certain number of times.

Yes, depending on the transit agency you use, paying with a Presto card may earn you a discounted fare.

Yes, in many cases you can pay transit fares with a credit card or a card in your digital wallet.

If you plan to be in Toronto for several days or longer, and plan to use transit as your primary means of transportation, a Presto card may be a convenient way to pay and perhaps earn slightly discounted fares. However, if you’ll only be there a short time or taking a limited number of trips on transit, single-ride tickets or single day passes may be a better option.

Assuming it’s a rewards card, using your credit card instead of Presto may earn you cash back, airline miles or other rewards.

Examine your physical card carefully, looking for the contactless payment symbol, which may be on the front or back of the card. The symbol looks like four vertical, curved lines that get bigger from left to right, and it may be enclosed in an oval shape. Some people say it looks like a horizontal Wi-Fi symbol. You can also contact your credit card issuer or read through your credit card’s terms and conditions to see if contactless payment is a feature of your card.