Apple has expanded the number of major U.S. cities where its Apple Pay for public transit feature is supported, providing an easy way for those who use public transportation to pay for their trips.
‌Apple Pay‌ for public transit now works in Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, DC.
Some of these cities have supported ‌Apple Pay‌ for transit purposes for several years, and in others, like Dallas and Houston, support is new as of June 2026.
In cities that support Apple Pay for public transit, iPhone users can activate Express Mode to pay their fares without unlocking their device or using Face ID or Touch ID. To choose a card, open Settings, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap Express Transit Card.
When a credit or debit card is configured for Express mode, it can be used automatically at transit terminals. On iPhone XS and later, Express Transit can also run for up to five hours after the battery runs out, thanks to the power reserve.
Some cities allow standard credit or debit cards for public transportation, while others require a dedicated transit card in the Wallet app. For example, in Houston, users add a virtual RideMETRO card, while in Dallas, users can pay for their DART fare with any contactless credit or debit card.
iPhone 6s, iPhone SE 2016 and later support Express Mode for Apple Pay transit. It also works on Apple Watch Series 1 and later with watchOS 5.2.1 or later.
Apple Pay Transit is available in several cities around the world, including London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Toronto, Beijing and Shanghai.
Public transportation assistance varies by city, so check local requirements before traveling. In supported areas, Apple Pay can make public transportation easier by letting you pay at the door without purchasing tickets in advance. Apple lists supported transport systems on its website.
