Opal Card Vs. Credit Card

Sydney is one of the places where you can use your credit card on buses, trains, ferries and light rail. Not every state accepts credit or debit card tap-on payments on public transport, but New South Wales (NSW) does. While this makes for convenient boarding, is it the best way to pay for public transport in Sydney? When comparing the Opal card vs. a credit card, the benefits depend on where you’re travelling to and from, how often you use it, and if you’re a local or a visitor.

» MORE: Where can you tap on with a credit card to board a train?

Payment options on Sydney’s public transport system

Transport for NSW is the public transport provider in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra. The network card is the Opal, which is the most popular payment method for public transport tickets.

The other accepted payment methods include credit and debit cards, including virtual cards, as well as mobile wallets, tablets, and wearable devices. Contactless payments accrue the same benefits and savings as the Opal card. But what about comparing the costs of the Opal card and a credit card? Is the Opal Card cheaper than a credit card? It might not be the same for everyone.

How does an Opal card work?

An Opal card is a reloadable travel card that gives you access to the public transport network in Sydney and regional hubs. Instead of buying single tickets for each trip, tap your Opal card on the device as you step on the bus, train or ferry. You can top up your card via the Opal Travel App, on the Transport for NSW website, at a pay station or at an Opal retailer. Keep in mind some third-party retailers charge a merchant fee for credit or debit card payments.

The most popular Opal card is the adult (+16) card, but there are also options for students, children, seniors, people on Centrelink, and passengers with disabilities. Each card has its own fee structure. For example, children aged four to 15 are entitled to concession fares.

When you tap on, the cost of your ticket is determined by your Opal card type and how far you’ve travelled. Fare discounts and caps are automatically applied to the card. The Opal card is cheaper than a standard single ticket.

Check your balance regularly to avoid dropping under the minimum amount needed for your next trip.

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Having a designated app for your public transport — with a quick view of your travel, benefits and past fares — is more convenient than checking a credit card statement. Credit card transactions can also stay pending on a statement for a couple of days, so it might not reflect in your balance on the day you travel.

» MORE: How old do you have to be to get a credit card in Australia?

When getting around Sydney and its surroundings, there are a few details to consider.

Opal card benefits: caps, discounts & rewards

The Opal card has weekly caps for adult fares, which means you’ll never pay more than $50 per week. That weekly cap is broken down into daily, weekly and weekend travel caps:

$17.80 per day (Mondays to Thursdays)
$8.90 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

The card also offers off-peak fare perks and a discount on transfers. These include:

A 30% fare discount when travelling on Fridays, weekends, public holidays and outside of peak times.
A $2 discount for every transfer between modes as part of one journey (excluding light rail to Sydney Ferries, except at Circular Quay).

When you use a credit or debit card or another kind of contactless device instead of an Opal card, you’ll get the same perks and discounts at the rate of an adult Opal fare. This includes fare discounts as well as daily and weekly caps that apply to every tip.

It’s worth emphasising that you cannot claim a concession fare when using a contactless card or device. So, if you plan to travel with family — and have children or students in your group — foregoing the Opal card in favour of contactless options will cost you more, as everyone will have to pay the Adult fare.

Credit card benefits: skip the minimum load amount

Contactless payments using a credit or debit card receive the same fare and benefits as the Opal card. These benefits also apply to digital wallets. However, concession fares aren’t available using contactless payments.

With the adult Opal card, there’s a minimum load value of $10 on the app and $20 at a retailer. If you don’t take public transport frequently, paying with a credit card could be more affordable. If you travel short distances a couple of times a month, you could save that loading fee and just pay as you go with a credit card.

Paying with a credit card or mobile wallet is convenient because you don’t need anything extra than you’d normally carry to get on public transport. You always have your wallet and phone, and you don’t have to remember to top up your Opal. Using a credit card instead of an Opal is another way to build reward points.

However, multiple passengers cannot share the same credit or debit card. For example, you can’t pass the same card back to a partner or friend for them to tap on, too. You’ll have to use a separate bank card.

If you use Sydney public transport daily or weekly, you’re probably better off with an Opal card. If you’re visiting or don’t use your Opal card frequently, contactless credit card payments could be the better option.

» MORE: Pros and cons of using credit cards

How to use a credit card to recharge the Opal card

You can choose to use the Opal card and the credit card. Tap on with an Opal card, but load it with your credit card. That way, you can still earn credit card points if that’s a goal for your personal finances.

Whether you’re reloading on the website, app, at a pay station, retailer or service centre, you can use a credit or debit card. As with any credit card usage, pay it off by the end of the month to avoid incurring interest.

Just make sure if you use a credit card for everyday expenses (like public transport), it’s backed with a strategy — such as earning points or building your credit score. Add reviewing your transport costs into your regular financial budgeting sessions and look for ways to cut costs and maximise benefits.

Transport costs are one of the biggest expenses, so anywhere you can save will have a huge impact on your finances. Travel out of peak hours when possible, use the Trip Planner function, and earn points when you pay on a credit card.

Like a credit card, a debit card is considered a contactless payment and comes with the same benefits as using the Opal.