PennyWiser

Find your cheapest TfL ticket for hybrid work

Compare PAYG, Contactless, Oyster, Travelcards, bus journeys and railcard discounts against the way you actually commute.

4

ticket types compared

2026

TfL fares and caps

Free

no sign-up needed

Before you start

Use your normal commute week

  1. 1Choose the stations you usually travel between.
  2. 2Enter how many days you go to the office.
  3. 3Add buses, extra Tube/rail trips or an Oyster railcard if relevant.
  4. 4Press the button to see the cheapest option.

Ticket types explained

PAYG

Pay as you go means you pay per journey using either contactless or Oyster. TfL caps can limit your daily or weekly spend.

Travelcards

A Travelcard is a season ticket for unlimited travel in your selected zones. It also includes London bus travel.

Oyster railcards

Eligible railcards only discount off-peak PAYG when loaded onto Oyster. They do not discount contactless or Travelcards.

Calculator

Your commute details

Fill this in like a normal week. PennyWiser compares the options after you press the button.

Route

Choose your stations and PennyWiser will use their fare zones for the estimate. The station list covers London fare zones 1-9; routes outside those zones need separate fare data before they can be estimated safely.

Using Zone 2 -> Zone 1 for this estimate.
Working pattern
Optional costs and discounts

Not seeing your railcard? Some railcards, such as Two Together and Network Railcard, do not provide TfL Oyster PAYG discounts and are excluded.

Ready to compare?PennyWiser checks TfL station-pair fares first, then falls back to zone fares if needed.

About the data

All fares, daily caps, weekly caps and Travelcard prices are based on TfL's published fare tables, last updated March 2026. Fares are reviewed annually each March, and estimates are for guidance only.

Common questions

Is PAYG (Contactless / Oyster) always cheaper if I work from home some days?

Often yes, but it depends on your zones and how many days you commute. The calculator checks the break-even point for your selected pattern.

Does my railcard work on the Tube?

Only for off-peak PAYG journeys on Oyster, not on contactless, not during peak hours, and not on any Travelcard. Load your railcard onto your Oyster card at a Tube station or via the TfL app.

Why can a Travelcard beat PAYG?

Travelcards cost more upfront, but can work out cheaper per week when you commute often enough or use buses regularly.