Toronto's TTC Transit System May Eventually Support Apple Pay - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Toronto's TTC Transit System May Eventually Support Apple Pay

by

Toronto's TTC transit system, the fourth largest in North America, may eventually support Apple Pay for fare payments.

presto ttc apple pay

A rough mockup of the PRESTO card in Apple's Wallet app

Metrolinx, the transit agency that manages integration of the PRESTO card system in the Greater Toronto Area, recently detailed plans to support mobile payments within the coming years, according to the Toronto Star.

Apple contacted Metrolinx last Wednesday to set up a related meeting, the agency said. The report suggests there are a few compatibility issues between the PRESTO system and Apple Pay that would need to be resolved. For that reason, Metrolinx's rollout of mobile payments may start with Android smartphones.

Apple Pay support would enable commuters to hold a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch near a PRESTO card reader to pay their fare on streetcars, buses, and at turnstiles in subway stations throughout the TTC system. Mobile payments could extend to other Canadian cities with PRESTO like Hamilton and Ottawa.

The process is similar to using Apple Pay for in-store payments. Depending on the iPhone, that means double-pressing the home button or side button, authenticating with Touch ID or Face ID, and holding the device near the card reader. Apple Watch payments are also activated by double-pressing the side button.

Toronto would join a handful of cities with transit systems that already support Apple Pay, including Chicago, Portland, and Salt Lake City in the United States, Beijing and Shanghai in China, and other global cities like London and Tokyo.

Metrolinx said there is no firm timeline as to when the TTC will begin accepting mobile payments, but it sounds like a multi-year process.

(Thanks, Pedro!)

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: Canada, Toronto, Transit
Related Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+

Popular Stories

Apple Pay Walmart Feature

Walmart to Begin Accepting Apple Pay in U.S. Stores

Friday August 21, 2026 7:09 am PDT by
After years of holding out, Walmart today announced that it will finally begin accepting tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay in some of its Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. starting Monday, August 24. The retailer plans to roll out tap-to-pay support to all of its U.S. stores by the end of 2026 and to its gas stations by mid-2027. "We want customers and members to have choice in how...
Read Full Article • 326 comments
Apple National Parks

Apple Pay Supporting U.S. National Park Foundation Over the Next Week

Friday August 21, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Now through August 28, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store, up to a maximum of $1 million. In addition, the annual U.S. national parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge returns on Sunday, August 23 this...
Read Full Article • 17 comments
iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 151 comments

Top Rated Comments

bladerunner2000 Avatar
bladerunner2000
109 months ago
Toronto TTC should focus on expanding their city coverage. 5 million people and only two subway lines and the city considers itself 'world class' ? What a joke.

If it weren't for the TTC being garbage, perhaps the 401 highway wouldn't look like this on a daily basis?

ttc presto apple pay talks with metrolinx image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
lunarworks
109 months ago
Forget about Rob Ford, he didn't get to do anything with the transit and despite what you may not like about him, at least he pushed for subway expansion.

Second, LRT is a wasted effort. Take away necessary road space from cars only to throw in the LRT. That's not a solution. The solution is to build underground or above ground like Tokyo.

Third, the real scumbag for this debacle is Mike Harris. There were even plans of building the Subway all the way from Square One in Mississauga across Eglinton. Do that and the 401 would have been MUCH less congested.

Fourth, although somewhat unrelated to miserable subway infrastructure in Toronto, Mike Harris AGAIN screwed Toronto by selling off the 407. That highway is relatively dead because its WAY too expensive to use for the common person.

No matter how you slice it, Toronto is a joke of a city. The most embarrassing city planning I have ever seen.
First, he pushed for subway expansion at the expense of getting any system expansion (beyond the Eglinton line he couldn't cancel) anytime soon. The SRT replacement would have been running up to Sheppard by now, but the subway is at least 10 years away. But hey, instead of a 7 stop ride by 2018, we get a 1 stop ride by 2028 at twice the price. A bargain!

Second, the SRT to LRT replacement was to run in its own mostly existing right of way, with lands set aside for the rest decades ago, taking exactly zero road space away from cars. As for other lines, the inner suburbs of Toronto are wide and can absorb it, unlike the narrow roads downtown.

Third and fourth, agreed, Mike Harris screwed this city over big time. Can't wait for Act 2 in June.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
lunarworks
109 months ago
"Metrolinx said there is no firm timeline as to when the TTC will begin accepting mobile payments, but it sounds like a multi-year process."

That's a ****ing understatement. Presto was launched in 2009, and only became fully supported on the TTC Last year.

Anyway, I look forward to being able to use my iPhone X4 with Presto.
[doublepost=1525718220][/doublepost]
Toronto TTC should focus on expanding their city coverage. 5 million people and only two subway lines and the city considers itself 'world class' ? What a joke.
Maybe if the city weren't trying to spend $4 billion on a single subway stop in Scarborough we'd be much further ahead. (I live in Scarborough and it's the dumbest idea in decades.)

Transit planning should not be in the hands of city councilors.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
Joe Rossignol
109 months ago
Presto is also found in other cities outside of the GTA such as Ottawa.
I've added a mention. Thanks
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
SteveJobs2.0
109 months ago
Presto is also found in other cities outside of the GTA such as Ottawa.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
scottwxx
109 months ago
I hope that Apple pushes for a digital card solution. I got enough pastics in my wallet.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors