Published: September 8, 2026
EasyCard vs iPASS in 2026: Which Taiwan Transit Card to Buy (and Where)
Quick Answer
- EasyCard (悠遊卡) and iPASS (一卡通) now do almost exactly the same job — both tap through the Taipei Metro, Kaohsiung MRT, city buses, and convenience stores nationwide.
- Pick by where you land, not by brand: EasyCard is the default in Taipei, iPASS started in Kaohsiung. Whichever you buy first will carry you across the whole island.
- A blank card costs NT$100 with no travel value loaded — and that NT$100 is the card fee, not a refundable deposit like Japan’s ¥500.
- Neither card boards the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) as a tap-and-go — that’s a separate ticket every time.
One rechargeable card gets you through nearly every turnstile in Taiwan. Tap in on the Taipei Metro, tap a city bus, then pay for a 7-Eleven coffee with the same card.
The only confusing part is that there are two big names — EasyCard and iPASS — and a lot of older guides still treat them as rivals you have to choose carefully between.
In 2026 that choice barely matters. I’ve used an EasyCard from Taoyuan Airport down to Kaohsiung and an iPASS the other direction, and both tapped through the same gates without complaint.
This guide sorts out the real differences, the NT$100 card fee nobody warns you about, and the one place neither card works.
What’s the difference between EasyCard and iPASS?
For a traveler, almost nothing. The difference is the company behind each card and the city where it was born.
EasyCard is issued by EasyCard Corporation and grew out of the Taipei Metro, so it’s the card you’ll see everywhere in the capital. iPASS comes from iPASS Corporation and started life on the Kaohsiung MRT in the south.
The fact that removes the worry: both are part of Taiwan’s interoperable IC-card system. An EasyCard bought in Taipei taps through Kaohsiung MRT gates, and an iPASS from the south works fine on the Taipei Metro.
That interoperability also covers the Taoyuan Metro, the Taichung MRT, conventional Taiwan Railways (TRA) trains, and city buses across the island.
Pro Tip: Don’t buy a second card when you travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung. The one you started with covers the whole island. A second card just splits your money across two balances you’ll both want to spend down later.
Where can you actually use each card?
Far beyond the metro. Both cards behave like everyday small-cash for most of a trip.
They tap through every metro system on the island, most city buses, conventional TRA trains, and the four big convenience-store chains — 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, and OK Mart.
You can also rent YouBike public bicycles with either card, though you have to register the card online first before the docks will release a bike.
On the Taipei Metro, paying with EasyCard or iPASS earns fare rebates that single-journey token buyers don’t get — a quiet reason locals never bother with paper tokens.
| Where | EasyCard | iPASS |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei Metro | Yes | Yes |
| Kaohsiung MRT | Yes | Yes |
| Taoyuan / Taichung Metro | Yes | Yes |
| TRA local trains | Yes | Yes |
| City buses | Yes | Yes |
| Convenience stores | Yes | Yes |
| YouBike (after registration) | Yes | Yes |
| THSR (tap-and-go) | No | No |
What does a card cost — and what’s the deal with the NT$100 fee?
A blank card costs NT$100, and this is where the Japan comparison breaks down. That NT$100 is the price of the card itself, not a deposit you get back.
The card arrives with zero travel value, so you add money on top before your first ride. Tokyo’s Suica works the other way — a refundable ¥500 deposit you reclaim on the way out.
Taipei Metro fares start around NT$20 for a short hop and climb with distance, and a Taipei city bus segment runs about NT$15. A NT$300 to NT$500 top-up covers a busy sightseeing day with room to spare.
When you leave, you can refund your remaining stored value at a metro service counter, though a small handling fee may be deducted. The NT$100 you paid for the card itself does not come back.
Watch out: Don’t over-load the card on your last day. The stored-value balance is refundable, but a counter handling fee and the lost NT$100 card fee mean any leftover money is rarely worth a special trip back to a service window. Top up in small amounts as you near the end.
Can an EasyCard or iPASS get you on the THSR?
No — and this is the single most common mistake. The Taiwan High Speed Rail is not part of the tap-and-go IC system.
THSR tickets are bought separately, at station machines and counters or through the T Express mobile app, and they’re priced per journey by seat class and distance. Your EasyCard balance plays no part in it.
What an EasyCard or iPASS does cover is everything around the bullet train — the metro to the THSR station, the local TRA train, the bus, and the convenience-store snacks for the ride.
So treat the card as your city-and-suburban tool. For the Taipei-to-Kaohsiung high-speed leg, budget a separate ticket every time.
According to the Taiwan Tourism Administration, EasyCard and iPASS are accepted across the island’s metro systems, buses, and convenience stores, making a single stored-value card the simplest way for visitors to pay for everyday transport.
How do you top up, and where?
The easiest place is a convenience store. Hand the card and cash to the clerk at any 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, or OK Mart, and they’ll load it in seconds.
Metro stations also have add-value machines beside the ticket gates, and these take cash. Most top-up points across Taiwan are cash-only, so keep a few NT$100 notes on you.
A digital EasyCard does exist for Apple Wallet, but it’s geared to locally issued Apple accounts and Taiwan-market phones. Most foreign visitors are better off with the physical plastic from the airport.
Pro Tip: Buy your card the moment you land. Both EasyCard and iPASS are sold at convenience stores and Taoyuan Metro counters inside Taoyuan International Airport, so you can tap straight onto the airport metro into the city.
EasyCard vs iPASS: the side-by-side
The table below is the fast version. The honest summary is that the rows are nearly identical — issuer and home city are the only differences that matter to a visitor.
| Feature | EasyCard | iPASS |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | EasyCard Corporation | iPASS Corporation |
| Home city | Taipei | Kaohsiung |
| Blank card fee | NT$100 (non-refundable) | NT$100 (non-refundable) |
| Works nationwide? | Yes | Yes |
| Top-up at convenience stores | Yes (cash) | Yes (cash) |
| Boards the THSR? | No | No |
| Stored value refundable? | Yes (handling fee may apply) | Yes (handling fee may apply) |
Which card should you buy?
The brand barely matters; where you land does. This table maps the common traveler types to the card that gives the least friction.
| If you are… | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Flying into Taoyuan / Taipei | EasyCard — the airport and city are saturated with sales and top-up points |
| Flying into Kaohsiung (south) | iPASS — its home turf, but EasyCard works fine here too |
| Doing a north–south island loop | Whichever you buy first — both tap nationwide, so don’t switch |
| A family with kids | One card each (concession cards exist for children); top up at any konbini |
Key Takeaway
Stop agonizing over EasyCard vs iPASS — they’re interchangeable nationwide. Buy whichever one the airport convenience store hands you, load NT$300 to NT$500, and remember that the NT$100 card fee isn’t a refundable deposit and that neither card boards the THSR.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one card across Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung?
Yes. EasyCard and iPASS both run on Taiwan’s interoperable IC-card network, so a single card taps through gates in every metro system on the island, plus city buses and TRA local trains. You never need a second card just because you changed cities.
Is the NT$100 card fee refundable?
No. The NT$100 is the cost of the card itself, not a deposit. You can refund your remaining stored value at a metro service counter, though a small handling fee may be deducted — but the NT$100 card fee does not come back.
Can I take the high-speed rail with an EasyCard or iPASS?
Not as a tap-and-go. The Taiwan High Speed Rail uses its own tickets, bought at station machines and counters or via the T Express app. Your IC card still covers the metro, local trains, and buses that connect to the THSR station.
Where do I top up, and can I use a credit card?
You top up with cash at convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart) and at metro station add-value machines. Most top-up points are cash-only, so carry a few NT$100 notes rather than relying on a card.
Can foreign visitors add EasyCard to a phone?
Usually not easily. A digital EasyCard exists in Apple Wallet, but it’s geared to locally issued Apple accounts and Taiwan-market handsets. Most overseas visitors should plan on buying the physical plastic card at the airport.
Last updated: May 2026
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Written by Sam Konneh
Sam Konneh is an AI strategist and digital marketer based in Seoul, South Korea. With years spent living, working, and exploring across Korea, Japan, and China, he shares firsthand insights into East Asia's cultures, hidden gems, and everyday life. A graduate of Inha University and KDI Graduate School, Sam combines data-driven expertise with on-the-ground experience. His journey also includes studying in Malaysia and traveling through Southeast Asia. Through practical tips, local stories, and travel guides, he helps fellow explorers discover both the celebrated highlights and the lesser-known corners of East Asia.
