Clipper

Name

Clipper

Legal name

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Website

https://clippercard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Transit fare transaction processing: Clipper processes fare payments on behalf of Bay Area transit agencies, collecting and distributing fare revenue. Agencies pay Clipper/MTC a fee per transaction for using the system. Riders load cash value or passes onto their cards to pay for rides.
2. Card and bulk sales: Adult Clipper cards are sold for $3 each. Bulk orders for companies/organizations are $3 per card. Card replacement costs $3 for adult cards (free for Youth/Senior). Refund processing fee of $5.
3. Pre-tax transit benefit administration: Clipper integrates with pre-tax commuter benefit programs (WageWorks, Commuter Check, transit benefit debit cards), processing value loading on behalf of employers and benefit administrators. Transit benefit cardholders can load value through the system.
4. Value loading and Auto-Reload: Riders add cash value or purchase transit agency passes through the Clipper system. Auto-Reload ensures recurring value loading when balances are low. Some agencies offer daily/weekly/monthly maximum fare caps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Clipper is a regional transit fare payment system operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the San Francisco Bay Area. It enables riders to pay fares across 24+ transit agencies using a single Clipper card (plastic or mobile wallet in Apple/Google Wallet), or via contactless bank card tap-to-pay launched in December 2025. The system includes discount programs for youth, seniors, riders with disabilities, and income-qualified adults, with Auto-Reload, automatic fare capping, and discounted transfers between agencies.

Product overview

Clipper is a unified transit fare payment system operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the San Francisco Bay Area. The core offering consists of the Clipper Card (available in plastic and mobile formats via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet) combined with the Clipper Mobile App for account management. The system integrates with 24 transit agencies across the Bay Area, accepting contactless bank card payments alongside traditional Clipper cards. Discount programs include Youth, Senior, Clipper Access (for riders with disabilities), and Clipper START (income-based). Next-Generation Clipper, launched December 2025, introduced contactless bank card tap-to-pay, discounted transfers up to $2.85, and instant value availability. Additional features include Auto-Reload, transit passes with fare maximums, and pre-tax transit benefit integration. The Clipper Mobile App provides trip planning, balance management, and real-time transit information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clipper START: Income-based transit discount program providing 50% off single-ride bus, BART, rail and ferry fares for Bay Area residents ages 19-64 with qualifying income.
• Clipper Access

Products and services

• Adult Clipper Card The primary Bay Area transit fare payment card accepted across 24+ transit services. Adults can load cash value and transit passes, set up Auto-Reload, and register cards for balance protection. Sold for $3 each via the Clipper website, customer service centers, retailers, and self-serve machines.
• Youth Clipper Card Discount transit card for riders ages 5-18 providing access to reduced fares and discounted passes offered by participating Bay Area transit agencies. Applied for with proof of age via accepted ID. No card replacement fee.
• Senior Clipper Card Discount transit card for riders ages 65 and older qualifying for reduced fares and discounted passes on participating Bay Area transit services. Applied for with proof of age via accepted identification. No card replacement fee.
• Clipper Access Card Discount card for riders under age 65 with qualifying disabilities. Formerly the RTC (Regional Transit Connection) Discount ID Card, rebranded as Clipper Access. Works like any standard Clipper card with a combination of cash value and discounted passes, and serves as photo ID for cash payments. Card replacement is $3.
• Clipper START Card Income-based discount program for Bay Area residents ages 19-64 with qualifying income, providing 50% off single-ride bus, BART, rail and ferry transit fares. Administered separately from standard Clipper accounts through clipperstartcard.com.
• Mobile Clipper Card (Apple Wallet / Google Wallet) Digital version of the Clipper card stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, allowing users to pay transit fares by tapping iPhone (iOS 16.4+, iPhone 8+), Apple Watch (Series 4+, watchOS 9.4+), Android phones (Pixel 7+, NFC-enabled), or Wear OS smartwatches. Supports card transfer from plastic cards, instant value loading, and Express Transit mode.

Quantifiable outcome

• Discounted transfers of up to $2.85 on second rides within two hours between transit agencies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AC TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAC Transit is a participating transit agency in the Clipper fare payment system. Clipper cards and contactless bank card tap-to-pay are accepted on all AC Transit services. AC Transit also distributes Clipper Access cards and EasyPass institutional programs.
• BART (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBART is a primary transit agency in the Clipper system. Supports BART Daily Fee Parking validation, BART High Value Discount (HVD) Auto-Reload, and distance-based fares requiring tap-in/tap-out. BART machines reload cash value only.
• SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency / Muni)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFMTA operates Muni services under the Clipper system. Clipper is accepted on all Muni services including cable cars with handheld card readers. SFMTA is a Clipper Participating Transit Agency sharing data with MTC.
• CaltraincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaltrain commuter rail is a Clipper-participating agency. Clipper-compatible Caltrain ticket machines support value loading. Caltrain uses distance-based pricing with tap-in/tap-out.
• Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Gate Transit bus and Golden Gate Ferry services participate in the Clipper system. Golden Gate Ferry ticket machines support Clipper value loading.
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVTA (bus and light rail) is a Clipper-participating agency. VTA issues the VTA SmartPass via Clipper. VTA Customer Service Centers serve as Clipper service locations (River Oaks and Downtown San Jose). Note: VTA SmartPass cards cannot be transferred to mobile wallets.
• SamTranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) bus service participates in the Clipper fare payment system.
• San Francisco Bay Ferry (WETA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) operates Bay Ferry services under the Clipper system. Ferry ticket machines at select terminals support value loading.
• Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMART commuter rail and associated ferry service participate in the Clipper system. SMART ticket machines support value loading.
• Apple (Apple Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationClipper cards (plastic and mobile) are supported in Apple Wallet on iPhone 8+ (iOS 16.4+) and Apple Watch Series 4+ (watchOS 9.4+). Express Transit mode allows tap-to-pay without unlocking the device. Clipper mobile cards work via the Clipper app or directly in Wallet.
• Google (Google Pay / Google Wallet)coreTechnology or IntegrationClipper cards are supported in Google Wallet on Android phones (Pixel 7+ with NFC) and Wear OS smartwatches (Pixel Watch 2+). Supports add-value, Auto-Reload, and tap-to-pay. Note: Motorola phones are currently not supported.
• WageWorks / pre-tax transit benefit providerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClipper integrates with online commuter account programs (WageWorks, Commuter Check and most other online transit benefit programs), transit benefit debit cards, and vouchers. Customers use pre-tax transit benefits to load value on their Clipper cards.
• Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationCubic is the system integrator contractor for the Clipper program. Cubic is identified as a third-party beneficiary of the Clipper Mobile Application License Agreement, with the right to enforce it. Cubic processes credit card transactions and provides system infrastructure.
• California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCal-ITP is driving the statewide expansion of contactless fare payment across California transit agencies, including Clipper. Under Cal-ITP, the proportion of trips on contactless-accepting systems in California is projected to rise from under 25% (early 2025) to nearly 95% within a year. Clipper is a key deployment partner in Los Angeles, SF Bay Area, San Diego, and Sacramento.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TAP (LA Metro): Los Angeles County's transit fare payment card used across Metro and partner agencies. Direct California peer via the Cal-ITP statewide contactless fare payment initiative.
• SmarTrip (WMATA): Washington DC metropolitan area's transit fare payment card for Metro and regional bus systems, with multi-agency integration similar in structure to Clipper's Bay Area mandate.
• ORCA (Puget Sound): Pacific Northwest regional transit card serving multiple agencies across the Seattle metro area, including Sound Transit, King County Metro, and Washington State Ferries - comparable multi-agency regional transit card.
• PRESTO (Metrolinx): Toronto's regional contactless transit payment card serving multiple transit agencies across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Direct international peer in multi-agency fare integration and account-based architecture.
• OMNY (MTA New York): NYC MTA's contactless fare payment system, using account-based architecture with tap-to-pay on subways and buses. Directly comparable as another large-metro, multi-agency US transit payment system transitioning toward open-loop.
• Ventra (Chicago Transit Authority): Chicago's multi-agency transit fare payment system serving CTA, PACE, and Metra with similar account-based architecture, mobile wallet support, and contactless bank card acceptance. Direct US peer with comparable scope.
• Compass (San Diego MTS): San Diego's transit payment system for MTS, NCTD, and other regional agencies. Direct California peer co-deploying with Clipper under the Cal-ITP contactless fare payment initiative.

Broad incumbents

• Octopus (Hong Kong): Hong Kong's pioneering contactless transit payment system, expanded to retail and other payments, operating at massive scale across millions of users. Comparable as a more mature, broader-payments incumbent demonstrating the long-term trajectory for transit payment systems.
• Mastercard: Global payment network whose contactless bank card infrastructure underpins Clipper's December 2025 tap-to-pay capability alongside Visa and Amex. Indirectly comparable as a broader payments incumbent enabling and competing for the open-loop architecture.

Others

• Cubic Transportation Systems: System integrator contractor for the Clipper Next-Generation platform and a global supplier of transit fare payment systems to other major US cities. Indirectly comparable as the underlying technology provider and adjacent peer in the transit-tech infrastructure stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bayareaclipper
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BayAreaClipper_Official
• Facebookfacebook.com/BayAreaClipper
• Instagraminstagram.com/BayAreaClipper_Official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clipper