Taiwan’s 7-Eleven iCash 2.0 card is an integrated circuit (IC) card that allows you to make cashless purchases. You can also generate points through an Open Point membership on certain purchases. These cards vary in cost.
I’ve had an iCash 2.0 card (and Open Point) for a couple of years. However, I’ve never found any in-depth English guides on it. So I compiled my experience and other information into this guide.
Table of Contents
Important Details
| Expiration | None |
| Refundable | Yes |
| Max. Balance | NT$10,000 |
| Customer Service Email | [email protected] |
| Max. Amount You Can Spend Per Transaction | NT$1,000 |
| Transactions Per Day | Unlimited |
| Usable at Maokong Gondola | Yes |
You can get the balance on your card refunded through refund only or contract termination. However, you’ll need to pay one of the following fines:
Screenshot from iCash.
To initiate a refund on balances under NT$3,000, you’ll need to visit the Taipei iCash service center when it’s open. I don’t understand why they couldn’t provide an exact address, but they said they’re on the 1st floor of the Taipei City Hall Bus Station.
iCash 2.0 vs. EasyCard: Is iCash Worth It?
It’s worth getting an iCash if:
- You want a souvenir.
- They have some neat limited edition iCash cards.
- Have an Open Point membership.
Downsides to having an iCash:
- Not as widely accepted as an EasyCard.
- Requires you to carry an extra card.
- Can only use it for transactions under NT$1,000.
You can use EasyCards (Yo Yo Card) for more services (like YouBikes) and at way more stores. Meanwhile, the iCash card provides Open Point rewards and offers access at some places the Yo Yo Card can’t access (e.g., Cosmed).
Having only a Taipei EasyCard works best for travelers. Meanwhile, the iCash 2.0 only works for people living in Taiwan.
Taipei Metro will reimburse both cards at the end of each month based on the number of trips you took.
If you’re living in Taiwan, I recommend getting both cards and using them when they have an advantage. For instance, use an EasyCard for YouBikes. And use the iCash when shopping at 7-Eleven.
If you live in Taiwan, I recommend getting both cards and using them when they are advantageous. For instance, use an EasyCard for YouBikes and the iCash when shopping at 7-Eleven.
Guides to Taiwan’s other passes:
- EasyCard: Best overall card.
- iPASS: Alternative to EasyCard in some areas.
- You’ll need to read the post to know what I mean.
- TPASS: A public transportation pass in different regions.
- Fun Pass (Taipei only): Pass for free entry to groups of attractions.
What Is an iCash 2.0 Card?
An iCash 2.0 card is an integrated circuit (IC) card that you can use for various purchases and services in place of cash and bank cards. Basic iCash cards cost NT$100 ($3).
Here’s how to identify one:
Screenshot from iCash.
You can find these cards at various stores and transportation hubs (I’ll cover this in a bit).
And there are only 2 types of iCash’s:
- Normal iCash
- iCash 2.0 co-branded credit card: it’s a 2-in-1 credit card and iCash card
There aren’t any student cards for iCash.
The only advantage to having the iCash co-branded card lies in automatically adding money to your card. But you’ll likely need a decent credit score to get it.
You can always find limited availability (or themed) iCash cards at 7-Eleven. Or you can buy them online.
A couple of past cards were 3D models of Taitung rice cookers and traffic cones. Here’s a page that shows all their past and present cards (the website’s in Chinese).
Screenshot from iCash.
If you buy these cards online, only buy new ones. Someone could have a second-hand one tied to an account. Thus, they could track every purchase you make.
Benefits of Having the Card
Benefits of having an iCash 2.0 card include:
- Point accumulation with the Open Point rewards program
- Cashless transactions at participating locations: No digging for change
- You can do the same with iPASS and EasyCard, though.
- More Sanitary: No touching cash that’s been who-knows-where
- More ‘limited edition’ options
By “limited edition,” I mean themed iCash cards. For instance, they have a fan one. But with a cool function. It actually turns on when you activate the iCash card for a purchase.
I got the CITY PRIMA one.
This is the primary reason I have the card. However, 2 years later, my poor coffee cup has faded, which has discouraged me from using the iCash more.
What Is Open Point & Is it Worth Joining?
Open Point is a rewards program for shops that allows you to accumulate points on qualifying purchases. There isn’t a set number of points per Taiwan dollar you spend. 1 Open Point point equals NT$1 ($0.03).
Is it worth joining?
No. You’re not me and may find it more beneficial.
The Open Point app is nice when my wife buys me coffee through the app, and I want to redeem it at 7-Eleven. The redeeming of the points is inconvenient since I have to take an extra step during every transaction — grab my Open Point barcode.
The app is only in Chinese, and I can never find anything on which I want to use my points. Thus, I feel like the app is more of an inconvenience than a benefit.
If you decide to use the program, you can redeem these points for the following:
- Offers: Discounted products and services partnered businesses
- Discounted books from books.com.tw
- Free drinks at 7-Eleven
Most discounts come from other stores under Uni-President’s umbrella. Examples include Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery, and Domino’s Pizza.
Sometimes you can find discounts for travel services like KKday.
You can’t get points when entering public transportation (like the Taipei MRT).
Where to Use It
Places where you can use the Taiwan iCash card include [1]:
| Place / Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Taipei MRT | Metro |
| New Taipei Metro | Metro |
| Taoyuan Metro | Metro |
| Taichung MRT | Metro |
| Kaohsiung MRT | Metro |
| Taiwan Railway (TRA) | Train |
| Bus | Innercity and intercity bus |
| 7-Eleven | Convenience store |
| Hi-Life | Convenience store |
| Carrefour | Hypermarket |
| Miramar Entertainment Park | Shopping center |
| Chunghwa Telecom | Telecommunications |
| BEING fit | Gym |
| Cosmed | Cosmetics store |
| Dream Mall | Shopping center |
| Smile gas station | Gas station |
| Santa Cruz | Niche food store |
| Showba Mart | General goods store |
| Kuang Nan Fashion Shop (光南大批發) | NA |
| Japan Medical (日藥本舖) | Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics |
| HSIN TUNG YANG | NA |
| Formosa Gas Station | Gas station |
| 9 x 9 Stationary | Stationery store |
| 101 Stationary | Stationery store |
| Uni-President Department Store | NA |
| Taipei Zoo | Zoo |
| Hsinchu Zoo | Zoo |
| Norway Motel Group | NA |
| Taipei Arena Ice Land | NA |
| DODOHOME Parking | Parking |
| City Parking | Parking |
| PARKINSYS Parking | Parking |
| Taiwan Parking | Parking |
| Starbucks | Coffee |
| Cold Stone | Ice cream |
| Mister Donut | Donuts |
| 21Plus | Fried food |
| Semeur | Bread |
| Subway | Sandwiches |
| Domino’s | Pizza |
| McDonald’s | Burgers |
| Burger King | Burgers |
| Brian Black Tea | Tea |
| KW2 | NA |
| 50 lan | NA |
| Gong cha | NA |
Cities you can use iCash cards as entry on buses include:
- New Taipei City
- Taipei City
- Taichung City
- Tainan
- Kaohsiung
- Pingtung
- Eastern Taiwan (e.g., Hualien)
Where to Buy It
You can buy iCash cards at the following places:
- 7-Eleven
- Any of the following MRT stations:
- Taichung
- Taipei / New Taipei
- Kaohsiung
- Taoyuan
- Hi-Life
- Cosmed’s website
- Ibon mart: mart.ibon.com.tw
- Books.com.tw (link directs you to iCash search results)
Want custom iCash cards that aren’t for sale anymore?
You’ll need to check online shops like shopee.tw and type “iCash” into the search bar.
You can see this site in English. Just navigate to the upper-right corner of your screen and change the setting from Chinese to English. Be careful when doing this, though. Since they are NFC cards, people could install malware on them.
How To Add Money & Check Your Balance
Top up your iCash 2.0 card at the following places:
| McDonald’s | Carrefour | Taipei MRT Station |
| Taichung MRT Station | Kaohsiung MRT Station | Hsin Tung Yang |
| Taoyuan MRT Station | Hi-Life | BEING FIT |
| Taiwan Railways |
Places where you can top up your iCash card in Taiwan.
You can add a maximum of NT$10,000 ($333) to your iCash 2.0 card. And you can only refill these cards using cash. So you can’t use a debit card to refill your iCash.
Unless you have the iCash 2.0 co-branded credit card. It has an ‘automatic add value’ function that automatically takes cash from your credit line and uses it for your iCash purchase.
You can check your balance at metro stations by using the balance kiosks. Or you could ask customer service people to check your balance.
You can check on the Open Point mobile app by following these settings:
Account > iCash 2.0 > tap your iCash card
How To Connect iCash 2.0 to the Open Point App
Upon opening the Open Point mobile app, tap the icon of a person on the lower-right side.
Everything’s in Chinese, and there’s no way to translate the app into English. But if you could successfully sign up for the program, this part’s simple.
Toward the middle of the screen, you’ll see ‘iCash 2.0.’ Above it, you’ll see a card icon with a cog in the lower right corner.
Tap this icon, then tap the “+” button in the upper-right corner.
You’ll see 2 text fields appear. The first one wants a name for your iCash card. Choose whatever name in any language you see fit.
The bottom text field asks for your card number, which is a 16-digit number found on your iCash card.
Once you finish this step, you’ll have added your card. You can check your balance, see Taipei MRT reimbursements, and view previous transactions.
Other Questions
What to Do About a Stolen iCash Card?
Contact customer service (only if you registered with a name). You can call them at 02-2657-6388 or email [email protected]. If you didn’t register a name, customer service won’t help.
Sources
- iCash: Where you can use it