No — you can still use cash, and you can continue buying your fare the way you’re used to. But Hop lets you save money by earning a day or month pass as you ride, so you never pay more than you have to, and you don’t have to commit to buying a pass in advance. Hop also offers lost-card protection when you register, which safeguards your balance in case of loss or theft. So no, you don’t have to get a Hop card, but we think you’ll want to!