If you use a reloadable prepaid card, you can prepay your card with cash at locations where reloadable prepaid cards are sold. You can also use cash to buy a new OMNY card or reload an existing OMNY card at more than 2,000 retail locations across the New York metropolitan area.

You can add money to your OMNY card through several convenient methods provided by the MTA in 2026. The most traditional way is using the OMNY vending machines now located in nearly every subway station across New York City; these machines allow you to pay with cash, credit/debit cards, or mobile wallets. For a more digital approach, you can create a free account at OMNY.info, link your physical card, and reload it online or set up an "Auto-Reload" feature so your balance never dips below a certain amount. Additionally, over 2,000 retail locations, including Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven, and many local bodegas, serve as "OMNY retailers" where you can reload your card at the checkout counter. It is important to note that while the OMNY card is a physical "tap" card, many riders skip the card entirely by simply tapping their contactless bank cards or smartphones directly at the turnstile, which draws from their bank balance rather than a pre-loaded transit account.