Fishless or fish in cycle? Yes and yes. But there are times when a water change CAN be avoided in a fishless cycle but again there are times when one or two maybe needed, it depends alot of your tap water parameters, if soft low kh acidic or neutral ph then expect to have to do more than a hard alkaline comparison. FishIN cycle is almost daily changes in comparison though and can work in the opposite direction as ammonia is more toxic in alkaline water.
In short, follow your test results.