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AllEditorial auto-review: The virtual card from the Zaimer service is a convenient financial tool for online settlements. The product is aimed at users who value processing speed and digital accessibility without the need to obtain a plastic carrier. On the pages of the Sravnim24 financial portal, you can get acquainted in detail with the current terms of use, maintenance features, and the procedure for obtaining this card. The service allows you to quickly compare the product's parameters with other market offers before making a decision.
Editorial auto-review: The Privilegiya Credit Card of Opportunities from VTB Bank is a premium bank card with an extended grace period of up to 200 days. The credit limit for the product reaches 1,000,000 RUB, and the base interest rate is 24.9% per annum. The card maintenance cost is 2,990 RUB. Application is available to citizens aged 18 and older without income certificates, with cashback of up to 50% provided. Applications are reviewed starting from 5 minutes. The issuance and maintenance terms allow you to effectively manage personal finances within a premium service package.
Editorial auto-review: The 115 Days 0% Interest credit card from Ak Bars Bank is a classic offering featuring free maintenance and a grace period of up to 115 days. You can apply starting from age 18 without providing income certificates, and a decision is made starting from 15 minutes. Cardholders get access to up to 20% cashback and a credit limit of up to 300,000 RUB. This is a functional financial tool for everyday purchases with a long interest-free period.
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Free credit cards give holders the opportunity to use borrowed funds without an annual card maintenance fee, as well as additional services. Although free credit cards are not very profitable for banks themselves, companies offer them to attract new clients and increase the loyalty of existing borrowers. When choosing a free credit card, we recommend carefully studying the maintenance terms, as hidden additional commissions may lurk behind the zero annual fee. Let's discuss what a credit card is, what it is used for, and what to look out for when choosing one, as well as review the best credit cards with free maintenance in 2024.
What is a credit card and what is it used for
A credit card is a financial tool that the holder can use when they do not have their own money. A credit limit is initially set on the card, within which the cardholder can pay for goods and services, withdraw cash, and transfer funds if provided for by the tariff.
The cardholder can use the money for free until the grace period ends. After that, they must either pay off the debt or pay interest on the borrowed funds.
A credit card looks like any other bank card. That is, it is a small plastic medium displaying the following information:
- surname and name or initials of the holder;
- unique number;
- expiration date;
- logo of the bank and the payment system servicing the bank card;
- a contactless payment chip;
- magnetic stripe;
- Security code.
As already mentioned, the main difference between a credit card and a debit card is that its balance immediately includes a certain amount approved by the bank—that is, a credit limit. It can be used at your discretion:
- Paying for everyday purchases such as groceries, household chemicals, and so on.
- Buying home appliances, electronics, clothing, footwear, and so on.
- Paying for housing and communal services, mobile communications, and the internet.
- Cash withdrawal if for some reason you cannot pay by card and need cash.
- Transferring funds to other people.
- Repaying other, more urgent debts.
It is worth noting that most of the listed transactions are paid, meaning the bank charges an interest rate and a fee for most expenses. For example, most credit cards include an additional fee and interest rate for paying for housing and communal services, mobile communications, and the internet, as well as for cash withdrawals and transfers.
How a credit card differs from a consumer loan
When using both a credit card and a consumer loan, a person receives bank funds to pay for their own needs. And in both cases, the borrower is obliged to return the received amount within the specified period.
This is the only thing that unites a credit card and a consumer loan. They have many more differences:
- You can use a consumer loan only once. That is, if after repaying the loan a person needs money again, they will have to apply for credit again. But the credit limit on a card is revolving—you can use it immediately after paying off the current credit card debt.
- Interest on a consumer loan begins to accrue immediately, unless it is an installment plan. That is, a person who has taken out a loan from a bank will in any case overpay for using the bank's money. A credit card, however, features a grace period. If the cardholder manages to pay off the debt before it ends, they do not have to pay interest for using borrowed funds.
- A consumer loan is issued for the exact amount specified in the loan agreement. That is, the borrower cannot take as much money as they need and return the remainder to the bank. With a credit card, a person can spend as much as they need right now at any convenient time.
In short, a credit card is a banking product that is easier to issue and use. It can be used for both everyday expenses and large purchases. A consumer loan is more suitable if a person needs a large amount for a long period, for example, to buy a car, real estate, or pay for home renovations.
TOP 5 free credit cards in 2024
You can apply for a credit card at any Russian bank that provides loans to individuals. With so many offers, it can be difficult to choose a truly suitable option. We have found the 5 best free cards of 2024 for you and are ready to share them and their brief descriptions.
Limit
period
SberCard credit card from Sberbank 
VezdeDohod credit card from Pochta Bank 
Beeline 60 Days Without Interest credit card from Alfa-Bank 
Double Cashback credit card from Promsvyazbank 
Virtual credit card from Kviku 
MTS CASHBACK credit card from MTS Bank 
My Freedom credit card from UBRD 
180 Days Without Interest credit card from Gazprombank "Tinkoff Platinum" from T-Bank
"Tinkoff Platinum" from T-Bank is one of the best credit cards of 2024. The maximum credit limit that can be approved for cardholders is 1 million RUB. The duration of the grace period depends on how the cardholder manages the borrowed funds.
Thus, the bank provides up to 55 days interest-free on regular purchases, up to 120 days for repaying loans issued by other banks, or up to 180 days with an active "Tinkoff Pro" subscription. And up to 12 months interest-free on installment purchases at Tinkoff partner stores.
Maintaining this card is paid. Its cost is 590 RUB per year. However, cardholders who have an active "Tinkoff Pro" subscription can use the card absolutely free of charge.
If desired, you can enable notifications for deposits and spending transactions. The cost of this service is 59 RUB per month for "Tinkoff Mobile" subscriber numbers and 99 RUB per month for numbers of other mobile operators.
A pleasant bonus is free transfers through Tinkoff's own services. Cardholders can send credit funds to themselves and clients of other banks without commission in the amount of up to 50 thousand RUB per month.
The bonus program here is quite standard. Cardholders can earn 1% of the spent amount on all purchases without exception, as well as up to 30% on purchases through special offers from T-Bank.
"365 days without %" from Alfa-Bank
Alfa-Bank also offers quite favorable maintenance terms for the "365 days without %" credit card. As in the previous case, the maximum credit limit is 1 million RUB, and the duration of the grace period depends on how cardholders use the borrowed funds.
Thus, up to 1 year interest-free is provided for purchases made in the first 30 days of maintenance. The bank provides up to another 100 days interest-free for repaying debt on credit cards issued by other organizations. Up to another 60 days interest-free is provided for purchases made from the 31st day of maintenance, as well as for cash withdrawals and transfers.
Using this card is free for the first year after issuance. Afterwards, cardholders need to pay a subscription fee of 990 RUB per year. If desired, cardholders can also enable transaction notifications. The cost of this service is 159 RUB starting from the second month of activation.
Cardholders can withdraw cash from it for free at ATMs of any banks. The transaction limit is 50 thousand RUB per month. Afterwards, cardholders will need to pay a commission.
The bonus program is standard. Cardholders can choose up to four increased cashback categories every month, offering from 1% to 5% of the cost of goods. The bank awards up to another 50% for purchases at bonus program partner stores. In addition, every month cardholders can participate in a super cashback draw of up to 100%.
"VTB Card of Opportunities" from VTB
The maximum credit limit for the VTB Card of Opportunities is also 1 million RUB. The grace period here is classic. Its duration is up to 200 days depending on when cardholders make purchases, withdraw cash from the card, or make transfers of borrowed funds.
Card maintenance is free without any conditions, and the cost of transaction notifications is 79 RUB per month.
Credit card holders can withdraw cash and make transfers for free in the first 30 days of maintenance for an amount of up to 100 thousand RUB. A commission is charged for these transactions thereafter.
The loyalty program here is the same as for other VTB cards. Cardholders can earn 2% of the spent amount for purchases in the "Transport and Taxi", "Cafes and Restaurants", "Supermarkets" categories, as well as for paying for goods in the "Pharmacies" category when receiving their salary into any VTB account. The bank awards up to another 30% for purchases at partner stores of the "Multibonus" program.
"SberCard" from SberBank
As in all other cases, the maximum credit limit that future cardholders can receive is 1 million RUB. The duration of the grace period on the SberCard is up to 120 days. However, it only applies to payment for purchases. That is, the bank will charge interest on cash withdrawals and transfers.
Maintenance of this card is free without meeting any conditions. SberBank also does not charge a commission for notifications about deposits and spending transactions.
As in the previous case, cash withdrawals and transfers are free only in the first 30 days of maintenance. Thereafter, the bank will charge an additional commission for these transactions.
The bonus program here is quite simple. Credit card holders can earn only up to 30% of the spent amount at partner stores of the "SberСпасибо" loyalty program.
"MTS CASHBACK" from MTS Bank
The maximum credit limit on the MTS CASHBACK card is also up to 1 million RUB. The grace period here lasts up to 111 days, depending on when exactly cardholders make purchases. Additionally, the bank provides up to 13 months interest-free for paying for goods and services at MTS retail stores.
Servicing for this credit card is always free without any conditions. However, SMS notifications for deposits and withdrawals are subject to a fee. The cost of this service is 159 RUB starting from the second month of activation.
The bonus program here is quite rewarding. Specifically, cardholders can earn 1% back on all purchases without exception. The bank also awards an additional 5% for paying for goods and services in high-cashback categories. Up to another 5% is available as part of a promotion for purchases at supermarkets with an active MTS Premium subscription. Furthermore, cardholders can earn up to 25% for payments made at MTS Bank partner stores.
Frequently asked questions
In conclusion, we will answer the most frequently asked questions on the article's topic that readers may have.
How to use a credit card profitably?
First of all, you should study the service terms. For instance, if the card does not offer free transfers and cash withdrawals, it is best to use it as intended—that is, for paying for purchases. This way, you can use credit funds without incurring interest charges.
In addition, we recommend paying off your debt before the grace period ends whenever possible. This ensures you won't have to overpay the bank in interest and guarantees you won't fall into a debt trap.
Can I withdraw cash from the card?
Yes, you can withdraw cash from the credit card in any case. However, be prepared for the bank to charge an additional transaction fee as well as interest for using the money.
We recommend checking the terms for card cash withdrawals before taking money out.
Why did the bank charge interest even though I paid off the debt before the end of the grace period?
It is possible that the transaction you made is treated as a cash withdrawal or transfer. The bank might also have charged interest if you failed to make the required minimum payment. You can check the minimum payment amount in your credit card service agreement or on the bank's website.
When is the mandatory minimum payment due?
The date for making the minimum payment depends on the specific bank's terms. However, this amount is usually due at the end of the billing month.
