myGift Gift Card – handy cash, but it can cause checkout headaches. Step‑by‑step activation, usage tips, pros & cons
add_circle Pros
- Works wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted, both online and in‑store.
- You can spend just a slice of the balance each time, no need to use it all at once.
- No bank account needed, so it’s perfect for teens or anyone without a traditional account.
- Activation is a quick three‑step process on the website or app.
- Great for gifting – you can load any amount up to the card’s limit.
- Keeps budgeting simple because you can’t spend more than what’s loaded.
- The physical card feels solid, and setting a PIN adds extra security.
remove_circle Cons
- A hidden SMS‑info service adds a fee you only notice after your first purchase.
- No contactless NFC, so you have to swipe or insert the chip each time.
- You can’t pull cash – it’s card‑only spending.
- Moving the leftover balance to a bank card comes with a big commission.
- The card expires after a year, and any unused funds can be forfeited.
- Customer support can be slow, especially when you need help fast.
- An inactivity fee kicks in if you don’t use the card for a few months.
Gallery
Editor's Summary
Honestly, the myGift prepaid card feels like a modern spin on the old cash envelope. It runs on Visa, Mastercard and even Russia’s Mir network, so you can swipe it in almost any store or plug the details into online checkouts without thinking twice. Signing it up is a three‑step breeze – hop onto the website or app, punch in the 16‑digit number, set a PIN and you’re ready. I love that you can tap out only part of the balance each time, which makes budgeting super easy. But don’t be surprised by the hidden SMS‑info fee that shows up after your first purchase, and the hefty commission you pay to move any leftover money back to a bank card – those costs can add up, especially when the card hits its one‑year expiration and any unused cash might disappear.
Specifications
Hey everyone!
These days you can pay for almost anything, whether you’re shopping in a store or online. As long as the money ends up where it belongs, merchants don’t care how you paid.
I want to tell you about a payment method that’s anything but new. I first ran into it a few years back when my company celebrated its anniversary and management handed out myGift prepaid gift cards instead of cash envelopes. The older folks grumbled at first, then begged the younger crew to try the cards. A few even tried to pull cash from the lobby ATM.
That’s when I got my hands on one and figured out how it works. This year, after a solid performance, I was gifted a few more myGift cards.
I’ll walk you through how to use them so you don’t end up in awkward moments or looking like a clueless grandma in front of the kids.
First off,
What exactly is a myGift prepaid gift card?
A gift card is a prepaid bank card that runs on big networks like Visa International, Mastercard Worldwide, or Russia’s Mir system (think myGift, the “Darju kilometry” fuel card, or a “Pyaterochka” card). It lets you pay for stuff under a comprehensive client service agreement, much like a regular client card.
The myGift card I got runs on the Visa International network.
What the card looks like
I liked it instantly. Security’s already handled – it arrives sealed in a plastic film.
Card in its packaging
The activation code and the card number are hidden under a detailed instruction sheet tucked inside.
Instruction
If the film’s already ripped open, chances are someone’s activated the card already. Human error is always a factor.
Now about the card itself. One side shows the card number, expiry date, and activation code.
myGift prepaid gift card
There’s also a fun little illustration – a pyramid, mountains and a hot‑air balloon, giving off travel vibes.
Flip it over and you’ll find a magnetic stripe, a security code and a barcode.
myGift prepaid gift card
Bottom line: the card has everything you need for both online and offline purchases.
But before you start spending, you’ve got to activate it.
I’ll walk you through the steps.
How and where do you activate a myGift card?
First, I Googled the official myGift site and ended up on their homepage.
HomepageI clicked “Activate”.
That opened a new page.
Card activationI typed in the activation code and my phone number.
Card activationNext I chose how I wanted to use the card.
Card activationWhen I picked “transfer to my bank card,” 1,000 RUB was instantly deducted from my myGift gift card.
Card activationDoing the math, that’s a 25 % fee on the transfer. I’d loaded 4,000 RUB onto the gift card, so moving the money out cost me a quarter of the balance.
I’ve never seen a fee that steep before. Whoever came up with it must be either a shrewd businessman or just plain stingy – probably a bit of both. But that’s not the point.
With that in mind, I stuck with the myGift gift card and hit “Activate 4,000 RUB”.
Then I filled out the activation form.
Card activationAfter that I entered the code I got via SMS and clicked “Activate”.
Card activationThe system confirmed that the gift card was active.
Card activationAll that was left was to check the balance.
Check the card balance.
I went back to the myGift homepage and clicked “Check balance”.
Balance checkIn the pop‑up I entered the barcode number printed on the back of the card.
Checking card balance
Don’t confuse it with the card number. I accidentally typed the number into that field at first and, unsurprisingly, got no balance info.
Enter it correctly and a page pops up showing the balance and transaction history.
Checking card balance
If the card’s empty, you’ll see that right away when you check the balance.
You can add SMS alerts for 49 RUB a month. I skipped that and just checked the balance on the website.
Now let me tell you
Where you can spend a myGift gift card.
You can use the card anywhere in Russia where card payments are accepted. There are some limits on transactions. Full usage rules are in the Comprehensive Client Service Agreement (the kind you get with a client card).
The plastic card has a magnetic stripe. For offline store purchases, you need to swipe the stripe through the terminal manually. If the card has a chip, it supports contactless payments. If a PIN is requested, enter the generic code 0000 or 1111 (write them down – you might need them).
You can also pay online on Russian websites. All the needed details (card number, expiry date, CVV2/CVC2/PPK2) are printed on the plastic card.
If the form asks for the cardholder’s name, just type your first and last name using Latin letters.
With the digital version you can shop on Russian e‑commerce sites (using the card details) and even make offline purchases if the Comprehensive Service Agreement allows you to add the digital card to a payment app. You can’t use it outside Russia because of local regulations.
So the myGift gift card works like a regular payment card across Russia. Turns out that’s not entirely true.
I tried to use it at a Пятерочка grocery store
Purchase at Пятерочкаbut the cashier wouldn’t let me insert it into the terminal, and swiping didn’t work either. I ended up paying for the groceries with another card.
Purchase at Пятерочка Shopping at Pyaterochka
I tried using it at a few other shops that still have the old‑school terminals, and it actually worked. I was able to swipe the card at several other stores.
Then I gave it a spin on Ozon’s website. Let me walk you through my latest order.
How do you pay for items in an online store?
I opened the product page and tossed it into my cart.
Making online purchases with the card
Then I clicked “Proceed to checkout.”
Making online purchases with the card
I chose the myGift gift‑card as my payment method and hit “Pay online.”
Making online purchases with the card
A few seconds later I got a payment confirmation.
Making online purchases with the card
It also showed up on the order page.
Making online purchases with the card
I checked the myGift balance and kept shopping with it.
Checking the card balance
Even though you can use this card almost anywhere in Russia, it doesn’t support every action you’d expect from a regular plastic card.
What can’t you do with a myGift gift‑card?
First off, you can’t withdraw cash from it – which is fine, I’m trying to carry less cash anyway.
You also can’t top it up yourself; only the issuer can add funds.
So, as you can see, the restrictions are pretty minimal, which is a plus.
I think that covers everything. Sorry if I got a bit detailed. Let’s sum it up.
Takeaways,
Easy activation;Balance check available;Can pay for purchases in stores;Protected.
Cons:
Can't top up yourself;Can't withdraw cash at an ATM;No chip;Some hiccups during the card payment process;Short expiration period.
I liked the myGift payment gift card – not just because it was a gift. Sure, it has a bunch of limits, but it works great for online purchases. I’ll keep using these cards and would recommend them if you happen to get one.
I've used other banking products for payments before. Here are a few links that might come in handy.
Ozon Card
WB Кошелёк
Карта Яндекс Пэй
Виртуальная карта ЮMoney
Рассрочка Ozon
Вклад \"Лучший %\" Сбербанк
Накопительный счёт Сбербанк
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Have a great day and clear skies above!