with/by

[diogerepus]

I know that 'with a credit card' is correct, but is 'by a credit card' correct?

Do you usually pay for your purchase with a credit card?
Do you usually pay for your purchase by a credit card?

 

[panjandrum]

I usually pay with a credit card.
I usually pay by credit card.

I have no idea why, but if I'm paying, one gets the article, the other doesn't.

 

[dn88]

I usually pay with a credit card.
I usually pay by credit card.

I have no idea why, but if I'm paying, one gets the article, the other doesn't.

"pay with a credit card"/"pay with credit card" - both sound almost equally good to me

"pay by a credit card"/"pay by credit card" - only the latter