Help iPhone 5c icloud lock

My friend gave me an iPhone 5c in pink it was one that her grandfather wanted to give me but he didn’t get to get rid of the I cloud lock when you reset the iPhone it’s stuck on the application lock. Is there a free way to do this without having to give out my credit card, I just don’t trust it when you are said to give your credit card to prove who you are. Just the type of person I am I guess any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. i have tried a program on the mac book to fix and would not work and I have tried downloading a file for free but you have to put in your credit card info