Brim Credit Card Review: Is It Worth It?
The Brim Mastercard is a straightforward credit card option with a few notable perks, including insurance coverage and flexible rewards — all with no annual fee.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoint per $2 on everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe baseline Brim Mastercard is a tech-savvy, no-fee rewards card. It offers an impressive mobile app with budget tracking, an eShop with hundreds of retailers and partnerships with five mobile wallets for seamless payments on the go. Still, the earn rate is modest and cardholders will need to be comfortable with a digital-only card managed entirely in-app. Best for: Digital natives and tech-savvy users who want straightforward rewards.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Low 1.5% FX fee.
- Some travel insurance.
- Additional cards for authorized users are free.
Cons
- Low base rate of 0.5x per $1 spent.
- No bank branches.
Card details
Card details- 1x points per $2 on everyday purchases, with no annual spend limit.
- Points have a straightforward value of $0.01 and can be redeemed on transactions or as cash back. $1 minimum redemption required. Points do not expire.
- No annual fee.
- Brim’s Family Card option lets you add additional card members, set and adjust their spending limits, block types of transactions and track spending — perfect for teaching teens smart budgeting.
- Enhanced security features allow you to lock your card and block online or foreign transactions instantly.
- Stay connected with access to over 1 million Boingo Global Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.
- Access to the Brim Installment plan.
- Five types of insurance provided: common carrier accident insurance, mobile device insurance, event ticket protection, extended warranty and purchase security insurance.
- Preferred rates vary by card member.
- No foreign exchange fees.
- To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
A good fit for app-savvy savers who want a simple rewards card.
Not a good fit for frequent travellers looking for high earn rates and premium perks.
What our Nerds think
"The Brim Credit Card is a simple, flat rate rewards card that lets you redeem your points to pay down your balance. Plus, it does offer a lower-than-average FX fee (1.5%) and a few insurance coverages, which isn’t typically for a no-fee card. There are, however, no-fee credit cards out there with better rewards rates."
- Georgia Rose, lead writer and content strategist.
Note: This card is scored as a Points card, which means 60% of the star rating is based on the card's Rewards, 30% on Fees and Rates and 10% on Perks.
Rewards
"POOR"
The card's relatively low earn rate means you’d need to spend at least $500 to get 250 points — a value of $2.50. You can earn accelerated points, but only at participating retailers. Although you earn “points”, the Brim rewards program is essentially cashback, as you can only redeem the points against the value of your purchases.
Reward earn rate:
1 point per $2 spent
Brim point value:
1 point = 1 cent
Reward program:
Brim Rewards
🤓 Get Nerdy: Read more about rewards
Brim Open Rewards is the reward program tied to the Brim Mastercard. You can earn Brim points on all eligible purchases and redeem them against purchases you make with the card or against your total balance.
Earning rewards
The Brim Mastercard has a flat rate system, which means you earn 1 point per $2 spent on all eligible purchases.
You can earn accelerated rewards at participating retailers, which increase the more you shop. For example, if you purchase an item at Retailer X, you may get 2 points for every $1 you spend, then 4 points per $1 spent on your next visit.
Redemption methods
You can redeem Brim points to cover eligible purchases made with your card, or against the total balance, Redemptions can be made through the app or the Brim Portal.
Fees and rates
"EXCELLENT"
The Brim Mastercard does not charge an annual fee and it has a lower-than-average purchase APR and FX fee compared to other points cards, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.
Annual fee:
$0
Purchase APR:
19.99%
Foreign transaction fee:
1.5%
🤓 Get Nerdy: Read more about fees and rates
Annual fee: $0
The average annual fee for a Points card in Canada: $60*
Purchase interest rate: 19.99%
The average purchase interest rate for a Points card in Canada: 21.09%*
Cash advance interest rate: 21.50%
Cash advances apply to cash-like transactions, such as ATM withdrawals, and start accruing interest immediately.
Balance transfer interest rate: 19.99%
This is the ongoing rate, outside of any promotions the issuer runs.
Penalty APR: 24.99%
The APR increases to 24.99% if you miss two payments within 12 months, as of January 2025. This penalty APR will stay in place until you’ve made 12 consecutive payments on time.
Foreign transaction fee: 1.5%
Foreign transaction fees are charged on any purchases made in foreign currencies or when overseas.
The average foreign transaction fee for a Points card in Canada: 2.41%*
Additional card fee: $0
You can add additional cardmembers in the Brim Portal or the app for no extra cost.
*according to NerdWallet’s analysis of over 200 credit cards, as of this writing.
Perks
"GOOD"
With no annual fee, the Brim Mastercard still manages to offer insurance coverage, installment plans and event ticket reimbursement coverage. It’s also compatible with an array of mobile wallets.
Insurance coverage:
Mobile + Common Carrier
Installation plan available:
Yes (over $500)
Digital Wallets:
Apple, Samsung, Google, Fitbit, Garmin
🤓 Get Nerdy: Read more about perks
Common carrier accident: Up to $300,000.
Event ticket protection: Get reimbursed for the non-refundable portion of sporting, theater and concert tickets if cancellation is necessary, up to $1,000 per occurrence.
Extended warranty: Up to one additional year.
Purchase protection: 90 days.
Mobile device protection: Up to $500 of mobile device protection in case of loss, theft or accidental damage. Conditions apply.
Welcome offer
Earn up to $200 in Brim points when you make your first purchase at participating merchant partners.
Estimated value of offer:
Up to $200
Spend requirement:
At least one purchase
Reward type:
Brim points
🤓 Get Nerdy: Read more about the welcome offer
New cardholders can get up to $200 in Brim points when they make their first purchase at an eligible retailer with the card.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Brim Mastercard, you must:
✓ Be a Canadian resident
✓ Be at least the age of majority in your province or territory
🤓 Get Nerdy: Read more about how to apply
How to apply for the Brim Mastercard
The application process for the Brim Mastercard must be completed through Brim’s website.
Enter your personal details, such as full name, email address and mobile phone number, as well as your employment information. You’ll also be asked to select a security question and review the card’s terms and conditions before submitting your application.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Customer ratings and Reddit chatter
Low Trustpilot rating: Brim Financial has 1.8 out of 5 possible stars based on over 20 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Poor Better Business Bureau rating: Brim Financial scores 1 out of 5 possible stars based on under 3 customer reviews, as of this writing.
What Reddit has to say
We know expert recommendations matter — but so do real-life experiences. On Reddit, Canadian users talk about how the Brim Mastercard used to offer no foreign transaction fees, and the perk being “one of the most popular reasons people got the Brim Cards”. This change, along with the drop in earn rate (from 1 point for every $1 spent, to 1 point for every $2 spent), seems to have some users cancelling their accounts. The 1.5% fee is lower than average for a points card, but there are other rewards cards with zero foreign transaction fees if this perk is important to you.
Brim Mastercard vs Wealthsimple Card
While there is no common carrier insurance, the Wealthsimple card offers more perks and a higher rewards earn rate than the Brim Mastercard. The annual fee can be waived on the Wealthsimple card, but you must meet certain banking requirements.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoint per $2 on everyday purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe baseline Brim Mastercard is a tech-savvy, no-fee rewards card. It offers an impressive mobile app with budget tracking, an eShop with hundreds of retailers and partnerships with five mobile wallets for seamless payments on the go. Still, the earn rate is modest and cardholders will need to be comfortable with a digital-only card managed entirely in-app. Best for: Digital natives and tech-savvy users who want straightforward rewards.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Low 1.5% FX fee.
- Some travel insurance.
- Additional cards for authorized users are free.
Cons
- Low base rate of 0.5x per $1 spent.
- No bank branches.
Card details
Card details- 1x points per $2 on everyday purchases, with no annual spend limit.
- Points have a straightforward value of $0.01 and can be redeemed on transactions or as cash back. $1 minimum redemption required. Points do not expire.
- No annual fee.
- Brim’s Family Card option lets you add additional card members, set and adjust their spending limits, block types of transactions and track spending — perfect for teaching teens smart budgeting.
- Enhanced security features allow you to lock your card and block online or foreign transactions instantly.
- Stay connected with access to over 1 million Boingo Global Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.
- Access to the Brim Installment plan.
- Five types of insurance provided: common carrier accident insurance, mobile device insurance, event ticket protection, extended warranty and purchase security insurance.
- Preferred rates vary by card member.
- No foreign exchange fees.
- To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash-back on everything.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeIf you spend big abroad and want a simple, rewarding cash-back card, this Wealthsimple offering could be worth a look. It offers 2% on all purchases and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. But its monthly fee amounts to $240 annually and meeting the requirements to have it waived is not easy: you need to have at least $100,000 in assets with Wealthsimple or set up a direct deposit of at least $4,000 monthly. Best for: Overseas spenders who can meet this card’s fee-waiving requirements.
Pros
- 2% cash-back on everything.
- No FX fees.
- Some travel insurance.
Cons
- $20 monthly fee ($240 annually).
Card details
Card details- $10 monthly fee. Wealthsimple will waive the fees (charged monthly) if you’ve got at least $100,000 in assets with Wealthsimple, or when you switch a qualifying paycheque deposit to Wealthsimple.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Metal cards available to premium clients.
- No tap limits for mobile payments.
- Purchase protection and extended warranty included.
- Mobile phone coverage up to $1,000, covering repair or replacement.
- 24/7 concierge.
- Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection Benefits at over 900 locations.
- Visa Infinite Dining Series events with renowned chefs and sommeliers.
- Wine Country Program with exclusive perks and select wineries.
- You must be a Canadian resident, the age of majority in the province or territory they reside in, and have a personal income of at least $60,000 or household income of at least $100,000. You also need to have an active Wealthsimple chequing account before you apply.
- The 2% cash-back rate does not apply to cash-like transactions, refunds, or any applicable fees and adjustments.
Methodology
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