The Brim Financial Mastercard is a no-annual-fee credit card with perks that are hard to beat for an entry-level card offering.
You earn 1% in points you can redeem for anything and don’t have to pay foreign currency transaction fees when you shop abroad. This card also offers automatic rewards when you shop at the hundreds of retailers featured on Brim eShop, plus $200+ in first-time bonuses.
In addition to the Brim Mastercard, Brim Financial has two other Mastercards in its stable, including:
- Brim World Elite Mastercard, and
- Brim World Mastercard
This review of the Brim Mastercard covers its key features, benefits, downsides, and alternative cards that offer similar rewards.
Brim Mastercard At a Glance
- $0 annual fee
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent
- Accelerated rewards earn rates at select retailers through Brim Open Rewards
- 0% foreign transaction fees
- Free Global Wi-Fi via Boingo
- Access to a budgeting app
- Free supplementary cards
- Mobile device insurance up to $500
- Common Carrier Accident Insurance up to $100,000 per insured person
- Event Ticket Protector Insurance
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
- Offers installment payments
Brim Financial Mastercard Benefits
While the Brim Financial Mastercard has no annual fees, it does offer a bunch of benefits and perks that make it worth checking out.
Earn 1% Cash Back: Cardholders earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. This earning rate equals 1% cash back as 1 point = $0.01. There’s no limit to how much cash back you can earn.
In addition to the flat-rate rewards offer, you also earn accelerated points at hundreds of retailers through inCard, eShop and Milestone bonus offers through the Brim marketplace.
InCard offers automatically apply when you pay using your Brim card at select stores. eShop offers are available on the Brim app and offer up to 30% back in points.
When you meet specific milestones, e.g. total spend or number of purchases, you may also qualify for bonus points.
New Brim Mastercard card members can earn $200+ in first-time bonuses.
No Foreign Transaction Fee: Brim will not charge you the traditional 2.5% foreign currency exchange fee when you use your card to make purchases abroad.
This perk is rare to find on any credit card in Canada. Other cards offering 0% FX fees include Home Trust Preferred Visa and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.
Free Global Wi-Fi: You can access over 1 million Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide. If you are a frequent traveller, this perk can save you money and normally costs $39 USD per month.
After activating your card, you receive a link you can use to set up your Boingo account. Boingo Wi-Fi is widely available on airlines, trains, airports, hotels, restaurants, and cafes.
Mobile Device Insurance: When you pay for your smartphone or tablet using your Brim Mastercard, you enjoy protection against loss, theft, or damage up to $500.
Common Carrier Accident: Cardholders get coverage for accidental death or dismemberment resulting from riding as a passenger on a common carrier (land, air, or water transport).
The coverage amount per insured person is up to $100,000 and is limited to $300,000 per accident. To take advantage of this coverage, your full fare must be charged to your Brim card.
Event Ticket Protector Insurance: You may be covered up to $1,000 if you cannot use an event ticket due to a covered incident.
Purchase Protection Extended Warranty: The manufacturer’s warranty on a purchased item is doubled up to one extra year. Your purchases are also protected against loss or damage for the first 90 days from the purchase date.
Installment Payments: This card offers installments on purchases over $500 with terms ranging from 12-24 months. The interest on installment is $0; however, you pay a fixed installment purchase fee of 7% of the overall purchase price and a monthly processing fee that is 0.475% of the original purchase price.
Installments are not available in Quebec.
If you are looking for competitive loan rates, check out the best personal loans in Canada.
Free Budgeting App: The Brim app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. It offers budgeting capabilities to track your transactions and set spending limits. You can also set monthly spending limits and customize your budget through the Brim website.
Easy Cash Back Redemption: Brim points can be redeemed anytime starting from $1 (100 points). Simply redeem it to pay off a transaction in any category.
Free Supplementary Cards: You can add family members to your account for free.
Referral Program: You earn 2,000 points ($20) for every friend that applies for a card using your referral link and activates it.
Downsides of Brim Financial Mastercard
For a no-fee card, the Brim Mastercard compares well with its competitors.
Applicants should note that this card does not provide comprehensive travel insurance benefits.
Also, another downside is that Brim Financial, the issuer of this card, is relatively new in the credit card space.
No-Annual Fee Credit Card Alternatives
Alternative no-fee credit cards offering above-average rewards in Canada include:
1. Tangerine Money-Back Credit: This card offers unlimited 2% cash back in up to 3 categories of spending and 0.5% cash back on everything else.
- Annual fee: $0
- Rewards earn rate: Up to 2% cash back
- Income requirement: $12,000
- Extra perks: Low balance transfer rate for 6 months, extended warranty, and purchase protection insurance
- Promotion: 15% bonus cash back for first 2 months ($150 value – limited time offer)
- Review: Tangerine credit card
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases.
Welcome offer: na
Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.
Annual fee: $0
2. SimplyCash Card from American Express: This no-fee cash back card pays 1.25% unlimited cash back on most purchases, and up to 2% on groceries.
- Annual fee: $0
- Rewards earn rate: 1.25% cash back unlimited
- Income requirement: N/A
- Extra perks: $100,000 travel accident insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection insurance
- Review: SimplyCash Card from Amex review
SimplyCash Card from American Express
Rewards and benefits: Earn up to 2% cash back on gas and groceries; 1.25% cash back on all other purchases; travel accident insurance.
Welcome offer: NA
Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 21.99% on cash advances.
Annual fee: $0
3. Home Trust Preferred Visa: This card waives the 2.5% foreign currency fee and pays 1% cash back on eligible purchases.
- Annual fee: $0
- Rewards earn rate: 1% cash back
- Income requirement: N/A
- Extra perks: Purchase security.
- Review: Home Trust Preferred Visa
Brim Mastercard Vs Brim World Elite Mastercard
| Features | Brim Mastercard | Brim World Mastercard | Brim World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $99 | $199 |
| Base Rewards Earn Rate | 1 point per dollar (1% cash back) | 1.5 points per dollar (on up to $25,000); 1 point per dollar after | 2 points per dollar (on up to $25,000); 1 point per dollar after |
| FX Fees | $0% | $0% | $0% |
| Free Global Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary Loungekey Membership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Common Carrier Accident Insurance | $100,000/insured; $300,00/accident | $150,000/insured; $500,000/accident | $150,000/insured; $500,000/accident |
| Mobile Device Insurance | Up to $500 for loss, damage, or theft of tablet or smartphone | Up to $1,000 for loss, theft or damage of tablet or smartphone | Up to $1,000 for loss, theft or damage of tablet or smartphone |
| Event Ticket Protector Insurance | Coverage up to $1,000 | Coverage up to $1,000 | Coverage up to $1,000 |
| Extended Warranty | Up to 1 extra year; $25,000 maximum | Up to 1 extra year; $25,000 maximum | Up to 1 extra year; $25,000 maximum |
| Purchase Security Insurance | Coverage up to 90 days following purchase | Coverage up to 90 days following purchase | Coverage up to 90 days following purchase |
| Out of Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance | No | 8 days; up to $5 million if under 65 years | 15 days and up to $5 million if under 65 years; 3 days if 65+ |
| Flight Delay Insurance | No | No | $500/day; $1,000 maximum |
| Baggage Delay Insurance | No | No | $500/insured; maximum of $1,000 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance | No | No | $1,000/insured; maximum of $2,000 |
| Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance | No | No | $2,500/occurrence |
| Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance | No | Up to 48 days; $65,000 MSRP | Up to 48 days; $85,000 MSRP |
| Travel Assistance | No | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | No | No | $2,000/insured; maximum of $5,000/trip |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | No | No | $5,000/insured; maximum of $25,000/trip |
Brim Financial FAQ
You can pay your balance through the Brim app or portal using Interac e-Transfer, online banking, a cheque via mail, or using your points. Bill payments through Online Banking may take 2-3 days to clear, and cheques may take between 5 and 10 business days before it is reflected on your balance.
Points can be redeemed to pay for any purchase or transaction starting at 100 points ($1). You can also use your points against your statement balance. Your points do not expire as long as your account is in good standing.
Brim uses 2048-bit SSL encryption to protect your data. Two-factor authentication is also available to prevent your identity from being stolen. The Brim app can be used to lock your card if you misplace it. There is also a feature to block your card from being used to make foreign purchases. Lastly, Brim notifies you by email and SMS if suspicious activity is observed on your account.
Brim Financial Mastercard Review
Overall
Summary
Brim Financial Mastercard is a top no-annual fee credit card in Canada. This Brim Mastercard review covers what you need to know.
Have had Brim Mastercard for about 3 years. I like the fact that they email me info about each purchase. They also monitor to see if there are any potential fraudulent charges and give you a chance to respond to it. You can check your account online and if need be lock your card. Love the no foreign transaction fee as we are snow birds. Sometimes need to wait a long time to talk to someone at Brim. We love our Brim Mastercard.
I didnt think there was a company worse then Rogers Mastercard, but there is its called BRIM, these guys are train to annoy the living !@? out of you, if you dont want to stab yourself with a screw driver after you have talked to them consider yourself a patient person.
Brim is a terrible financial institution!