Brim Financial Mastercard review

Dec 12, 2024

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First year value

$0

Get this card if you:

  • want a no-annual fee card with some perks
  • want a lower foreign transaction fees
  • want flexible payment plans

Highlights

Interest Rates

19.99% - 24.99%

Purchase APR

19.99%

Balance transfer APR

21.5% - 24.99%

Cash advance APR

Eligibility

Good

Recommended credit score

Quick overview of the Brim Financial Mastercard

The Brim Financial Mastercard is a rewards credit card with no annual fee, offering Canadians an array of benefits, such as free Boingo Wi-Fi, lower foreign exchange (FX) fees and flexible payment options.

If you're thinking about getting the Brim Financial Mastercard, check out our comprehensive review to see if it meets your needs.

Who’s the Brim Financial Mastercard for?

The Brim Financial Mastercard is ideal for Canadians looking for a rewards credit card with flexible payment options, lower FX fees and added insurance perks — all without an annual fee. 

If you travel often, this card can come in handy. You won’t rack up expenses compared to other no-fee cards because of the lower FX fee of only 1.5%. Plus, you can also always stay connected with free Boingo Wi-Fi, which gives you access to one million hotspots all around the world. Brim also has an app that lets you easily manage your credit card from anywhere. It allows you to add more cardholders or lock your card.

Pros and cons

Pros

Pros

  • No annual fee

  • Access Boingo wifi for free and stay always connected

  • Enjoy basic insurance coverage

  • Take advantage of flexible payment plans

  • Lower foreign exchange fee of only 1.5%

Cons

Cons

  • Low earn rates when compared to other no-fee cards

  • Poor customer service for card holders

How to earn rewards on the Brim Financial Mastercard

The rewards program is pretty straightforward for this card. You earn one reward point for every $2 dollar spent through your Brim Mastercard. Through Brim Open Rewards, you can see what Canadian retailers partner with Brim rewards and offer points promos, to help accelerate your earn rates. You can find all these promos on the Brim app.

How to redeem rewards with the Brim Financial Mastercard

You can easily redeem your Brim points during any transaction or as statement credit towards your balance, which can be done through the Brim Financial app.

Brim Financial Mastercard key benefits

  • Free Boingo Wi-Fi: Enjoy free access to Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots at more than one million locations globally
  • Flexible payments: Brim allows you to choose flexible payment options for purchases over $500. You can easily set up installments through the Brim app

Brim Financial Mastercard insurance coverage

Here are the insurance benefits you get with the Brim Mastercard:

  • Travel accident insurance: Receive up to $300,000 in coverage for accidental death, dismemberment or severe injury that occurs during a trip
  • Event ticket protection: Get up to $1,000 in coverage for event tickets. This ensures you’re covered if you need to cancel or are unable to attend an event for covered reasons
  • Extended warranty: Enjoy an additional year of warranty coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible purchases
  • Purchase protection: Coverage for up to 90 days from the purchase date, with protection up to $1,000 per incident
  • Mobile device protection: Get up to $500 in coverage for your mobile device, including protection against loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical issues

What people have to say about this card

I think Brim is running on a skeleton crew, the app doesn't work; app notifications haven't worked in over a year, and signing in doesn't work at times… Fortunately, if you never need customer service, the Brim card is still very usable; though I am on the free tier.

Reddit user KnownAway

According to the Reddit user, KnownAway, Brim Financial’s customer service is lacklustre. Its mobile application can be glitchy and the customer service team is not very responsive. This can prove to be highly frustrating for most customers.

How the Brim Financial Mastercard compares

5% cash back

Welcome Bonus

$271

First Year Value

$171

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn 5% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases); Plus, get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 6 months.

Learn More Apply Now On Scotiabank's Secure Site

$484

First Year Value

$384

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a bonus 10% cash back for the first 2 months – up to $100. Plus, a 1.95% promotional balance transfer interest rate for the first 6 months.

Brim Financial Mastercard vs. Walmart Rewards Mastercard

Here’s how the Brim Financial Mastercard compares to the Walmart Rewards Mastercard.

Card Brim Financial Mastercard Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Annual fee $0 $0
Rewards Earn 1 Brim point for every $2 spent Earn 1.25% in Reward Dollars on all Walmart purchases
Insurance coverage Travel accident insurance, ticket protection, extended warranty, purchase protection, mobile device protection Purchase assurance
Benefits Free Boingo Wi-Fi, 1.5% foreign exchange fee, flexible payment plans Access 24/7 Mastercard Global Services, finance purchases over $199.99
Review You’re reading it Read our review

Both of these credit cards come with no annual fee and, which one you should go for depends on your overall lifestyle and needs. If you frequently shop at Walmart, the Walmart Rewards Mastercard is a fantastic way to save money on all your purchases, as every Walmart Rewards dollar is equal to $1 in cash value. If you travel often, the insurance and additional perks (such as Boingo Wi-Fi) on the Brim Financial Mastercard will better suit your travel needs. 

Brim Financial Mastercard eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Brim Financial Mastercard, you must be a Canadian resident who is of legal age in your province or territory.

Is the Brim Financial Mastercard worth it?

If you’re not looking for the highest earn rate, the Brim Financial Mastercard can be a reasonable choice, as it comes with other notable benefits. Keep in mind that Brim Financial is known for having a not-so-stellar customer service team.

Don’t forget to check out the best no-annual fee credit cards in Canada before you make your decision. 

Lubna Umar Content Strategist

Lubna Umar is an experienced writer in the field of personal finance, with over six years of expertise under her belt. Her portfolio features comprehensive guides on personal finance, mortgages, car insurance, and in-depth credit card reviews. Lubna has had the opportunity to work for several prominent brands in the finance sector, including RATESDOTCA, LowestRates, InsuranceHotline, and the Financial Post.

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