Brim Financial offers a suite of Mastercards built around a simple, transparent rewards currency, a built-in instalment payment feature, and instant virtual card access upon approval. This review covers all three Brim card tiers in detail: features, annual fees, reward rates, pros and cons, and who each card suits in 2026.
Brim Financial: Company Overview
Brim Financial is a Toronto-based fintech company founded in 2015. It issues Mastercards in partnership with Home Trust Company, a federally regulated Schedule 1 Canadian trust company. Brim cards are available online with instant virtual card access upon approval.
Brim's key differentiator is its Open Rewards Network — a growing ecosystem of Canadian and global merchant partners where cardholders earn boosted reward rates above the standard earn rate.
The Three Brim Cards at a Glance
| Brim Mastercard | Brim World Mastercard | Brim World Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $99 | $199 |
| Base earn rate | 1 pt / $1 | 1.5 pts / $1 | 2 pts / $1 |
| Partner earn rate | 2 pts / $1 | 3 pts / $1 | 3 pts / $1 |
| Foreign transaction fee | Applies | Applies | Applies |
| Travel insurance | No | Basic | Comprehensive |
| Purchase protection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Extended warranty | No | Yes | Yes |
| Airport lounge access | No | No | Yes |
| Min. income required | $15,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
All three cards share the Brim Points rewards currency (1 pt = $0.01 CAD), instant virtual card access, and the built-in Instalment Pay feature.
Brim Mastercard (No Annual Fee)
Who it's for
The free Brim Mastercard is best suited for Canadians who want a no-fee everyday card with a simple, fixed-value rewards program and the flexibility of built-in instalment payments.
Rewards
- 1 Brim point per $1 spent everywhere Mastercard is accepted
- 2 Brim points per $1 at Brim partner merchants
- 1 point = $0.01 CAD — redeemable against your statement, for gift cards, or with partners
- Points never expire, no minimum redemption threshold
Key Features
- Instant virtual card on approval — add to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay immediately
- Instalment Pay for eligible purchases over $500
- Brim app for tracking spending, rewards, and managing your account
Verdict
For a no-annual-fee card, the Brim Mastercard delivers solid everyday value. The fixed-rate Brim Points system is one of the more transparent rewards programs available in Canada, and the Instalment Pay feature is a genuine differentiator at this price tier.
Brim World Mastercard ($99/year)
Who it's for
The Brim World is best suited for regular cardholders who want a higher earn rate, travel insurance, and purchase protection.
Rewards
- 1.5 Brim points per $1 everywhere
- 3 Brim points per $1 at Brim partner merchants
Key Features
- All Brim Mastercard features, plus:
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage
- Flight delay and baggage delay insurance
- Purchase protection (90 days)
- Extended warranty (doubles manufacturer warranty up to 1 year)
- Priority customer support
Is the $99 Annual Fee Worth It?
At 1.5 points per $1 spent (vs 1 point on the base card), you need to spend approximately $19,800 per year to earn enough extra points to offset the $99 fee through rewards alone. The break-even improves significantly if you shop at Brim partners regularly (3x rate), or if you travel and would otherwise pay separately for trip cancellation insurance.
Brim World Elite Mastercard ($199/year)
Who it's for
The World Elite is best suited for high spenders who want the highest earn rate, comprehensive travel insurance, and airport lounge access.
Rewards
- 2 Brim points per $1 everywhere
- 3 Brim points per $1 at Brim partner merchants
Key Features
- All Brim World features, plus:
- Comprehensive travel insurance (higher medical coverage limits)
- Rental car collision and loss damage insurance
- Airport lounge access (Mastercard Travel Pass)
- Brim World Elite concierge service
Is the $199 Annual Fee Worth It?
At 2 points per $1 (vs 1.5 on the World), you need to spend $39,800 per year to offset the incremental $100 fee through rewards alone. The lounge access and higher travel insurance coverage are the stronger justifications. If you travel multiple times per year, lounge access alone can be worth $200–$400 in avoided per-visit fees.
Brim Points: How They Work
Brim's rewards currency is designed to be simple and flexible:
- 1 Brim point = $0.01 CAD — a fixed, transparent rate with no devaluation risk
- No expiry — points never expire as long as your account is open
- No minimum redemption — redeem any amount at any time
- Statement credit — apply points directly to your balance
- Gift cards — redeem for gift cards at select retailers
- Partner redemptions — use points at Brim partner merchants
The fixed 1 point = $0.01 value makes it easy to calculate the value of your rewards without worrying about variable redemption rates — a significant advantage over airline miles and hotel points, where value fluctuates by redemption method.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Brim cards do charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency. The rate is on the lower end compared to most traditional Canadian credit cards — check the Brim app or website for the current rate before using your card abroad or for international online purchases. For occasional international spending, it remains a reasonable choice; for heavy cross-border use, it's worth factoring the fee into your decision.
Instalment Pay: Built-In Purchase Splitting
Brim's Instalment Pay feature lets you split eligible purchases over $500 into smaller, consecutive monthly payments directly through the Brim app. This is primarily useful for planned larger purchases where spreading the cost over several months is preferable to carrying a single lump balance on a revolving credit line.
Instalment Pay is merchant-agnostic — it works on any eligible purchase regardless of where you shopped, which sets it apart from retailer-specific financing programs. Terms and rates are available through the Brim app.
Brim vs. Other Canadian Rewards Cards
| Brim Mastercard | Scotiabank Scene+ Visa | CIBC Dividend Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | Applies | Applies | Applies |
| Base earn rate | 1 pt / $1 | 1 pt / $1 | 1% cash back |
| Instalment feature | Yes (500+) | No | No |
| Points expiry | Never | Never | N/A |
For a no-annual-fee card, the Brim Mastercard holds its own — particularly for Canadians who want a fixed-value rewards currency with no expiry and the added flexibility of built-in instalment payments.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No annual fee on the base card
- Simple, fixed-value rewards currency (1 pt = $0.01, no expiry)
- Instant virtual card on approval for immediate Apple Pay/Google Pay use
- Instalment Pay for eligible purchases over $500 — built-in, merchant-agnostic
- Available online without a branch visit
Cons
- Base earn rate (1 pt / $1) is on par with, not above, competing no-fee cards
- Foreign transaction fees apply — check current rate in the Brim app
- Travel insurance only on paid tiers
- Airport lounge access only on World Elite ($199)
- Brim partner network smaller than major bank networks
- Relatively newer issuer with a shorter track record than big banks
How to Apply
New cardholders can claim a $10 sign-up bonus through our Brim referral offer page.
- Visit Brim Financial and select your preferred card tier
- Complete the online application — takes about 10 minutes
- Enter referral code 19538 to claim your $10 sign-up bonus
- Receive instant virtual card upon approval
- Activate your physical card when it arrives by mail
Summary
| Card | Best For | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Brim Mastercard | No-fee everyday rewards with Instalment Pay | $0 |
| Brim World Mastercard | Regular cardholders wanting insurance | $99 |
| Brim World Elite | High spenders wanting lounge access | $199 |
All three cards share Brim points (1 pt = $0.01, no expiry), Instalment Pay, and instant virtual card access.
🎁 Apply for a Brim Mastercard at Brim with referral code 19538 to claim your $10 sign-up bonus today.