Brim Mastercard review

How the Brim Mastercard earns

Most purchases earn 1 point for every $2 you spend, or 0.5 points per dollar. The higher rates come from Brim’s partner merchants, where offers in the Brim app can pay up to 30 points per dollar. How much you earn depends heavily on whether those partner offers match the places you already shop.

For example, $1,500 a month of regular spending earns 750 points a month, or 9,000 points a year. A single $200 purchase with a partner offering the maximum 30 points per dollar would add 6,000 points on its own, so a few well-chosen partner purchases can matter more than months of base earning.

That makes the Brim a card you have to engage with. Checking the app before larger purchases is the difference between a modest return and a more useful one.

Redeeming points and other perks

Points can be redeemed as statement credits, so you don’t need to learn a complicated redemption chart or book through a travel portal to use them.

The card also comes with a free Boingo Wi-Fi membership covering over 1 million hotspots, which can help when you’re travelling and want to avoid roaming data. Supplementary cards are free, so another member of your household can use the card without adding cost.

Fees, interest and the fine print

There’s no annual fee. The standout is the 1.5% foreign transaction fee: $1,000 spent in another currency costs about $15 in fees, compared with about $25 on a card charging the standard 2.5%. That’s a $10 saving on every $1,000 of foreign-currency spending, whether it’s on a trip or with a US online store.

The saving grows with use. Someone who spends $5,000 a year in foreign currencies would pay about $75 in fees on the Brim, compared with about $125 at 2.5%, a $50 difference each year on a card that costs nothing to hold.

Purchase interest is 19.99% and cash advances are charged 21.5%. Paying your full balance by the due date keeps you clear of purchase interest.

Insurance and protection

For a no-fee card, the Brim includes mobile device protection alongside Mastercard’s standard fraud protection. Check the certificate for what’s covered, the limits and the exclusions before you rely on it.

• Mobile device protection
• Mastercard Zero Liability

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Brim suits light spenders who travel or shop online in other currencies now and then and want to pay less in FX fees without paying an annual fee. It also suits people who like app-based partner offers and will check them before shopping.

If you want a strong return on everyday spending, 0.5 points per dollar is a weak base rate, and there’s no welcome offer to give you a head start. People who rarely spend in foreign currencies get little from the card’s main advantage.

How it compares

The Wealthsimple Credit Card also has no annual fee, earns 1% cash back on everything and charges no foreign transaction fee at all. It costs less on foreign purchases and its flat earning is simpler, though it doesn’t have Brim’s partner offers.

Brim’s own World Elite Mastercard costs $89 a year, keeps the 1.5% foreign transaction fee and earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, double the base rate here. It’s worth comparing if you spend enough for the higher rate to matter.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 660 or higher, and the card has an accessible income requirement of $15,000. Brim Financial makes the final decision. Check the current terms, including partner offers, on Brim’s website before you apply.