Brim World Mastercard review

How the Brim World earns points

The Brim World earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases. Select Brim partner merchants offer more, up to 30 points per dollar, but those rates depend on the partner and can change over time.

As an example, $2,000 a month of spending earns 2,000 points a month, or 24,000 points a year, at the base rate. Partner offers can add to that, but it’s safest to treat them as a bonus rather than count on them when deciding whether the card is worth its fee.

Perks beyond points

The perks lean toward travel. You get a DragonPass airport lounge membership with discounted visits, though each visit still costs something, and a free Boingo Wi-Fi membership for staying connected on the road.

Supplementary cards are free, so family members can add their spending to the same account and help build your points balance without adding to the annual cost.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $99, with no first-year waiver. The 1.5% foreign transaction fee is the card’s main financial advantage: $1,000 spent in a foreign currency costs about $15 in fees, compared with about $25 on a card charging 2.5%.

That $10 saving per $1,000 means you’d need about $9,900 of foreign currency spending a year for the lower fee alone to cover the $99 annual fee. Purchases are charged 19.99% interest and cash advances 21.5%; paying in full each month avoids purchase interest.

Insurance coverage

Insurance is the strongest reason to hold this card. The package covers travel medical, delays, rental cars, purchases and phones, plus less common protection for event tickets. Read the insurance certificate for full terms, especially the age limit on travel medical coverage.

• Travel emergency medical up to $5,000,000 for trips of up to 8 days (not available at 65 or older)
• Flight delay up to $500 a day, to a maximum of $1,000
• Baggage delay up to $1,000 and baggage loss up to $1,000 per person
• Rental car collision and loss damage for up to 48 days, on vehicles with an MSRP up to $65,000
• Travel accident insurance up to $150,000
• Purchase protection up to $25,000 a year and one extra year of extended warranty
• Mobile device insurance up to $1,000 per claim
• Event ticket protection

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The Brim World makes most sense for current cardholders who use its insurance and spend in foreign currencies a few times a year. Mobile device coverage, rental car protection and travel medical cover for short trips can each save you from buying separate policies.

For new applicants, it’s hard to recommend. Brim may have discontinued the card for new applications, and even if it’s available, a flat 1 point per dollar doesn’t go far toward a $99 fee.

How it compares

The Brim World Elite Mastercard costs less at $89 a year, with the same 1.5% foreign transaction fee and the same 1x earn rate on all purchases. If you’re choosing between the two Brim cards, the World Elite is the cheaper one.

The Wealthsimple Credit Card goes further on foreign spending: it has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and earns 1% cash back on everything. It’s a simpler card, but it costs nothing to hold.

Before you apply

The recommended credit score is 690 or higher, and Brim Financial makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Because the card may be closed to new applicants, check Brim’s website first to confirm it’s still offered and to review the current terms.