Tims Credit Card Review 2025: Is It Worth It?
Jan 13, 2025Tims Mastercard, the Tim Hortons credit card, earns up to 15 Tims Rewards Points on each eligible dollar spent.
Tim Hortons official credit card — the Tims Mastercard — is a no-fee store card that earns Tims Rewards Points. Frequent Timmie’s patrons will benefit most, as the highest rewards rates come from dining at Tim Hortons restaurants.
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Tims Mastercard full review
This no-annual-fee rewards card from Tims Financial earns Tims Rewards Points on eligible purchases and offers accelerated rates at Tim Hortons restaurants, groceries, gas, EV charging and transit.
Rewards earned on the Tims Mastercard can be redeemed for statement credits or food and beverages at Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada.
Benefits of the Tims Mastercard
Get a 6% effective rewards rate at Tim Hortons: Spending $100 at Tim Hortons earns 1,500 points, which translates to a $5 statement credit — a 6% effective cash-back rate for Tim Hortons purchases, according to the Tims Financial website.
Point earning beyond Tim Hortons purchases: Earn accelerated rewards rates on groceries (excluding Walmart and Costco), gas (excluding Costco gas), EV charging, transit, taxis, and ridesharing. Earn 1 point per $2 spent on all other purchases.
No annual fee: A budget-friendly option for loyal Tim Hortons customers.
Welcome bonus: New cardholders earn a $20 digital Tims Gift Card after their first purchase within 30 days of activation. Offer valid through April 30, 2025.
Referral program: Refer friends or family to apply for the card and earn a $20 digital Tims Gift Card for each successful referral (up to 50 referrals).
Drawbacks of the Tims Mastercard
Limits to accelerated rewards rates: Higher earn rates (15x and 5x) only apply to the first $20,000 in annual spending across those categories.
Few redemption options: Points can only be redeemed for food and beverages at Tim Hortons or as statement credits, limiting flexibility.
Low point value: Each Tims Rewards Point is worth approximately 0.4 cents, lower than many other rewards programs.
Category exclusions: Purchases at Walmart and Costco do not earn rewards in the grocery category, and Costco gas purchases are also excluded.
Minimal insurance benefits: The card offers only extended warranty and purchase protection, likely insufficient for those seeking robust coverage.
Who should get the Tims Mastercard?
Frequent Tim Hortons customers who can maximize the 15x rewards rate on restaurant purchases stand to benefit most. It might also appeal to budget-conscious individuals seeking a no-fee card with practical, straightforward rewards.
Is the Tims Mastercard worth it?
The Tims Mastercard may be worthwhile to frequent Tim Hortons visitors, especially with its 6% effective rewards rate on restaurant purchases when redeemed for statement credits.
However, if you rarely visit Tim Hortons or prefer versatile rewards, this card likely won’t be worth it.
What Reddit has to say
NerdWallet’s credit card experts rigorously review every detail of a card to determine its rating. But our Nerds know it can also be helpful to hear what everyday cardholders think. So, we took to Reddit to find out what users are saying about the Tims Credit Card across multiple threads.
Redditors mostly disagree with NerdWallet’s review
As of this writing, Redditors give the Tims Credit Card a vehement thumbs down, with few exceptions. But the majority of negative comments are from users who dislike Tim Hortons itself, and thus, question the need for a store-branded card. So, diehard Timmie’s fans may still see its appeal. Some Redditors suggest helpful card alternatives, like the CIBC Costco Mastercard and Simplii Financial Cash Back Card, which NerdWallet generally rates highly.
Tims Financial customer ratings
As of this writing, Tims Financial does not have a Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau profile. But the Tim Hortons app, which cardholders can use to manage their Tims Mastercard, does:
Good Apple App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5 possible stars based on over 292,000 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Mediocre Google Play rating: 3.2 out of 5 possible stars based on over 115,000 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Tims Mastercard eligibility
Who qualifies for the Tims Mastercard?
To qualify, applicants must:
Be a Canadian resident.
Be at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
Have a credit history in Canada.
For those with limited credit histories, a secured version of the card is available and does not require a hard credit check (except in Quebec).
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Tims Mastercard rewards
Earn a $20 digital gift card after your first purchase within 30 days of activation.
Welcome offer valid through April 30, 2025.
Earn Tims Rewards Points at the following rates:
15 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada.
5 points per $1 spent on groceries (excluding Walmart and Costco), gas (excluding Costco gas), EV charging, transit, taxi and ridesharing.
1 point per $2 spent on all other purchases.
Note: Accelerated earn rates apply to the first $20,000 in annual spending across higher-earning categories.
Redemption options:
Redeem points for food and beverages at Tim Hortons (minimum 300 points).
Redeem for statement credits — 1,250 points = $5 statement credit (up to $45 per week, once every 7 days).
The Tims Mastercard offers a $20 digital gift card for new cardholders after their first purchase, redeemable at Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada. This is a straightforward perk for frequent Tim Hortons customers but may hold less appeal for those who rarely visit.
Beyond the welcome bonus, additional value can be squeezed from the card’s extended warranty and purchase protection, should they ever need to be put to use.
How much do I need to spend to get free items at Tim Hortons?
The value of a Tims Reward Point depends on how it is earned and redeemed. But you can expect to spend at least:
$20 to earn enough points for a classic donut, specialty donut, hashbrown or cookie.
$26.66 to earn enough points for a coffee, tea, Dream Donut, bagel or baked good.
$40 to earn enough points for a hot chocolate, French Vanilla, iced coffee or pack of potato wedges.
$53.33 to earn enough points for a Real Fruit Quencher, cold brew coffee, iced cappuccino, box of 10 Timbits, yogurt, frozen beverage or espresso drink.
$73.33 to earn enough points for a breakfast sandwich or soup.
$86.66 to earn enough points for a Farmer’s Wrap, breakfast bagel, lunch sandwich or chili.
$120 to earn enough points for a Loaded Bowl or wrap.
How to apply for the Tims Mastercard
The application process for the Tims Mastercard must be completed through the Tims Hortons mobile app:
Download the Tim Hortons app from your mobile device through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Sign up for Tims Financial by selecting the Join now button from the Tim Hortons app home screen.
Enter your first name and email address. Select Create an Account.
Start a Tims Financial profile by selecting Sign Up.
Create a password, enter your phone number and review the Tims Financial terms and conditions and financial privacy policy.
Continue your application by selecting the Tims Mastercard.
Enter your personal information, including your full name, date of birth, residential address, employment information, monthly housing expenses and annual income.
Review your information and submit your application.
Approved cardholders will receive a virtual card immediately, with a physical card delivered within 2–3 weeks.
Tims Credit Card vs Simplii Financial Cash Back Card
If you’re a Timmie’s fan but want more flexibility from your rewards, you may want to consider a credit card that earns cash back at all restaurants, like the Simplii Financial Cash Back Card. You’ll accrue elevated rewards with more than one establishment, and you can still use cash back to cover Tim’s purchases.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's take
Card details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
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Card detailsReasons you might want a different card
The Tims Mastercard may not be a practical fit if:
You don’t frequent Tim Hortons restaurants.
You prefer rewards like cash back or travel points.
You want a credit card that offers more extensive insurance coverage or other benefits.
Tims Mastercard facts
TIMS MASTERCARD | |
|---|---|
Card Type | |
Fees and Interest Rates | |
Annual fee | $0.00 |
Regular/purchase APR | 20.99%-26.99. (20.99%-24.99% for Quebec residents.) |
Cash advance APR | 22.99%–27.99%. (22.99%-24.99% for Quebec residents.) |
Cash advance fee | $2.50 to $5 per transaction. |
Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% of the transaction amount. |
Rewards and Benefits | |
Intro offer | Earn a $20 gift card when you make your first purchase within 30 days of card membership. Welcome offer valid through April 30, 2025. |
Reward earn rates |
Note: Bonus rewards earned at Tim Hortons restaurants and on groceries, gas, EV charging, transit, taxi and ridesharing purchases are limited to $20,000 annual spend. |
Other perks |
|
Insurance coverage | |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days. |
Methodology
BACK TO TOPNerdWallet Canada rates credit cards according to overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation methodology include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points.
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