We wouldn’t call Tims Rewards one of the most valuable rewards programs in Canada but with 4,000+ locations across Canada, it’s certainly one of the most ubiquitous. Create an account for free to start collecting 10 points per $1 spent, which you can redeem for free coffee, baked goods, sandwiches, and more.
Key Takeaways
- Tims Rewards is the official rewards program of Tim Hortons Canada.
- Tims Rewards points are worth 0.25 – 0.75 cents each, depending on what menu item you spend them on.
- There are 8 Tims Rewards Levels covering 100+ menu items for 300 – 1,800 points apiece.
- The most valuable Timmies reward is a savoury pastry or pinwheel for 400 points.
Never miss an amazing deal again + get our bonus 250+ page eBook for FREE. Join 50,000 other Canadians who receive our weekly newsletter – learn more.
What is Tims Rewards?
Tims Rewards is the official loyalty program of Tim Hortons Canada. Similar to the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program, members can collect points on every purchase to redeem on free drinks, snacks, and food – but with the added benefit of 2 official credit cards with accelerated rewards!
Tims Rewards Canada transitioned to a new program structure on February 21st, 2023 and multiplied every member’s existing points by 6.2 in the process.
Tims Rewards overview
Pros:
- 4,000+ Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada
- 200+ menu items, with new updates every year
- 10 Tims Rewards points per $1 spent
- 8 reward Levels
- 2 official Tims Mastercards
- Points worth up to 0.75 cents each
- Accepts American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards
- Bonuses and promotional offers updated daily
- Free birthday surprise offer
- Free membership
- Points can be gifted
Cons:
- Points expire after 12 months
- Points worth as little as 0.25 cents each
- Limited redemption options
- No points for third-party food delivery orders
- Redemptions cannot be reversed or refunded
What are Tims Rewards points worth?
Tims Rewards points are worth between 0.25 – 0.75 cents per point (CPP).
Cost of menu item in $CAD / cost of menu item in points = value in cents per point (CPP)
You can redeem Tims Rewards Points on 40+ menu items grouped into 7 Reward Levels. Every item within a Reward Level costs the same number of points – for maximum value, always choose the largest and most expensive menu item you can get!
According to our research, the best choice is the savoury pastry or pinwheel from the 400 Points Reward Level:
| Reward level and points cost | Required spend | Menu items | Most valuable reward* | Least valuable reward* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 points | $30 | * Classic donut * Cookie * Hashbrown * Specialty donut |
Classic donut (0.53 CPP) | Cookie (0.50 CPP) |
| 400 points | $40 | * Bagel * Baked good * Brewed coffee * Dream donut * Dream cookie * Tea |
Savoury pastry or pinwheel (0.75 CPP) | Bagel, muffin, or tea biscuit (0.55 CPP) |
| 600 Points | $60 | * French vanilla * Hot chocolate * Iced coffee * Potato wedges |
Extra large french vanilla (0.55 CPP) | Large iced coffee or potato wedges (0.47 CPP) |
| 800 Points | $80 | * 10 Timbits * Classic iced capp * Cold brew * Espresso drink * Frozen beverage * Real fruit quencher * Yogurt |
Large classic iced capp (0.52 CPP) | Double espresso (0.25 CPP) |
| 1,100 Points | $110 | * Breakfast sandwich * Soup |
Large soup (0.53 CPP) | Simply sausage sandwich (0.27 CPP) |
| 1,300 Points | $130 | * BELT * Chili * Farmer's wrap * Lunch sandwich |
Large chili or roast beef and cheddar or turkey bacon club sandwich (0.54 CPP) | BELT or farmer’s wrap (0.41 CPP) |
| 1,800 Points | $180 | * Flatbread pizza * Loaded bowl * Loaded wrap |
Buffalo ranch chicken loaded bowl (0.56 CPP) | Veggie loaded wrap (0.38 CPP) |
* Calculations do not include tax. Item prices and availability may vary from province to province.
How to earn Tims Rewards points
To collect Tims Rewards points, you first have to create a free account on the Tims app or Tim Hortons website. Once you do, you’ll earn 10 Tims Rewards points for every dollar you spend (before tax and rounded to the nearest 10 cents) on the following transactions:
- Drive-thru and in-person orders
- Mobile and Tims Deliver orders
- Orders paid with a TimsCard or Tims Gift Card
- Select discount and promo offers (after the discount or promo has been applied)
Mobile orders created through the Tims app will automatically add points to your account. To earn points on a drive-thru or in-person order, you must present your digital or physical membership card before paying.
Unfortunately, you won’t earn points on:
- Charitable donations using the Round Up feature
- Fees, tips, or taxes
- Orders created on third-party food delivery apps such as DoorDash, UberEats, and SkipTheDishes
- Orders worth less than $0.10 before tax
- Merchandise or retail product purchases
- Tims Gift Card purchases or reloads
There’s no limit on the number of Tims Rewards points you can collect for one transaction but your account can only hold so much. If you hit the 500,000-point limit, you’ll need to redeem some points before earning any more.
How to link a Tims Rewards card
If you have one of the few remaining physical Tims Rewards cards in Canada, you won’t be able to redeem your points without first linking it to a digital account.
To link your card, create an account using the app or website (or log in), click on "Details," enter your card number, and click “Link my card." You can only link a single physical card to a single digital account – if you try to add more than one, the first linked card will be deactivated and its points transferred to the new card.
How to redeem Tims Rewards points
After you create an account, Tims Rewards will ask you to choose one of 7 Reward Levels (don’t worry, you can always change it later).
Whenever you collect enough points for your chosen Reward Level, your points will be automatically applied to your next order containing an eligible menu item.
Say you chose the 300 Points Reward Level. You collect 357 points and order a classic donut the next time you visit Tim Hortons. At the till, the system automatically draws 300 points from your account and applies them to your order, leaving you with 57 points in your account and a free donut.
There’s one more Reward Level we haven’t mentioned: "Banking Your Points." Choosing this level means your points will accumulate until they expire or you hit the account limit. To redeem them, choose a different Reward Level and order an eligible item – just don’t forget to switch back to the Banking Reward Level if you want to keep stockpiling points!
You can change Reward Levels on the Tims app or website.
How to gift Tims Rewards points
If you know a friend in need of a free coffee (we’ve all been there), you can gift them one with your Tims Rewards points.
All you have to do is log into the Tims mobile app or Tim Hortons website, click "More," and click “Tims It Forward.” Enter the email address of the gift recipient, select the gift you want to send, add a message (if you like), and hit send!
The recipient will have 6 months to click the link in the email to accept your gift and 4 weeks to use it once accepted. The gift will appear among the other offers in their Tims Rewards account.
If the gift recipient doesn’t want to register for an account, they can click the link in the email footer (at the bottom of the page) to generate a one-time QR code and scan it on an in-store order. QR code links expire 6 months after a gift has been sent.
Earn double-double the rewards with the right credit card
Just because you collected Tims Rewards points doesn’t mean you can’t earn credit card rewards on the same order. The best restaurant credit cards in Canada will add a maximum return rate of 10% to any Timmies’ run.
Value of rewards in $CAD / money spent = return rate in %
You can also use the Tims or Secured Tims Mastercard from Neo Financial to earn 2 – 5 bonus Tims Points for every $1 spent. Assuming you redeem your points on savoury pastries or pinwheels, that’s a return of up to 11.25% – or $11.25 of flaky goodness for every $100 spent!
For more flexible rewards, split your earnings between your Tims Rewards account and a rewards credit card instead.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Rewards | Tim Hortons return rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 | * 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up tp $2,500 spent per month) * 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services * 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
17.50% |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express Card | $120 | * 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
12.50% |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 | * 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category) * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
12.50% |
| Tims Mastercard | $0 | * 5 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons * 5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, transit, taxis, rideshares * 2 points per $4 spent everywhere else |
11.25% |
| BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card | $120 | * 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
10.85% |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | * 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases |
9.50% |
| Secured Tims Mastercard | $0 | * 2 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons * 2 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, transit, taxis, rideshares * 1 point per $4 spent everywhere else |
9.00% |
1. The best Tim Hortons credit card in Canada
×8 Award winner 
$100 GeniusCash + Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
GC: $100
8x Award winner Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up tp $2,500 spent per month)
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Tim Hortons return rate: 10.0% + 7.5%
The American Express Cobalt Card is the best credit card in Canada for one reason: Amex Membership Rewards points. Transferring them to the Aeroplan program and redeeming them on a flight will net you about 2 CPP – that’s over 2.5x the value of a Tims Rewards Point!
Timmies accepts American Express online and at every store in the country. Why not sip your way to a tropical getaway next year?
Pros:
- 10 types of insurance included
- Amex Experiences, Offers, Front of the Line, and The Hotel Collection benefits
- No income requirements
Cons:
- Lower acceptance for American Express
2. Best premium Tim Hortons credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $100
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Tim Hortons return rate: 5.0% + 7.5%
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is another fantastically flexible credit card. You can redeem the Scene+ Points you collect at Tim’s for movies, groceries, restaurants, or travel at a rate of 1 CPP. If you choose the latter, prepare to enjoy premium perks and benefits such as a discount Priority Pass membership and souvenir shopping with no foreign transaction fees.
Pros:
- 24/7 complimentary concierge services
- 12 types of insurance included
- 0.00% foreign transaction fee
- American Express Offers, Experiences, and Front of the Line benefits
- Only $12,000 personal income required
Cons:
- Lower acceptance for American Express
3. Best cash back Tim Hortons credit card
×4 Award winner GC: $100
4x Award winner Rewards:
- 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Tim Hortons return rate: 5.0% + 7.5%
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard is a premium World Elite Mastercard with enough valuable cash-like rewards to make it our top cash back credit card. You can redeem MBNA Rewards points on travel, gift cards, or e-gift cards from 60+ brands for 0.9 – 1 CPP – although sadly, there are no Tim Hortons gift cards available.
Pros:
- 12 types of insurance included
- 10% bonus points on your birthday
- 10% off AVIS and Budget car rentals in Canada and the US
- World Elite Mastercard benefits
Cons:
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income required
- 22.99% interest on cash advances
4. Best official Tim Hortons credit card
Rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons
- 5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, transit, taxis, rideshares
- 2 points per $4 spent everywhere else
Tim Hortons return rate: 3.75% + 7.5%
The Tims Mastercard adds 5 bonus Tims Rewards points to every $1 you spend at Tim Hortons, which you can spend on menu items or a statement credit. 1,250 Tims Rewards points = $5 off your credit card balance, adding up to a 6% Timmies discount over time.
Pros:
- Redeem Tims Points for a $5 – $45 statement credit
- No additional card fee
Cons:
- Only 2 types of insurance included
- 22.99% interest on cash advances
- 20.99% interest on purchases
5. Best Visa Tim Hortons credit card
GC: $150
Rewards:
- 5 BMO Rewards points for every $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas, and transit
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Tim Hortons return rate: 3.35% + 7.5%
With big rewards on groceries and restaurants, plus discounts on gas, the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card makes for an excellent road-tripping credit card. You can redeem BMO Rewards points on any sort of travel expense or deposit them to a BMO investment account for an average value of 0.67 CPP.
We recommend you travel to take advantage of Visa Infinite benefits like a complimentary food voucher, room upgrade, and in-room Wi-Fi at 900+ hotels – who knows, maybe you can even order Timbits for room service.
Pros:
- $50 annual lifestyle credit
- 6 types of insurance included
- 10% bonus points for adding an authorized user
- Up to 7 cents off per litre at Shell
- Visa Infinite benefits
Cons:
- $60,000 personal or $100,000 household income required
- $50,000 annual cap on eligible purchases for 5x the points, after which rewards drop to 1 point per $1
- $50 additional card fee
6. Best flexible cash back Tim Hortons credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $120
1x Award winner Rewards:
- 2% cash back on purchases in up to 3 Money-Back Categories
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
Tim Hortons return rate: 2.0% + 7.5%
Cash is the most flexible reward, but you know what’s even more flexible? Choosing your own cash back spending categories!
The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card and Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard are the only cards in Canada that enable cardholders to choose how they earn boosted rewards. Pick 2 – 3 spending categories from a list of 10 to build your perfect Timmies-gas-furniture-whatever-you-want credit card, and swap categories as you please later on.
Pros:
- 1.95% interest on balance transfers for the first 6 months
- Monthly cash back rewards
- $12,000 personal income required
- No additional card fee
Cons:
- Only 2 types of insurance included
7. Best credit-building Tim Hortons credit card
Rewards:
- 2 points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons
- 2 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, transit, taxis, rideshares
- 1 point per $4 spent everywhere else
Tim Hortons return rate: 1.5% + 7.5%
The Secured Tims Mastercard earns 2 bonus points per $1 spent at Tim Hortons and builds your credit score – no hard credit check or annual fees are required. It’s like a Tims Card, only more versatile!
Pros:
- Builds credit
- No additional card fee
Cons:
- Only 2 types of insurance included
- 22.99% interest on cash advances
- 20.99% interest on purchases
- Cannot trade Tims Points for statement credits
FAQ
How do I check my Tims Rewards balance?
You can view your Tims Points balance in the Tims app or on the Tim Hortons website.
How many Tim Hortons points do you need for a free coffee?
You can trade 400 Tims Points for a classic brewed coffee, 600 points for an iced coffee, or 800 points for an espresso or cold brew.
Do Tims Rewards points expire?
Tims Rewards points expire 12 months after you earn them.
Does Tim Hortons give you anything free on your birthday?
Tims Rewards members receive an offer for a free surprise item every year on their birthday.
Is Tim Hortons Rewards worth it?
If you spend more than $2.50 per month at Tim Hortons (about the cost of one XL coffee), you’ll earn at least one free item every year – plus, the Tims Rewards program is free to join and won’t stop you from earning credit card rewards at the same time.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 227 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 227 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.
Showing 10 comments