The short answer
Digital cards never run out, are always up to date, work internationally, include links and rich media, and let you see who viewed your card.
Paper cards are static. The information is frozen at the moment of printing — change jobs, get a new phone number, or open a new social account and you reprint. Studies estimate the average paper card is discarded within seven days, and roughly nine in ten never lead to a follow-up.
Digital cards solve all of that. One URL, updated forever, sharable in three formats, with analytics so you know what actually happened.
How a digital business card works
Your card lives at a permanent URL. You share that URL through whichever channel makes sense in the moment.
- NFC tap — a physical card holds a tiny NFC chip programmed with your URL. The recipient taps their phone, the browser opens your card.
- QR code — printed on the back of the card, on a name tag, slide deck, or business card holder. The recipient opens their camera, the URL opens.
- Link — paste the URL into email, LinkedIn DMs, text messages, or your email signature.
Once the recipient sees the card, a one-tap “Save Contact” button downloads a vCard file that imports straight into their address book.
NFC vs QR vs link — which one should I use?
All three. They cover different moments.
| Channel | Best for | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| NFC | In-person, dramatic, close range | A physical card + recent phone |
| QR | Conferences, slides, name tags, distance | A printed code + a camera |
| Link | Email, DMs, LinkedIn, signatures | Any device with a browser |
NFC and QR work together on the same physical card — print the QR on the back, embed the NFC chip in the middle. Whichever method your recipient prefers, it works.
What about teams?
Team plans solve the hardest part of company-wide business cards: keeping every card on-brand.
- Brand templates— admins lock colors, fonts, and logos so every member's card matches the company style. Members edit the parts that are theirs (name, role, photo) and nothing else.
- Team join links — a single URL invites new hires. On signup, a card is auto-created from the active template with their info pre-filled.
- Public team page— your whole team lives at one URL (e.g. moxietech.ca/o/your-company) for portfolios and proposals.
- Seat-based billing — pay only for active members; add or remove seats per org.
Does it work without internet?
Partially. The full profile needs a connection; key contact info can still work offline.
The webpage itself loads over the internet. But two patterns help offline use:
- Once-saved, kept forever.The recipient's “Save Contact” download goes straight into their address book and is stored locally on their phone — they can call or email you with no connection thereafter.
- NFC vCard records.An NFC chip can carry a compact vCard payload directly. When tapped, the phone shows “Add to Contacts” without ever opening a browser. Useful for environments with spotty Wi-Fi (basements, conferences, airplanes). Limited to about 500 bytes, so it covers name, title, phone, and email — not full profiles.
Most real-world use happens with a connection, but you have fallbacks for the moments that don't.
What it costs
Free for basic personal use. Pro and Team plans cost less than a single paper-card reprint each month.
- Free — up to 2 cards, basic analytics, vCard download, QR sharing.
- Pro ($7 / month) — unlimited cards, advanced analytics, lead capture forms, custom branding, MoxieTech badge removed.
- Team ($5 / user / month) — everything in Pro plus brand templates, admin controls, bulk management, team analytics, and SSO.
- Physical NFC cards — $2.99 (PVC), $4.99 (recycled), $7.99 (bamboo), $14.99 (metal). One-time. Cards last years.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most.
What is a digital business card?
A digital business card is a webpage that holds your contact info, photo, links, and bio. You share the link with a tap, scan, or click — the recipient sees your card in their browser and can save your details to their phone with one tap. No app is required.
How does a digital business card work?
You create a profile at a unique URL (e.g., moxietech.ca/c/jane-doe). To share it, you can encode the URL in an NFC chip embedded in a physical card, print it as a QR code, send it via text, or add it to your email signature. The recipient opens it in any browser and can download your contact details as a vCard file.
Why use a digital business card instead of a paper one?
Digital cards never run out, are always up to date, work internationally, include links and rich media, and let you see who viewed your card. Paper cards are static, get thrown away (the average paper card is discarded within 7 days), and cost money every time you reprint after a job change.
Do recipients need an app to receive a digital business card?
No. The recipient just opens a link in their browser — Safari, Chrome, anything. They can save your contact details directly to their phone's address book without installing anything.
How is NFC different from QR code?
NFC is a tap interaction: the recipient holds their phone near your card and your profile opens automatically (no camera, no app). QR is a visual scan: the recipient points their camera at the code. NFC is faster and more impressive in person; QR works from a distance and on printed materials like name tags or slides. Most digital cards support both.
Are NFC business cards worth it?
Yes if you network in person regularly — the tap-to-share experience is memorable and removes friction. They cost $3–15 once and last for years. If you mostly share contact info over email or LinkedIn, the digital link alone is enough.
Can a digital business card work without internet?
Partially. Loading the full profile requires a connection, but two patterns help offline use: (1) you can save the profile owner's contact details once and they're stored locally on your phone forever, and (2) the NFC chip itself can carry a basic vCard that imports directly into Contacts without opening a browser. For full features including analytics and updates, a connection is needed at view time.
How much do digital business cards cost?
Free for basic individual use on most platforms (MoxieTech included). Pro plans typically run $5–10 per month for unlimited cards, analytics, lead capture, and custom branding. Team plans run $5–15 per user per month with brand templates, admin controls, and team pages. Physical NFC cards are sold separately and typically cost $3 (PVC) to $15 (metal) per card.
Can teams use digital business cards?
Yes. Team plans let an organization define brand templates that lock fonts, colors, and logos so every team member's card stays on-brand. Admins can manage seats, invite members with a shared link, and publish a public team page that lists every member's card.
Are digital business cards secure?
The card itself is just a public webpage — anyone with the link can view it, which is the whole point. The sensitive parts are the account that owns the card (protected by password and optionally two-factor authentication) and any lead-capture data the card collects (covered by the platform's privacy policy and applicable GDPR / CCPA rules).
What does NFC vs QR mean for my recipient's privacy?
Both NFC and QR open a public webpage; neither reads anything from the recipient's phone. The recipient is in control — they choose whether to save your contact details and whether to submit any information back to you via a lead-capture form.
Can I update my card after I've shared it?
Yes — that's a major advantage over paper. Update your title, phone, photo, or links anytime, and every existing card link, QR, and NFC tap pulls the latest version. You never need to reprint.
Ready to make yours?
Free forever for individuals. No credit card required.