Best Popl Alternative: 6 Digital Business Cards to Switch To (2026)

George El-Hage 🔗 LinkedIn

Founder, Wave Connect | Helping 150,000+ professionals go digital since 2020

I've tested 15+ digital business card platforms over 6 years, including Popl's full product lineup. This guide is based on hands-on experience with every platform listed - not spec-sheet comparisons.

Popl alternative - if that's what you're searching for, you're probably someone who loves Popl's NFC products but has hit a wall with the software. And honestly? I get it. Popl is one of the most recognizable names in digital business cards, especially if you've been to any trade show or networking event in the last few years. Their NFC cards, wristbands, and badges are everywhere.

But between the 5-contact viewing limit on the free plan, hidden teams pricing, and per-scan event fees, a lot of professionals are looking for something different. I've tested every major platform on this list. Here are the 6 best Popl alternatives in 2026.

Why People Look for Popl Alternatives

Popl has genuine strengths that deserve acknowledgment before I get into the pain points. Their event lead capture is the best in the industry. The AI-powered badge scanner with a 95% email match rate is genuinely impressive - I haven't seen another platform come close on enrichment accuracy. They've got the only LinkedIn QR scanner on the market, letting you scan someone's LinkedIn profile directly at a networking event. Offline scanning works without internet. And their on-floor event support (9am-9pm EST) means you've got a live human to call if something breaks during your trade show. For event-heavy teams, those are real advantages.

So why are people switching? It usually comes down to a few specific frustrations:

• 5-contact viewing limit: This is the big one. You can collect contacts on Popl's free plan, but you can only VIEW 5 of them. Picture this: you're at a networking event, you collect 30 new contacts, and when you go to follow up the next day... you can see 5. The other 25 are locked behind a $7.99/mo paywall. 🚩
• Analytics paywalled: Want to know who's viewing your card? That requires the $7.99/mo Pro plan. On Wave's free plan, you get analytics out of the box.
• Contact export paywalled: Your contacts, your data - but you can't download them as a CSV unless you're paying.
• Hidden teams pricing: Popl doesn't publish teams pricing. You have to book a demo just to find out what it costs. That's frustrating if you're trying to compare options quickly.
• Per-scan event pricing: Popl's event lead capture uses usage-based pricing - costs scale with how many badges you scan. That adds unpredictability, especially during high-volume events.
• Recipient solicitation: When someone views your Popl card, they see "Powered by Popl" branding and get pop-ups and emails encouraging them to create their own Popl card. Your contacts become Popl's leads.
• Expensive branding removal: Want to remove all Popl branding? That's the $14.99/mo Pro+ plan.
• No free teams trial: You can't test teams features without booking a sales demo first.

None of this makes Popl a bad product. The NFC hardware is great, and the event lead capture is genuinely best-in-class. But if the software gaps are frustrating you, here's what else is out there.

What to Look for in a Popl Replacement

The right Popl alternative depends on which specific pain points are driving you to switch. Here's the criteria I'd prioritize:

#1 Wave Connect - Best Overall Popl Alternative

Wave Connect is the most direct Popl replacement because it addresses every major Popl pain point - unlimited contact viewing, free analytics, free contact export, and zero recipient solicitation. I'm the founder, so I'm obviously biased. But I'll lay out exactly what you get and let you compare for yourself.

The biggest difference between Wave and Popl on the free plan? You can actually see all your contacts. No 5-contact limit. No paywall to access data you collected. That alone is why most people switch.

What you get on Wave's free plan:

• Unlimited contact viewing and export (CSV) - no caps, no paywall
• Analytics - see who viewed your card and when
• Email signatures
• Apple Wallet support
• Zero recipient solicitation - your contacts don't get "Download Wave" pop-ups

Paid plans: $7/mo Pro (custom branding, branded QR codes) or $60/user/year for Teams (bulk Excel import, CRM sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, admin dashboard). Volume pricing available for 100+ users. No per-scan fees. Ever.

NFC cards: Metal, bamboo, and PVC options at wavecnct.com/collections. If you've been using Popl's NFC products, Wave's metal cards are a premium alternative.

Security: SOC 2 Type II certified, SCIM/SAML for enterprise provisioning, free teams trial with no credit card required.

For the full head-to-head, read our Popl vs Wave comparison.

#2 HiHello - Best for Multiple Card Profiles

HiHello gives you 4 card profiles on the free plan - more than any competitor - and has a corporate directory feature that no other platform matches. If you need separate cards for different roles, departments, or events, HiHello offers the most flexibility out of the box.

Their Business plan is also worth noting: flat $60/user/year with unlimited scans, unlimited contact enrichment, and native Salesforce/HubSpot integrations. No per-scan fees. That's a much simpler pricing model than Popl's hidden quotes and usage-based event pricing.

Pricing: Free (4 cards, 5 lead capture scans/month). $8/mo Professional. $60/user/year Business (5-user minimum).

What to watch for: HiHello's free plan includes "Powered by HiHello" branding and sends solicitation emails to your recipients - same issue as Popl. Analytics and contact export are paywalled behind the $8/mo plan. HiHello doesn't sell NFC cards, so if you're leaving Popl for another NFC option, you'll need third-party hardware. There's also no free teams trial.

Learn more at hihello.me, check our Wave vs HiHello breakdown, or browse our HiHello alternatives list for a deeper comparison.

#3 V1CE - Best for Premium NFC Hardware

V1CE has the widest range of NFC card materials on the market - 24K gold, brushed metal, bamboo, and PVC - with a free in-house design service and a lifetime card guarantee. If Popl's NFC products are what you love most and you want something even more premium, V1CE is the hardware play.

Their model is interesting: buy a physical card, get lifetime platform access included. That's appealing if you'd rather make a one-time purchase than pay a monthly subscription. They also offer video backgrounds on profiles, which is unique.

NFC card pricing: $79 (PVC), $110 (bamboo), $145 (metal), $450 (24K gold). Platform access included with card purchase.

What to watch for: No SOC 2 certification, which matters for regulated industries. Free plan analytics are limited to 30 days - your data gets deleted after that. V1CE is UK-based, so support runs on UK hours. And their Android app was removed from Google Play in early 2025.

See the full product line at v1ce.co, or read our Wave vs V1CE comparison.

#4 Blinq - Best for App Experience

Blinq has the most polished mobile app in the digital business card space, with an email signature builder that's genuinely the best in the industry. If you're switching from Popl and you're an app-first person who wants the smoothest mobile experience, Blinq is worth a look.

Their 80+ HRIS integrations (BambooHR, Workday, etc.) are unmatched - if your company uses these tools, Blinq can auto-create cards when new employees are added. They're also Apple Watch compatible, which is a nice touch for quick sharing.

Pricing: Free (2 cards, unlimited sharing). $9.99/mo Premium. $60/user/year Business (5-user minimum).

What to watch for: Blinq uses a credit system that charges $5 per badge scan and $5 per CRM sync - so if you're leaving Popl because of per-scan fees, this has a similar issue. Analytics and contact export are paywalled behind the $9.99/mo plan. And like Popl, Blinq sends solicitation emails to your recipients. No metal NFC cards available.

Learn more at blinq.me, or check our Wave vs Blinq comparison. You can also see how Blinq stacks up against Popl directly, or browse our best Blinq alternatives if you're comparing both.

#5 Mobilo - Best for Sales Automation

Mobilo is a hardware-first platform built around NFC cards and lead tracking dashboards, with multiple card modes that give sales reps flexibility for different situations. You can set your card to function as a standard business card, a landing page, a lead gen form, or a direct URL redirect - all from the same physical card.

The automated follow-up feature is useful for sales workflows: when a prospect taps your card, Mobilo can automatically trigger an email or SMS follow-up. That's not something most digital business card platforms offer natively. If you're leaving Popl specifically for sales automation, Mobilo's worth evaluating.

Pricing: No free plan. Starts around $4/mo + NFC card purchase. Teams pricing available through sales.

What to watch for: There's no free tier at all - you're paying from day one. Mobilo is hardware-first, so you'll need to purchase a card to get started. CRM integrations cost extra on lower tiers. The platform is less polished than Blinq or Wave for general digital card use.

Check them out at mobilocard.com.

#6 Dot - Best for One-Time Purchase

Dot is the simplest option on this list - buy an NFC card or accessory, set up a basic profile, and you're done. No subscription, no monthly fees, no complex dashboards. If you just need a tap-to-share contact card and don't care about analytics, CRM sync, or team features, Dot does exactly that.

They sell NFC cards, phone stickers, and accessories. Tap your Dot against someone's phone, your profile opens in their browser. That's it. Clean, minimal, and zero learning curve.

Pricing: One-time NFC card purchase (starting around $30). No subscription required.

What to watch for: Very basic analytics, no CRM integrations, and no team management features. If you need anything beyond "share my contact info via NFC," Dot probably isn't enough. It's a great personal option, but not a Popl replacement for teams.

Browse their products at dotcards.net.

At a Glance: 6 Best Popl Alternatives (2026)

Prices and features verified as of February 2026. I personally tested all six platforms' free plans and team features.

How to Migrate from Popl

Switching from Popl is straightforward if you follow the right order. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Export your Popl contacts: Go to your Popl dashboard and export contacts to CSV (requires Pro plan). If you're on the free plan, you'll need to manually save the 5 contacts you can see before switching.
2. Sign up for your new platform: Most alternatives on this list offer free plans. Create an account and set up your profile before canceling Popl.
3. Recreate your digital profile: Add your contact info, photo, company details, and social links. Takes about 5 minutes on most platforms.
4. Import your contacts: Upload your CSV export to your new platform. Wave supports direct CSV import for your contact history.
5. Order new NFC cards (if needed): Your Popl NFC cards, wristbands, and badges will still link to Popl's platform. Order replacement hardware from Wave, V1CE, Mobilo, or Dot.
6. Update your QR codes and email signatures: Replace any Popl QR codes on printed materials, email signatures, or signage with your new platform's QR code.
7. Reconnect your CRM: Set up Salesforce, HubSpot, or Pipedrive integration on your new platform so leads flow automatically.

Don't cancel your Popl subscription until you've confirmed your contacts transferred and your new profile is live. Run both in parallel for a week. Better safe than sorry.

If you're migrating a team, check out our full roundup of the best digital business cards for more deployment tips.