Best Blinq Alternative: 6 Digital Business Cards to Switch To (2026)
Blinq alternative - if you're searching for one, you probably already know why. Blinq is a solid digital business card platform with a polished app, 80+ HRIS integrations, and the best email signature builder in the industry. I'll give them full credit for that.
But between the credit system that charges $5 per badge scan and $5 per CRM sync, paywalled analytics, and recipient solicitation emails, a lot of professionals are looking for something different. I've tested every major platform on this list myself. Here are the 6 best Blinq alternatives in 2026.
TL;DR
Wave Connect is the best Blinq alternative in 2026, with free analytics, free contact export, zero recipient solicitation, and no credit system - flat-rate pricing only. HiHello is best for feature depth (4 free card profiles, corporate directory). Popl dominates event lead capture. V1CE has the most premium NFC hardware. Mobilo is built for sales teams. Dot is the simplest one-time-purchase option.
What You'll Learn
- Why people switch from Blinq: The specific pain points (credit fees, paywalled data, recipient spam)
- 6 alternatives compared: Wave, HiHello, Popl, V1CE, Mobilo, and Dot - with honest pros and cons
- What to look for: The criteria that actually matter when picking a Blinq replacement
- How to migrate: Step-by-step process to switch from Blinq without losing contacts
Why People Look for Blinq Alternatives
Blinq has genuine strengths that deserve acknowledgment - it's one of the most polished digital business card apps on the market. Their email signature builder is the best I've tested (you can create a professional signature in 20 seconds). The 80+ native HRIS integrations are unmatched - if you run BambooHR or Workday, Blinq can auto-create cards when new employees are added. And their mobile app is smooth, well-designed, and Apple Watch-compatible.
So why are people switching? It usually comes down to a few specific frustrations:
- Credit system costs: Blinq charges 5 credits ($5) per badge scan and 5 credits ($5) per native CRM export. You get 500 free credits, but a 25-person team at one trade show scanning 100 badges + syncing them to CRM = 1,000 credits = $500 in credit fees on top of your subscription. That adds up fast. 🚩
- Analytics paywalled: You can't see who viewed your card on Blinq's free plan. You'll need the $9.99/mo Premium plan for that.
- Contact export paywalled: Want to download your own contacts as a CSV? That's also behind the $9.99/mo paywall.
- Recipient solicitation: When someone views your Blinq card, they get pop-ups and emails saying "Create your own Blinq card." Your contacts become Blinq's leads.
- App-first model: Blinq is designed around its mobile app. That's fine if you love apps, but it adds friction for recipients who don't want to download anything.
- No metal NFC cards: Blinq offers custom NFC cards but doesn't have a metal card option.
- Credit card required for teams trial: Unlike some competitors, you can't test Blinq's Business plan without entering payment info.
None of this makes Blinq a bad product. For teams with heavy HRIS needs and a budget that accounts for credit costs, it's still a strong choice. But if any of these pain points hit close to home, here's what else is out there.
What to Look for in a Blinq Replacement
The right Blinq alternative depends on which specific pain points are driving you to switch. Here's the criteria I'd prioritize:
Replacement Criteria
- No per-scan credit system: Predictable, flat-rate pricing so trade show costs don't surprise you
- Free analytics and contact export: Don't pay to access data you generated
- No recipient solicitation: Your contacts stay YOUR contacts - they shouldn't get "Download our app" emails
- Browser-based sharing: Zero friction for recipients - no app download required
- CRM integrations included: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive sync in the base price - not as a credit-based add-on
- NFC card options: If you're coming from Blinq NFC, you'll want a platform with its own hardware
#1 Wave Connect - Best Overall Blinq Alternative
Wave Connect is the most direct Blinq replacement because it addresses every major Blinq pain point - no credit system, 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? Wave is browser-first. When someone taps your NFC card or scans your QR code, your profile opens in their browser instantly. No app download, no friction. I've seen this alone boost contact save rates compared to app-first platforms.
What you get on Wave's free plan:
- Unlimited sharing (QR, NFC, link, Apple Wallet)
- Analytics - see who viewed your card and when
- Contact export to CSV - own your data, always
- Email signatures
- 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 credit system. No per-scan fees. Ever.
NFC cards: Metal, bamboo, and PVC options at wavecnct.com/collections. If you've got Blinq NFC cards, Wave's are a direct upgrade with metal options Blinq doesn't offer.
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 Wave vs Blinq comparison.
#2 HiHello - Best for Feature Depth
HiHello offers more card profiles than any competitor - 4 on free, 16 on Professional - and has a corporate directory feature that no other platform matches. If you need separate cards for different roles, departments, or events, HiHello gives you the most flexibility out of the box.
Their Business plan is also worth noting for former Blinq users: it includes unlimited scans, unlimited contact enrichment, and native Salesforce/HubSpot integrations at a flat $60/user/year. No credit system. No per-contact fees. That's a much simpler pricing model than what you're used to with Blinq.
Pricing: Free (4 cards, 5 lead capture scans/month). $8/mo Professional. $60/user/year Business (5-user minimum).
What to watch for: The free plan includes "Powered by HiHello" branding and sends solicitation emails to your recipients - same issue as Blinq. Analytics and contact export are paywalled behind the $8/mo plan. HiHello doesn't sell NFC cards, so if you need hardware you'll need a third-party option. There's also no free teams trial.
Learn more at hihello.me, check our Wave vs HiHello breakdown, or see our full guide to the best HiHello alternative if you're comparing HiHello replacements specifically.
#3 Popl - Best for Event Lead Capture
Popl has repositioned as an event-focused lead capture platform, and if trade shows are your bread and butter, their AI badge scanner with a 95% email match rate is hard to beat. They've also got the only LinkedIn QR scanner in the market - scan someone's LinkedIn profile directly at a networking event. Nobody else does that.
Popl also supports offline scanning (works without internet) and offers on-floor event call support from 9am-9pm EST. For event-heavy teams, those are real differentiators.
Pricing: Free (1 card, 5-contact viewing limit). $7.99/mo Pro. Teams pricing requires a sales demo - not publicly listed.
What to watch for: The free plan's 5-contact viewing limit is rough - you can collect contacts but only see 5 unless you upgrade. Popl's event lead capture also uses per-scan usage-based pricing, which adds cost unpredictability (similar to Blinq's credit model, honestly). No free teams trial, and the free plan adds "Powered by Popl" branding with recipient solicitation.
Visit popl.co for details, read our Popl vs Wave comparison, see how Blinq stacks up against Popl directly, or browse our full best Popl alternative guide.
#4 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 you care about the physical card experience and want something premium, V1CE is the hardware play.
Their model is interesting: buy a physical card, get lifetime platform access. 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.
#5 Mobilo - Best for Sales Teams
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.
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. The platform is less polished than Blinq or Wave for general digital card use, and CRM integrations are more limited.
Check them out at mobilocard.com.
#6 Dot - Best for Simplicity
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 Blinq replacement for teams.
Browse their products at dotcards.net.
At a Glance: 6 Best Blinq Alternatives (2026)
| Feature | Wave Connect | HiHello | Popl | V1CE | Mobilo | Dot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Overall replacement | Feature depth | Event lead capture | Premium NFC | Sales teams | Simplicity |
| Free Plan | ✅ Full features | ✅ 4 cards | ✅ 5-contact limit | ✅ 30-day analytics | ❌ No free plan | N/A (one-time buy) |
| Free Analytics | ✅ Yes | ❌ Paid ($8/mo) | ❌ Paid ($7.99/mo) | ⚠️ 30 days only | ❌ Paid | ⚠️ Basic |
| Free Contact Export | ✅ CSV | ❌ Paid | ❌ Paid | ❌ Paid | ❌ Paid | ❌ No |
| Credit System | ❌ None (flat-rate) | ❌ None (flat-rate) | ⚠️ Per-scan pricing | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Recipient Solicitation | ✅ None | ❌ Pop-ups + emails | ❌ Pop-ups + emails | ⚠️ Unknown | ✅ None | ⚠️ Unknown |
| App Required? | ❌ Browser-first | ⚠️ Both | ✅ App-focused | ❌ Browser-based | ✅ App-based | ❌ Browser-based |
| NFC Cards | ✅ Metal, bamboo, PVC | ❌ No NFC | ✅ Cards, bands | ✅ Gold, metal, bamboo | ✅ NFC cards | ✅ Cards, stickers |
| CRM Sync | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive | Salesforce, HubSpot | CRM + custom mapping | HubSpot, Salesforce | CRM integrations | ❌ No CRM |
| SOC 2 | ✅ Type II | ✅ Claimed | ✅ Claimed | ❌ No | ⚠️ Unknown | ❌ No |
| Pro Price | $7/mo | $8/mo | $7.99/mo | Card purchase | ~$4/mo + card | One-time purchase |
| Teams Price | $60/user/yr | $60/user/yr | Contact sales | Flat-rate plans | Contact sales | N/A |
Prices and features verified as of February 2026. I personally tested all six platforms' free plans and team features.
How to Migrate from Blinq
Switching from Blinq is straightforward if you follow the right order. Here's what I'd recommend:
- Export your Blinq contacts: Go to your Blinq dashboard and export contacts to CSV (requires Premium plan). If you're on the free plan, you'll need to manually save contact info before switching.
- Sign up for your new platform: Most alternatives on this list offer free plans. Create an account and set up your profile before canceling Blinq.
- Recreate your digital profile: Add your contact info, photo, company details, and social links. Takes 5 minutes on most platforms.
- Import your contacts: Upload your CSV export to your new platform. Wave supports direct CSV import for your contact history.
- Order new NFC cards (if needed): Your Blinq NFC cards will link to Blinq's platform. Order replacement cards from Wave, Popl, V1CE, Mobilo, or Dot.
- Update your email signatures and QR codes: Replace any Blinq QR codes on printed materials, email signatures, or signage with your new platform's QR code.
- Reconnect your CRM: Set up Salesforce, HubSpot, or Pipedrive integration on your new platform so leads flow automatically.
If you're migrating a team, check out our full roundup of the best digital business cards for more deployment tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's wrong with Blinq?
Nothing is "wrong" with Blinq - it's a polished platform with great HRIS integrations and email signatures. Most people switch because the credit system ($5/scan, $5/CRM sync), paywalled analytics, and recipient solicitation don't fit their needs.
Which Blinq alternative is completely free?
Wave Connect offers the most complete free plan, including analytics, contact export, and email signatures at no cost. HiHello's free plan gives you 4 card profiles but paywalls analytics and export.
What is the best Blinq alternative for teams?
Wave Connect is the best Blinq alternative for teams, with flat-rate $60/user/year pricing, no credit system, and a free trial that doesn't require a credit card. Volume pricing is available for 100+ users.
Does Blinq charge per scan?
Yes - Blinq's "Relationship Intelligence" credit system charges 5 credits ($5) per badge scan and 5 credits ($5) per native CRM export. You get 500 free credits, then pay $1/credit after that.
Can I export my contacts from Blinq?
Yes, but only on Blinq's Premium ($9.99/mo) or Business plan - contact export is paywalled on the free plan. Export to CSV, then import into your new platform.
Which Blinq alternative works without an app?
Wave Connect and V1CE are fully browser-based - recipients don't need to download anything. Blinq, Popl, and Mobilo are app-first platforms.
Does any Blinq alternative have no credit system?
Wave Connect, HiHello, V1CE, Mobilo, and Dot all use flat-rate pricing with no per-scan or per-contact credit fees. Popl uses per-scan pricing for event lead capture.
Which Blinq alternative has the best NFC cards?
V1CE offers the widest range of NFC materials (24K gold, metal, bamboo) with free design service. Wave Connect offers metal, bamboo, and PVC NFC cards with a focus on durability.
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Create My Free CardAbout the Author: George El-Hage is the Founder of Wave Connect, a browser-based digital business card platform serving 150,000+ professionals worldwide. With 6+ years helping organizations transition from paper to digital networking, George has deep expertise in what makes digital business cards successful for individuals and teams. Wave Connect is SOC 2 Type II compliant and integrates with leading CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive.