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While traditional print business cards still have their place, the rise of digital business cards is hard to ignore. Virtual business cards let you instantly share your contact details, integrate clickable links, and update your info in real time. Plus, they fit right into today’s digital-first world, where convenience is key.
That doesn’t mean print business cards are disappearing. Many professionals still appreciate the tactile feel and personal touch of a well-designed card. At the same time, the popularity of digital business cards is still growing, and there isn’t as much information on how to make them.
So, should you go fully digital, stick to print, or use both? Let’s break it down.
- A digital business card is an electronic version of a traditional business card that allows you to share contact details instantly.
- The three main types of digital business cards are wallet-based cards (Apple Wallet/Google Pay), app-based cards (created using a digital business card creator) and NFC-enabled cards (physical cards with tap-to-share functionality).
- Benefits of digital business cards include easy updates, clickable links, multimedia features, eco-friendliness and the ability to share instantly without running out.
- Drawbacks of digital business cards include reliance on technology, internet dependency for some formats, potential privacy concerns and the lack of a physical presence in traditional business settings.
- To create a digital business card, you need to gather your contact details, choose an approach (use a digital business card creator or design one from scratch) and finalize the design.
- Both print and digital business cards remain valuable, with digital cards offering convenience and print cards excelling in industries where business card etiquette values a physical exchange.
What is a digital business card?
A digital business card is an electronic version of a traditional business card containing contact details like your name, job title, phone number and social links. Unlike physical cards, digital business cards can include multimedia elements like videos, clickable links and even QR codes for instant sharing.
Because the technology is still evolving, you might hear them referred to as virtual visiting cards or electronic business cards, but at their core, they all serve the same purpose: making networking seamless in a digital-first world.
In fact, even a scanned and uploaded version of a paper business card could technically be called a digital business card, though most modern versions offer much more functionality than just a static image.
Types of digital business cards
Not all digital business cards work the same way. Some live inside your phone’s digital wallet, others require an app and some are embedded into a physical card with smart technology. The best choice depends on how you prefer to network and how often you need to share your details.
Here are the three most common types of virtual visiting cards and what makes each one unique:
- Wallet-based: These live in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay, allowing you to share your details with a quick QR code scan—no extra apps required. They’re secure, simple, and work even without internet access, making them ideal for professionals who want a hassle-free way to connect.
- App-based: Created using a digital business card creator, these offer more customization than wallet-based cards. You can add logos, links, social media handles and even videos. Sharing happens via QR codes, direct links or email signatures, making this option great for freelancers, small businesses and creatives who want a polished, interactive card.
- NFC-enabled: These look like traditional business cards but are embedded with Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. Just tap them against a smartphone, and your contact details appear instantly. Perfect for those who still like a physical card but want digital convenience.
How digital business cards are created
The traditional file type used for storing contact information is called vCard (Virtual Card) or VCF (Virtual Contact File)—these are the same thing. Macs and PCs have built-in capabilities to create and read vCard files through built-in contact apps. Third-party apps like Gmail, Outlook, and CRM (customer relationship management) services like Hubspot and Salesforce also read and store vCard information in contact lists. Often, when you create a new contact in some form of messaging app, you are actually creating a new vCard file.
With Gmail, you can create and export a VCF or vCard file through the Contacts app
The vCard file format is capable of storing text and images like profile pictures. How all that information is displayed depends on the app that is reading it, which is to say that the UI designers have already created rules for how incoming data will conform to the app’s branding. All in all, vCards are a relatively old file format and somewhat limited in what they can accomplish—they primarily consist of text input fields.
There are also digital business card maker apps that create their own proprietary file format, using cloud storage for your data and contact list. These are typically based on customizable design templates. If you want to get more creative than this, you would essentially need to work with a designer and a developer. We’ll have more on these processes later on.
How digital business cards are shared
Creating a digital business card is one thing, but how are you supposed to hand over something you can’t touch? The most common methods involve a URL, an email signature attachment, and/or a QR code the potential client can scan directly from your phone or a printed source. If you’ve created your card through a digital business card maker service or a contact app like Gmail, that program will have its own specific instructions for sharing it.
A printed QR code can lead potential clients to your virtual contact file. Source: Business card design by maxgraphics via 99designs by Vista.
NFC, or near-field communication, is another option. This technology wirelessly transmits data, which is most commonly used by payment services like Apple Pay. In that context, the purchaser taps their phone to a device that automatically captures their credit card information. If using this approach, remember that you need a separate NFC-specific device to read the transmitted data. For more information, check out our article about NFC business cards.
The benefits of digital business cards
There are many reasons why business cards are important, but here are some benefits specific to digital business cards:
- Immediate integration with contact lists. This is a major benefit: instead of hoping the receiver of your business card won’t immediately throw it away and will eventually choose to add you to their contacts, digital business cards integrate with contact lists automatically.
- Clickable links. All the receiver has to do is tap your phone number or social media icon to contact you.
- No printing costs. Although some digital business card makers charge a subscription fee for storing your data, this is much cheaper than the cost of bulk cardstock printing.
- Adaptable. If you make a mistake on your first pass, your details change, or you just get bored of the design, you can easily change it. With print cards, changing information is an expensive and wasteful process, forcing you to reprint a new batch.
- Infinite supply. You’ll never run out of cards and have to shell out for the printers again.
- More creative freedom. Unlike print design, colors and size are not limited (though it is recommended you aim for mobile phone dimensions).
- Multimedia capabilities. Videos and animations are possible with digital files.
- More opportunities to share. Print cards require an in-person interaction. A digital business card can often be attached casually to an email signature. Some virtual card builders can even integrate with other third-party digital apps like Zoom, allowing you to place your personal details and QR code within a virtual background.
Virtual business cards can integrate with other digital apps such as Zoom. Source: Image via Sansan
Limitations of digital business cards
Despite all these advantages, digital business cards aren’t completely flawless. Here are a few drawbacks to consider:
- Not everyone is comfortable with digital sharing. Some people still prefer physical business cards, especially in traditional industries.
- Internet dependency. Many app-based digital business cards require an internet connection to fully load contact details or multimedia features.
- Device compatibility issues. Older smartphones, restrictive corporate devices or certain security settings may block QR code scanning or NFC functionality.
- Privacy concerns. Sharing details digitally means relying on third-party platforms, which can raise security or data privacy issues.
- Lack of physical presence. A premium printed business card with unique textures or finishes can leave a lasting impression, whereas a digital card may be easier to forget once saved to a phone.
At the end of the day, you don’t actually have to choose one over the other. You can design a business card for digital use and keep a stack of printed cards for special situations. You can also include a QR code on print cards so that it can easily integrate with the client’s phone contacts.
How to create a digital business card in 3 easy steps
1. Gather your business card information
Before you create your virtual business card, start by allocating all of the necessary information and media assets. It will make the design process smoother to have this on hand to give to a designer or enter into a template maker. In case you haven’t already, you should make sure that you’ve established your personal brand identity, including logo, color scheme and fonts.
Source: Design by vanessarnaynard via 99designs by Vista.
Digital business cards can include all of the standard information on a print business card, but they can also take advantage of more features. Here are some examples of typical items you will need for a digital business card:
- Name and pronouns
- Job title and accreditations
- Tagline explaining what you do/offer
- Photo and/or logo
- Phone number
- General location (city, state/country is fine)
- Website links
- Social links (anything relevant to your business from Twitter to Twitch)
- Multimedia (i.e., an explainer/introduction video)
- Save/Download button (downloads your raw VCF or vCard file into the receiver’s contacts)
- Share button (in case the receiver knows someone else who needs your services)
Source: Design by Tcmenk via 99designs by Vista.
It is important to note that while digital business cards are capable of displaying more information—including videos and animations—the purpose of a business card is to sell yourself quickly and succinctly. In other words, less is more. Don’t overwhelm the viewer with too much information—your website, resume or LinkedIn profile can fill in the gaps. All in all, everything should fit within the dimensions of a mobile phone screen and should be easily skimmable.
2. Choose an approach for creating a virtual business card
There are two basic approaches for creating a digital business card: using a template or creating a custom design.
Digital business card maker website
There are a few different websites that allow you to build your digital business card using their proprietary software (these work much the same way as website builders). Essentially, you make an account on the site, pay a fee and are guided through the steps to selecting a template, customizing details like color and entering your information.
Source: Image via HiHello
Some more popular sites specializing in digital business cards include HiHello, Sansan, about.me. And, of course, you can also use Gmail’s Contacts app to create a basic digital business card yourself. These apps (and any others you come across) will all have different price points and features, so let’s run through some tips on how to compare them.
- Price. Review whether they charge a one-time fee or an ongoing subscription.
- App-to-app integration. Do they expect you to use their proprietary contacts app or do they interface with third-party contact apps? Do recipients of your business card also need to have the app?
- Template selection. How diverse and creative are their template offerings? Do they all look the same? What customization options are there?
- Bonus features. Some apps will come with unique sharing options, such as creating Zoom backgrounds for your business card information or including share buttons on your business card.
- Reviews. Trustpilot and site jabber can help you gauge customer satisfaction.
The advantage of using a template builder site is that it is a quick, easy and cheap process. All most people really need is something functional to share contact details without a ton of bells and whistles, and these apps accomplish that painlessly. Of course, the drawback is that you’re not going to get a creative or unique design, which may make it hard to stand out. This will become much more of an issue as digital business cards become more widespread and the same templates start showing up over and over again.
Custom digital business card design from scratch
Creating a digital business card from scratch can be more of a complicated and unclear process, but the results of a more original, standout business card design are well worth it. This involves contracting two different professionals: a designer and a developer. (Note: Some freelancers do both but for the most part, design and development are separate disciplines, such as art vs. computer science.)
Source: Design by coric design via 99designs by Vista.
The designer is responsible for creating the visual look. You could, of course, stop there, but you would effectively be left with a static digital image. If you want your digital business card to be interactive, shareable, and able to integrate with the recipient’s contacts, you need someone who can write code: a developer.
A common workaround is to create a custom digital business card in the form of a mobile web page connected to your personal website. This should include a prominent Download button linked to the vCard file that you made with your preferred contacts app. That said, because the technology and methods are still evolving, a developer will be more knowledgeable on the subject, so it is important to do your consulting early on.
Source: Design by Hasanssin via 99designs by Vista.
Assuming the developer can do what you’re asking for, you should also get an idea of their design file requirements: what file format they need, what effects they can and can’t do, etc. This will help you avoid last-minute project derailments when working with your designer.
Once you have these requirements, you can start searching for a designer to help create your business card. Need some inspiration? Check out this year’s top business card design trends!
3. Create the virtual business card design
If you have chosen the template-based approach, creating the design is as simple as following along with the maker’s instructions and entering your data at the prompts. These sites are made to be used by non-designers, so the process is often extremely simple.
Source: Design by velvetmade via 99designs by Vista.
If you are working with a designer, first, you will need to create a project brief that includes all of your copy and media assets, background about your company/brand, aesthetic preferences and example designs, and file type requirements. You will also need to set up terms for payment and you will need a means of sending messages and sharing designs (if you are working remotely).
When it comes to giving feedback, it is a good idea to run an early draft of the design by the developer to make sure they are able to technically implement it. This is why it is crucial to contract the developer ahead of time. Assuming everything is good to go, all you have to do is collect the finished design files, pay the designer, and send the files off to the developer.
Once you have a working digital business card, create a QR code with a link to it. Save this on your phone and test it out on a friend to make sure they receive your card and information. And there you have it: your own custom digital business card!
Source: Design by merci dsgn via 99designs by Vista.
Digital business cards are the future
There’s no doubt that digital business cards are changing the way we network. They’re fast, flexible, and built for a digital-first world, making it easier than ever to share your details with a simple tap or scan. With so many card creators out there, getting started takes minutes—and as demand grows, we’re bound to see even more custom, high-design options popping up.
But let’s not count out print business cards just yet. When crafted with high-quality materials and professional design, they remain a staple in many industries—especially in international business card etiquette, where a physical card still holds weight. A well-designed print business card isn’t just about contact details—it’s about making a memorable, tactile impression that sticks with people long after the conversation ends.
So, do you really have to choose? Not at all. The best networkers use both, keeping a digital business card for instant connections and a print card for those moments where a personal touch matters. No matter your preference, one thing’s for sure: in today’s world, being prepared means having the right tools at your fingertips—whether that’s a sleek digital card or a perfectly printed one.
Author: Johnny Levanier
FAQs
How do I create a digital business card?
The easiest way to create a digital business card is by using a card creator like HiHello or Blinq. These platforms let you customize a card with your details, logo and links in minutes. You can also create a virtual visiting card in Apple Wallet or Google Pay for seamless sharing via QR code. If you prefer a physical option, NFC-enabled cards let you tap and share instantly.
Which digital business card is the best?
It depends on your needs. A wallet-based virtual visiting card in Apple Wallet or Google Pay is ideal if you want a fast, app-free option. If customization matters, an app-based creator like HiHello or Blinq lets you add logos, links and multimedia. For a physical-meets-digital experience, NFC cards like Popl or V1CE allow tap-to-share functionality. The best option depends on how you prefer to connect and share your details.
Are digital business cards a good idea?
Yes! A digital business card is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and always up-to-date. Unlike print cards, they allow instant sharing, clickable links and real-time updates. However, a high-quality print card can still leave a stronger impression in industries where business card etiquette values a tangible exchange. Many professionals use both to cover all networking situations.
How does a digital business card work?
A digital business card stores and shares your contact details electronically. Depending on the type, you can:
- Scan a QR code for instant contact saving.
- Tap an NFC card to transfer your info.
- Send a direct link via text or email.
- Include interactive, multimedia-rich.
What are the risks of digital business cards?
While digital business cards offer many benefits, here are a few drawbacks to consider:
- Not everyone is tech-savvy – Some people still prefer traditional business cards.
- Internet dependency – Certain cards require internet access to load fully.
- Privacy concerns – Using a digital business card creator means trusting third-party platforms.
- Compatibility issues – Older phones or corporate security settings may block NFC or QR code scans.
