VKard vs Cardynale: Which is the best NFC business card?

Introduction

In a world where networking is constantly evolving, NFC business cards are emerging as an eco-responsible and innovative solution, surpassing traditional paper business cards while allowing you to reduce your carbon footprint.

Simply pass the NFC card on the back of a smartphone to share all your information with your customers.

This article compares two market leaders: Vkard and Cardynale.

Find out which of these solutions will best meet your business needs, by highlighting their benefits, features, and value for money.

General presentation

Vkard

Vkard is a French start-up founded by Thibaut Oger, specializing in NFC business cards. Their aim is to modernise the exchange of professional contact details through connected business cards. Vkard offers a variety of products that allow contact information to be easily shared via QR code or NFC.

Cardynale

Cardynale, also a French start-up, founded by William Bellity and Antoine Payre, specializes in digital business cards. Cardynale offers a complete solution with NFC cards, advanced management software and a mobile application, facilitating networking and contact management for professionals and businesses.

Cardynale's connected business cards are designed to last a lifetime, offering a practical and long-lasting solution.

Comparison of key features

NFC technology and connected card offers

Vkard:

• NFC PVC business card : Standard PVC card with VKard brand on it or customized. Count €29 excluding VAT for the version with the Vkard logo, €49 excluding VAT for the personalized version.

• Bamboo smart business card : Customizable version at 54 €HT. The VKard logo is on the back of the card.

• PVC & Metal hybrid business card : Hybrid card with one PVC side and one metal side. Customizable with Silver or Gold engraving at 79€ HT.

• Vkard does not offer a free version for his digital business card. It is mandatory to buy an NFC card.

Cardynal:

All Cardynale business cards are made in France, and available in non-personalized versions with the Cardynale logo, or customizable with your own logo.

• Recycled PVC card : Equipped with an NFC chip on the inside and a QR Code printed on the back to effectively share your contact details. Count €17.9 excluding VAT with The Cardynale logo or 49€ for The personalized version.

• Recycled wood card : Recycled cherry or maple card, laser engraving. Count between 30 and 60€excluding VAT depending on personalization.

• Metal and PVC hybrid card : Hybrid card with a metal face and the back in recycled PVC. Silver or gold laser engraving. Count 59€HT for The Cardynal version and €79 excluding VAT for the personalized version.

• Digital business card : Cardynale offers a free digital business card, allowing you to share a complete profile with contact details, social networks, and documents. This profile can be shared directly via the Apple QR Code or Google Wallet.

To get your digital business card for free: click here

Dashboards and profile management

Both solutions offer a dashboard to update information and summarize the information collected on prospects.

Vkard:

• Offers a dashboard for updating business card information.

• It is possible to edit a profile, with the addition of a profile photo, cover, company name, and basic contact information.
• Vkard allows the addition of social networks and links. However, it is not possible to add a link with a completely personalized icon. You have to choose from a mandatory list.

• It is not possible to add a photo gallery to the profile.

Cardynal:

• Cardynale provides a Dashboard ergonomic, allowing you to update information and personalize your profile.

• The digital profile includes all contact information required (phone number, website, social network...) and a button to add to the directory.

• It is possible to add customizable buttons (also called widgets), include a video, a brochure, or a photo gallery to present a catalog for example.

• An email signature can also be generated, in accordance with the information in the digital profile, to add it to the footer of the email and facilitate contact exchanges.

Team management

Both solutions make it possible to manage the cards of an entire team, with slightly different operations.

Vkard:

• Vkard allows you to create multiple profiles “Societies” which are then awarded to members.
• There is also a spreadsheet feature, on subscription, to modify information in groups.

Cardynal:

• Cardynale is designed for teams with customization settings that can be extended to all members.

• A “template” feature allows you to create templates and assign them to members, to ensure the consistency of profiles among all collaborators.
• Importing Excel files to update information.
• Administration system to control access and changes to profiles.

Contact exchange form

In order to collect the contact details of the people met, each solution offers an exchange form.

Vkard:

• Simple contact form, with option to activate or deactivate.
  

• However, it is not possible to add your own privacy policy. This can cause GDPR concerns for the complete processing of dating data.

Cardynal:

• It is possible to activate or not the form, which is revealed after the contact has been added.
• An automatic follow-up email can be sent to the meeting with the cardholder in copy, in order to be able to easily continue the discussion by email.
  

Mobile app

Cardynale stands out for providing a mobile application, with numerous functionalities to list meetings, contextualize them, and scan paper business cards.

Vkard:

• No dedicated mobile application.

Cardynal:

• Mobile application to manage leads, add tags and notes.

• It is possible to add meeting contacts directly to your directory.
• Scan paper business cards to automatically create contacts.

• You can find your QR code on the application and it is possible to add it in one click to your Apple or Google Wallet.
• Monitoring of usage statistics.

Contact Management and CRM Integrations

Contacts generated via connected business cards then appear on the platform to be processed.

Vkard:

• Export contacts as.CSV (paid plan).

• CRM integrations on request.

Cardynal:

• Complete contact list with tags and notes.

• Native API integrations with CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Pipedrive, Copper, Salesflare, Flexmail, Zendesk Sell & Close.io).

• Enrichment of prospect data (automatic addition of Linkedin, website, etc.) via the platform.
• Integration with more than 4000 applications via Zapier and Make.
• Detailed statistics on exchanges and prospects.

Deals

Vkard:

• No free digital card offer.
• Physical connected cards are offered from 29 to 79 €excluding VAT.
• A premium plan is available at the price of €2.9 per month to access advanced features (data export in CSV, spreadsheet, multi-administrator, statistics...)

Cardynal:

• Free offer to create your digital business card and integrate it into your Wallet (click here)
• Cardynale NFC Business Card onwards 21.9€ excl. VAT (compared to 29€ exc. VAT for the VKard Light)
• Business offer for teams, starting at €1.5 HT/month/collaborator.

To consult Cardynale's prices: click here

Conclusion

Vkard is a viable option for freelancers and small teams.

However, Cardynale offers better value for money with advanced features, extensive customization, robust CRM integrations, and a dedicated mobile application.

In addition, Cardynale allows you to try the entire platform for free before ordering a card, making it the premium choice for modern professionals, clearly distinguishing itself as the most complete and innovative solution on the market.

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