Blinq vs Beaconstac (Uniqode) — Different Products, Same Price
Blinq is a digital business card platform. Beaconstac (Uniqode) is a QR code platform. They overlap on the vCard QR use case but differ everywhere else. Honest comparison of when each wins, plus the free alternative that does both.
The Quick Answer
Blinq wins for teams that need polished digital business cards with NFC card hardware. Beaconstac (Uniqode) wins for enterprises that need general-purpose QR codes across many use cases beyond business cards. Both charge $5-15/user/month for paid plans. If you only need 1-2 digital business cards with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet save, neither requires payment — QRLynx includes that free with 3 dynamic QR codes and 47 QR types. Last updated April 2026.
Blinq vs Beaconstac vs QRLynx — Digital Business Card Plans
| Feature | Blinq | Beaconstac (Uniqode) | QRLynx |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free digital business cards | 1 (basic) | 0 | 3 dynamic |
| Apple Wallet save | |||
| Google Wallet save | |||
| NFC card hardware | $10-30 per card | Available add-on | Use any phone\u0027s NFC + QR |
| Free QR types beyond vCard | vCard only | Limited free | 47 types |
| Entry paid plan | $5/mo | $49/mo (Core) | $7/mo (Starter+) |
| Smart redirect rules | Core $49/mo | Pro $14/mo | |
| Lead capture forms | Pro plan | Core $49/mo | Business $29/mo |
| Custom domain | Premium | Plus $99/mo | Business $29/mo |
| Team management | Pro $9/user/mo | Core+ | Business 3 / Enterprise 10 |
| Static QR codes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bulk QR creation | Core $49/mo | Business $29/mo | |
| PDF QR codes | |||
| Free trial | None on free | 14 days | 14 days Pro |
When Blinq Wins
Blinq is the right choice when:
- You need physical NFC business cards (Blinq sells branded cards starting at $10)
- Your only QR use case is digital business cards — no menus, PDFs, social links, or marketing campaigns
- You need polished card design templates with photo, logo, social links, and one-click contact save
- You\u0027re a sales team or networking-heavy professional needing 1-3 cards per person
Where Blinq struggles: it\u0027s a single-purpose tool. If you need PDF QR codes, WiFi QR codes, social link bio pages, or any of the 40+ other QR types, Blinq doesn\u0027t cover it.
When Beaconstac Wins
Beaconstac (Uniqode) is right when:
- You need QR codes across many use cases beyond business cards — menus, packaging, lead capture, retargeting, etc.
- You\u0027re a large enterprise with $50,000+/year QR budget
- You need integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, or Marketo
- You require dedicated account management and SLA support
Where Beaconstac struggles: digital business cards are a secondary feature, not a primary product. The vCard QR experience is functional but not polished. Apple/Google Wallet save is enterprise-only.
When QRLynx Combines Both
QRLynx covers both use cases at no extra cost:
- Digital Business Card QR type with photo, logo, social links, and one-click contact save
- Apple Wallet + Google Wallet save on every plan including free (Blinq paid feature, Beaconstac enterprise-only)
- 46 other QR types for menus, PDFs, WiFi, payments, social links, and marketing
- 3 free dynamic QR codes — covers most personal + small-team use cases without paying
- $7/mo Starter+ for 15 dynamic codes — same price tier as Blinq, much broader feature coverage
- $29/mo Business for teams up to 3 — Blinq Pro is $9/user/mo, Beaconstac Core is $49/mo
The trade-off: QRLynx doesn\u0027t sell physical NFC cards. If you need NFC hardware, pair QRLynx with a generic NFC card from Amazon (~$3 each) and program it to your QRLynx Digital Business Card URL — same outcome, much cheaper.
Blinq vs Beaconstac — FAQ
Is Blinq better than Beaconstac for digital business cards?
For pure digital business card use, yes — Blinq has more polished templates, better mobile experience, and includes Apple/Google Wallet save. Beaconstac\u0027s vCard QR is functional but secondary to its core QR offering.
Can Blinq do everything Beaconstac does?
No. Blinq is digital-business-card-only. Beaconstac handles general QR codes (menus, PDFs, WiFi, lead capture, retargeting). They\u0027re different categories of product.
Does Blinq need a paid plan for Apple Wallet?
Blinq\u0027s free plan includes basic Apple Wallet and Google Wallet save. Premium features (multiple cards, advanced analytics, lead capture) require the Pro plan at $9/user/month.
How much does Blinq physical NFC cost?
Blinq physical NFC cards start at $10 for basic plastic cards and go up to $35+ for premium materials (metal, wood). Bulk orders for teams have volume discounts. The cards are programmed to point at the user\u0027s digital card URL.
Can I use my own NFC card with QRLynx?
Yes. QRLynx generates a Digital Business Card URL (and Apple/Google Wallet pass). You can program any NFC tag (including blank Amazon NFC cards at ~$3 each) to point at that URL. The same NFC tap experience as Blinq, no Blinq subscription required.
Which has Smart Redirect Rules?
Beaconstac includes Smart Rules in its $49/mo Core plan. Blinq doesn\u0027t offer Smart Rules at all (digital business cards typically don\u0027t need them). QRLynx includes Smart Rules in its $14/mo Pro plan.
Does Beaconstac sell NFC cards?
Yes, as an add-on. Beaconstac offers branded NFC cards primarily through their enterprise sales channel. Pricing depends on volume and customization. Not bundled with the standard Core plan.
What about Blinq for sales teams?
Blinq Pro is designed for sales/networking teams: $9/user/month gets multiple cards per user, lead capture forms, CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce), and team analytics. Beaconstac\u0027s equivalent (Core $49/mo) covers more than just business cards but is 5x the price per user. QRLynx Business at $29/mo for 3 users includes lead forms but team analytics is per-user not team-level.
Are Blinq cards free forever?
Blinq\u0027s free plan is permanent for 1 basic digital card. Upgrades, multiple cards, lead capture, and team features require Pro ($9/user/month) or Premium plans. The physical NFC cards are a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
Which is best for a single-person consultant?
For a solo consultant who only needs a digital business card: Blinq free is perfectly adequate. For a solo consultant who needs business card + PDF QR + WiFi QR + social bio links: QRLynx free covers all of those at no cost. Beaconstac is overkill for solo use.
By Ahmad Tayyem · Last updated: