The Linq Alternative
Linq is NFC + CRM + AI phone-system bundling for sales teams. QRLynx is a free Digital Business Card with the same Apple Wallet + Google Wallet save flow, no NFC card to buy, no ads on the free plan, and dynamic codes that never expire — even if you cancel.
Why we're a Linq alternative
Linq NFC + CRM + AI phone-system bundling for sales teams. Pricing runs Free + Premium $5.99/mo + Pro $19.99/mo + NFC cards $15-100. The product is solid for outside-sales teams that already standardize on NFC cards and want a CRM-attached card platform.
The real-world catch is the same one across most digital-business-card products: the most useful features (CRM integrations, AI assistant, full analytics) sit behind the $19.99/mo Pro tier; NFC cards are an additional upfront cost on top. Linq also ships Apple Wallet and Google Wallet save buttons, so this isn't a feature gap to claim — instead, the meaningful difference is price (free vs Free) and the absence of vendor lock-in if you stop paying.
QRLynx is a free Digital Business Card on a free-forever plan with three permanent dynamic codes, 30-day analytics, AI-generated scan insights, no watermark, and Apple Wallet + Google Wallet save buttons on every card. No physical NFC card to buy — paste the QR on the cards you already print, on your email signature, and on your slides. If your subscription lapses, your codes don't deactivate.
5 reasons to switch from Linq
- $0 vs $19.99/mo Pro — same scan analytics, lead forms, smart redirects, no per-seat licensing
- Apple Wallet + Google Wallet save included for all cards on every plan
- No NFC card to lose — paper QR works the same with any phone's camera
- Use cases beyond business cards — WiFi, PDF, menus, events, all 30+ types
- Honest pricing — no "contact sales" tier, no hidden CRM-integration fees
Scenario comparison: QRLynx vs Linq
| Scenario | QRLynx | Linq |
|---|---|---|
| Real-estate agent at an open house | Free DBC, scan adds to wallet, contact saves in 2 taps, analytics show how many people scanned each listing | Hand out NFC card ($25-100), recipient must tap precisely, analytics behind paywall |
| Sales rep at a trade-show booth | QR on lanyard prints + email signature, AI Insights summarize scan data after the show | Linq card per rep — purchasing, distribution, replacing lost cards becomes a logistics overhead |
| Founder updating their card after a job change | Edit once at qrlynx.com/account, every existing scan target updates instantly, $0 | Edit in Linq app, dynamic-card support requires Premium (price applies) |
| Recipient saves card to phone | Apple Wallet on iPhone, Google Wallet on Android, "Save to Contacts" everywhere, all included free | Wallet support behind paid tier on most plans |
When Linq is the right choice (honest)
Linq is the better pick if outside-sales teams that already standardize on NFC cards and want a CRM-attached card platform. If the physical card object is part of your personal brand — a metal card on your desk, a designed NFC card you hand to the most important client of the year — Linq ships hardware that QRLynx doesn't.
For everyone else — freelancers, founders, sales reps, real-estate agents, consultants, anyone who wants their card to live on their existing materials and on the recipient's wallet — QRLynx is the higher-leverage choice. Free, no hardware, full wallet support, no expiration on cancel.
FAQ — Linq alternative
Is QRLynx really free, or is there a hidden Linq-style upsell?
Free is permanent — three dynamic Digital Business Cards, unlimited static codes, 30-day analytics, AI Insights summary, no watermark, no ads on scan, no credit card required. Pro features (smart redirects, lead forms, password protection) are paid; the core card with wallet save buttons is free forever.
Does the QRLynx card support Apple Wallet and Google Wallet?
Yes. Every Digital Business Card on every plan includes "Add to Apple Wallet" and "Add to Google Wallet" buttons. Apple uses PassKit (.pkpass) signed with a Pass Type ID certificate; Google uses a JWT-signed save URL via pay.google.com. Visitors on iPhone get the Apple flow, visitors on Android or desktop get the Google flow, automatically.
Do I need to buy an NFC card like Linq to use QRLynx?
No. The QR works on any printed surface — your existing paper cards, email signature, slide decks, lanyards, even a sticker on your laptop. NFC is one of many ways to share your contact info; it's not the only one.
What happens to my QR if I cancel my QRLynx plan?
It keeps working. Forever. Your printed QR codes never deactivate, even if your subscription lapses, even if you delete your account and recreate it later. Linq and most NFC card vendors typically deactivate the card target when the subscription ends — that's the most expensive failure mode in this category and the one we explicitly designed against.
Can I migrate my existing Linq card content to QRLynx?
Yes — fill in the same fields (name, title, company, phone, email, photo) at qrlynx.com/account/qr-codes/generate, and we'll generate a new card. The QR is yours to download in PNG, SVG, or PDF, and you can update the destination later without reprinting. Most users finish migration in under 5 minutes.
Will my old Linq URL keep working if I switch?
Linq URLs (e.g., linqapp.com/your-name) are owned by Linq — if you cancel, those URLs typically stop resolving. Your QRLynx card lives at qrlynx.com/@your-name (or your custom domain on Business+), and that URL is yours indefinitely.
Does QRLynx have analytics like Linq?
Yes — scan count, unique vs total scans, country, device type, browser, time of day, all in real time. Free plan retains 30 days; Pro retains 60 days; Business retains 90 days. AI Insights generates a plain-English summary highlighting trends and recommended next actions.
Is QRLynx GDPR-compliant for EU contacts?
Yes. We're SOC 2-aligned, all data is encrypted at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.3), no third-party tracking pixels on the scan flow, no contact data is sold or shared with advertisers. Lead-form data is opt-in and exportable as CSV at any time.
Can I have a custom domain like card.mycompany.com?
Yes — Business plan and above support custom domains. Add the domain in your dashboard, set a CNAME, and your QR codes resolve at card.mycompany.com instead of qrlynx.com. Branding is fully whitelabeled (no QRLynx logo on the card or scan flow).
Does QRLynx work for teams or only individuals?
Both. Solo accounts are free. Business plan adds team workspaces (3 members), bulk CSV generation (100 cards per batch), team analytics aggregation, role-based permissions (owner/admin/editor/viewer). Enterprise scales to 10 team members and 500 per bulk batch.
Get your free Digital Business Card with wallet support — 60 seconds, zero cost
Generate a Digital Business Card with Apple Wallet + Google Wallet save buttons, no credit card, no app install, no NFC card to buy. Edit anytime, codes never expire. Create your card now or read the full Digital Business Card guide.
Already on Linq? Sign up with the same email and we'll spin up your QRLynx card alongside your existing one — no need to rip-and-replace.
By Ahmad Tayyem · Last updated: