In brief
- The price is set by the card's material and print, the chip, how the profile is charged for, the design and the quantity.
- The biggest difference is usually whether the profile is paid once or by subscription.
- When comparing, ask about VAT, shipping and what happens if the card is lost too.
NFC business card prices vary widely from one seller to the next. The spread isn't random: the price is set by the card itself, the chip inside it, how the profile is charged for, and who does the design. Knowing these lets you compare two offers properly.
1. The card's material and print
- PVC cards are the most common and the most affordable.
- Metal, wood or specially coated cards cost more; their weight and feel make the difference. Metal can weaken an NFC signal, so metal cards need a special build.
- Print moves the price too: one side or two, colours, and finishes such as foil, embossing, or matt and gloss varnish.
2. The chip
Most NFC business cards use chips from NXP's NTAG family (, NTAG215, NTAG216 and the like). The main difference between them is memory. A profile's address fits easily in the smallest, so for a business card a bigger chip rarely adds anything.
3. The profile: paid once, or a subscription?
This is usually where the biggest difference lies. Some services sell a cheap card but charge for the profile every month or year; when payments stop, the profile may close or be limited. Others charge once for the card and keep the profile free.
When comparing, ask:
- Is there a recurring fee for the profile? If I stop paying, what does the card open?
- What does the free profile include, and what does a paid plan add?
- Are VAT and shipping included?
4. Who does the design?
Ready-made templates are the cheapest route. Having the company design it, or several rounds of changes, costs more. At Avant you design your card yourself in after you order, and Avant reviews the design before it goes into production.
5. Quantity
As with paper, the price per NFC card can fall as the quantity rises. Company orders are usually priced by quote; at Avant, company cards are sold by quote through Avant for Teams.
A short checklist
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is there an ongoing fee for the profile? | It decides most of what the card costs over time. |
| If payments stop, what does the card open? | A card is only as useful as the profile behind it. |
| Can I change the details myself? | Waiting on support for every change takes time. |
| Is there a QR code on the card too? | It's the fallback for phones without NFC. |
| Are VAT and shipping included? | The label price and the amount paid can differ. |
| What happens if the card is lost? | You should be able to switch off a lost card's chip, and the card shouldn't hold personal details. |
In short
An NFC card's price isn't only the number on its label; how the profile is charged for, and what it costs over time, matter just as much. For a comparison with paper, see Paper or digital business card?; current prices for Avant's cards are in the Shop.