Linq raised $20M to leave the digital-card business. QR NFC Tap is doubling down on it.
In February 2026, Linq announced a pivot to "AI messaging infrastructure" (Linq Phone, Linq Blue) and raised $20M to fund it. Their original digital-card platform — the one your card depends on — is officially deprioritised. If you're still running Linq, here's the safe migration path.
No credit card. 5-minute migration · keep your Linq running while you switch.
If you bought a Linq card in 2023-2025, you're holding a product whose vendor pivoted. Linq has not announced an end-of-life date for the cards, but every signal points the same way: less roadmap, fewer updates, no new card materials, and the parent company's attention is on AI messaging. QR NFC Tap is what Linq was supposed to become — 35 QR types live today, Apple Wallet, custom domains, NFC cards from $49 shipping shortly. Migrate now while your existing Linq card still works.
Side-by-side, line by line.
Same NFC chip standard. Same metal-engraving precision. QR NFC Tap averages 25% cheaper.
| Product | Linq | QR NFC Tap | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard NFC card | $19.99 (Linq Card) | $49 (QR NFC Tap Original) Higher-quality PVC + NFC chip | QR NFC Tap costs more — buys you a longer roadmap |
| Custom NFC card | $44.99 (Linq Custom) | $129 (QR NFC Tap Metal) Stainless steel vs Linq PVC | Different category — premium metal |
| SaaS — basic | Free Basic plan | Free plan QR NFC Tap Free includes Apple Wallet + 35 QR types | Tie on price — QR NFC Tap has 30+ more types |
| SaaS — paid | $29/seat/mo (Linq One, post-pivot) | $9/mo (Pro) Same featureset, $20 cheaper | $20/seat/mo (-69%) |
Why customers switch from Linq to QR NFC Tap.
Five concrete reasons. Each backed by a feature you can verify in 30 seconds.
Linq pivoted. QR NFC Tap is shipping QR features weekly.
When the vendor's roadmap leaves your category, your platform stops getting better.
Linq's parent company is now "Linq Phone" and "Linq Blue" (AI messaging). The original digital-card platform — your platform — is on maintenance, not active development.
QR NFC Tap is mid-launch with weekly releases. 35 QR types live today, Booking + Donation + WeChat in the next update, AI features and Google Wallet shipping in the following sprint.
Pick a vendor whose roadmap matches your use case.
Apple Wallet on Free, no card purchase required
Linq bundles wallet support with their card. QR NFC Tap includes it on Free with no hardware.
Linq's Apple + Google Wallet support is real, included with their cards.
QR NFC Tap includes Apple Wallet on the Free plan today — sign up, build a vCard, save to iPhone wallet. No card purchase. Google Wallet is shipping in the next update.
For a sales team comparing the two: Linq makes you commit to hardware before software. QR NFC Tap lets you prove the software first, then order cards once the team is bought-in.
35 QR types vs Linq's basic profile + URL
Linq is a digital business card. QR NFC Tap is that PLUS 33 other QR types.
Linq's product was always narrow: a profile + URL redirect, optimised for sales reps. Even if Linq weren't pivoting, you'd hit the wall the moment you needed a Restaurant Menu QR, Product Catalogue, or Lead Form QR.
QR NFC Tap has all 35 categories of QR live today — Restaurant Menu with WhatsApp ordering, Product Catalogue, Booking (next update), Lead Form, BioLinks (20 block types), Google Review, Resume, File Upload, Event, UPI Dynamic, Brazilian PIX, Crypto, and more.
One platform replaces Linq + Calendly + a separate restaurant menu tool + a URL shortener + a survey tool.
Pricing transparency — $9 vs $29/seat post-pivot
Linq's old $0/$9.99 plans got replaced with $29/seat/mo Linq One. QR NFC Tap Pro is still $9.
Linq's Feb 2026 pivot included a pricing reset: the original Linq Pro plan disappeared and was replaced with Linq One at $29/seat/mo (or $20.75 annual). For a 10-person sales team, that's $250/mo — $3,000/year — for a platform on maintenance.
QR NFC Tap Pro is $9/mo single-seat, $29/mo Business with 5 seats. For the same 10-person team, that's $58/mo on Business — $696/year. Save $2,300/year on a more active platform.
The math is uncomfortable for Linq customers. The math is the marketing line.
Migration is non-destructive — your Linq card keeps working
Update your Linq profile to redirect to QR NFC Tap. Existing Linq scanners auto-bounce. No disruption.
If you've handed out 50 Linq cards in the last year, you don't have to recall them. The standard pattern: in your Linq admin, set the profile destination to your new QR NFC Tap profile URL. Anyone who scans your existing Linq card gets redirected to QR NFC Tap.
Order QR NFC Tap NFC cards once they're shipping ($49+ per card). Use them for new contacts. Old Linq cards continue routing scanners to QR NFC Tap via the redirect.
Worst case if Linq fully end-of-lifes: you've already migrated all your contacts.
Where Linq is genuinely better.
Not every Linq customer should switch. Here's where Linq wins — honestly.
Linq has working Google Wallet today
QR NFC Tap's Google Wallet support is built and shipping in the next update — but Linq has it live now. If you absolutely need both wallets working today and can't wait two weeks, Linq's still functional for that.
Linq's mobile apps are mature
Linq has been iterating their iOS and Android apps for 6 years. QR NFC Tap is PWA-only. If you specifically want a native app, Linq is better today (though their roadmap focus is now AI messaging, so don't expect future improvements).
Linq's pricing transparency for tiny teams
If you're a single user and want a basic free plan, Linq Free still works. So does QR NFC Tap Free — but Linq's been at it longer.
Which one is right for you?
- You can't wait 2 weeks for QR NFC Tap's Google Wallet to ship.
- You need a polished native iOS/Android app today.
- You're confident Linq will keep maintaining their card platform despite the pivot.
- You're worried about Linq's pivot and want a vendor focused on QR + cards.
- You need more than a profile + URL — Restaurant Menu, Booking, Lead Form, etc.
- You're paying $29/seat/mo on Linq One and want to save $20/seat.
- You sell internationally and need UPI / PIX / AliPay payment QRs.
- You're an agency that wants white-label / reseller capability.
Frequently asked.
Is Linq really being shut down?
Not officially shut down — but Linq's parent company raised $20M in Feb 2026 to pivot to AI messaging APIs (Linq Phone, Linq Blue). The original digital-card platform is on maintenance, not active development. Most observers treat this as a sunset signal.
What happens if Linq stops supporting cards entirely?
If Linq fully end-of-lifes, every Linq card stops resolving. Pre-migrated to QR NFC Tap means your contacts already redirect there. Not pre-migrated means scrambling. Migrate while it's still easy.
Will my Linq card stop working after I switch to QR NFC Tap?
No. Update your Linq profile's destination URL to your QR NFC Tap profile. Existing Linq card scanners auto-redirect to QR NFC Tap. Your old cards keep working — they just route through QR NFC Tap now.
Is QR NFC Tap cheaper than Linq?
On software, yes — by a lot. Linq One (post-pivot) is $29/seat/mo. QR NFC Tap Pro is $9/mo single-seat or $29/mo for 5 seats on Business. A 5-person team saves about $1,200/year on QR NFC Tap.
Does QR NFC Tap have all Linq's features?
Yes — and 30+ more. Apple Wallet (live), Google Wallet (next update), AI card scanner (next update), 35 QR types, custom domains, 14-language UI, 24 payment gateways. Linq is a digital business card. QR NFC Tap is a digital business card + complete QR platform.
Are QR NFC Tap NFC cards as durable as Linq's?
QR NFC Tap Metal is stainless steel — Linq's Custom Card is PVC. Different category. For PVC-equivalent quality, QR NFC Tap Original at $49 is comparable to Linq Custom at $44.99.
Does QR NFC Tap sync with HubSpot / Salesforce?
Today via Zapier (signed webhooks shipping in the next update). Native Salesforce / HubSpot connectors are not on QR NFC Tap's roadmap — that's Popl's wedge. If native CRM integration is critical, Popl is the right pick. For most teams, Zapier covers 90%+ of integrations.
How long does Linq's pivot mean for me?
Plan for the worst: 12-18 months until Linq cards stop being actively maintained. Plan for the best: indefinitely fine. Either way, migrating now while Linq still works is the no-regret move.
Ready to switch from Linq?
5-minute migration. Keep your Linq running while you switch. No credit card.