vCard or link
Two things get printed on cards and both are called a contact QR code. One holds the contact record itself. One holds a link to a page that holds the contact record. They fail in opposite ways, so pick deliberately.
Which one to print
| Question | vCard in the code | Link to a page |
|---|---|---|
| Works without a network | Yes | No |
| Taps to save a contact | One | Several, through a page |
| Details editable after printing | No | Yes |
| Depends on a service staying alive | No | Yes |
| Symbol density | Higher, the record is longer | Lower, a URL is short |
Print a vCard when your name, number, and email are settled. Print a link when your title or company changes often and you would rather update a page than reprint 500 cards. A vCard code has no expiry and no owner, which is not true of every code you see.
Building it
- Pick the vCard payload The generator writes vCard 4.0 with name, organization, title, phone, email, and website. Fill the fields you want scanned and leave the rest empty.
- Keep the record short Every extra character adds modules. A long record means a denser symbol, and a denser symbol needs more physical space to scan reliably at card size.
- Check the preview text The generator shows the exact record before drawing anything. Read the phone number and the email once, carefully, because a typo here becomes a typo on every card in the box.
- Download the SVG Vector output scales to any card size without softening the edges of the modules. The PNG is for screens and email signatures.
Before the download unlocks, the browser decodes the finished PNG and SVG with a separate reader and compares the result against the record you reviewed. A mismatch blocks the file rather than sending a broken symbol to a printer.
Getting it printed correctly
- At least 2 cm per side Smaller works in a lab and fails in a dim restaurant. Card real estate is tight, so trim vCard fields instead of shrinking the square.
- Keep the quiet zone The blank margin around the symbol is part of the symbol. Designers who bleed text into it break scanning and never find out why.
- Dark modules on a light background Inverted codes fail on some readers. Matte stock beats gloss, which throws camera glare.
- Test the printed card, not the screen Scan the proof with two different phones before you approve a run.
What the card gives away
A vCard code is readable by anyone holding the card, which is the point of a business card. The part worth thinking about is what sits behind the generator rather than on the paper.
Many contact-code services issue a dynamic code: the printed square holds their redirect URL, every scan passes through their servers, and they can log it or change where it lands. That is useful for a sales team measuring a conference. It also means a third party knows who scanned your card and when, and that your card stops working if the account lapses. The Vaultaire generator makes static codes only and your details never leave the browser tab, so there is nothing to log and nothing to renew.
Business card QR FAQ
How do I make a QR code for a business card?
Choose the vCard payload, fill in name, organization, title, phone, email, and website, then download the SVG. The record goes into the symbol itself, so a scan offers to save a contact directly.
vCard or a link to my page?
A vCard saves a contact in one tap and works with no network. A link needs a page that stays online but lets you change details later. Print a vCard when the details are stable.
What if my phone number changes?
A vCard code holds the old number until you reprint. That is the price of a code with no server behind it, and the reason some people print a link to a page they control.
Which file goes to the printer?
The SVG. It is vector, so it scales to the card without softening module edges. Keep the PNG for screens and email signatures.
How small can the code be?
Keep it at least 2 cm on each side with the quiet zone clear. A long vCard makes a denser symbol, so remove fields you do not need rather than shrinking the square.
Can I put my logo in the middle?
The generator does not add logos. Error correction can absorb some damage, but covering modules is a gamble that gets worse as the record gets longer, and a business card is already a small target.