Most digital business card apps charge every month or every year. A one-time card works differently: you pay once and keep using it.
That raises fair questions. What exactly is included? What happens after the first year? Does hosting continue? Could the price change? This guide answers each one plainly, including the risks.
For a side-by-side look at other options, see our guide to the best digital business card.
What "one-time payment" means here
You pay once at checkout, in your storefront's currency. Brand Presence costs $72 and Business Add-ons costs $120.
There is no subscription. No card is charged again next month or next year. Edits are unlimited, with no monthly or annual fee.
Your profile is set up online after checkout. It is set up and hosted by our platform partner. Nothing is printed or posted.
Why people look for a card with no subscription
Subscriptions add up. A digital business card is something most people keep for years, so a monthly fee keeps running long after the setup is done.
There is also the worry about what happens if you stop paying. With some services, the profile or QR code stops working when the plan ends. That is a real risk if you have printed the code on your own materials.
A one-time payment removes both worries. You know the full cost on day one, and there is no payment that can lapse.
What the one payment includes
| Included in your one payment | Brand Presence | Business Add-ons |
|---|---|---|
| A live web profile at a permanent link | Yes | Yes |
| A QR code for that profile | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited edits after you publish | Yes | Yes |
| 13 profile features, including analytics | Yes | Yes |
| 9 lead and business tools, such as CRM and bookings | No | Yes |
| Monthly or yearly fee | None | None |
The full list of features in each plan is in our guide to Brand Presence vs Business Add-ons. You can buy either plan on the digital business card page.
What happens after year one
Nothing changes, and nothing is charged.
Your profile stays at the same link. Your QR code keeps opening it. You can keep editing whenever you like. There is no renewal date to remember and no reminder email asking you to pay again.
This is the main difference from a subscription. With a subscription, year two costs the same as year one, and so does every year after.
Does hosting continue?
Yes. Hosting is part of what you buy, and there is no renewal fee to keep it running.
To be precise about what we can promise: our terms say the profile is provided on an "as available" basis, with a target uptime of 99.5%. The terms set no end date for hosting, and no fee to continue. We do not promise a fixed lifetime, because no online service can honestly promise one.
Do edits stay unlimited?
Yes. Change your title, number, photo, links or documents as often as you need. There is no edit limit and no charge per change.
Every edit shows straight away on the same link and QR code. Anyone who opens your profile sees the current version.
The risk questions, answered honestly
What if the price goes up later?
It does not affect you. You have already paid. A future price change only applies to new purchases.
What if I want features from the other plan?
If you bought Brand Presence and later want lead tools, contact us through the contact form and ask about moving to Business Add-ons. Choose carefully at the start, because the plans include different tools.
What if the service closes?
This is the honest risk with any online service, paid once or monthly. Your profile depends on our platform partner continuing to host it. Our terms do not promise a lifetime, and we will not pretend otherwise.
A subscription does not remove this risk. Any vendor can close or change its plans. With a subscription you also pay every year while you wait to find out.
What if I change my mind?
If you change your mind before your profile has been activated, you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase. The refund policy has the details.
Will my QR code ever stop working because I did not pay?
No, there is no payment to miss. Some QR codes stop working when a subscription ends. Our guide do QR codes expire? explains why, and what to check.
One-time vs subscription at a glance
| Compared | One-time card (this store) | Typical subscription app |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | $72 or $120 | Low or free |
| Cost in year 2 and later | Nothing | Same again every year |
| Free plan | No | Often |
| Edits | Unlimited | Depends on plan |
| If you stop paying | Nothing to stop | Check the vendor's terms |
| Physical NFC card | Not sold | Sold by some vendors |
For real 1-, 3- and 5-year numbers from vendor pricing pages, see our guide to digital business card cost.
What you still do yourself
Paying once removes the bill. It does not remove the work.
- Keep it current. Update your title, number and links when they change. One edit updates every copy.
- Share it. Add the link to your email signature, social bios and messages. Keep your QR code on your phone.
- Check it now and then. Open it on your phone every few months, and press every button.
Our guide on how to make a digital business card covers setup and upkeep step by step.
Questions to ask any vendor that says "no subscription"
"No subscription" can mean different things. Ask these before you buy anywhere:
- Is hosting included, with no yearly fee? Some offers charge once for setup and then yearly for hosting.
- Are edits unlimited? Some limit changes or charge for them.
- Are features locked behind an upgrade? Check the full feature list for your plan.
- Is hardware required? Some "pay once" offers are for a physical card, with software extras on a monthly plan.
- What do the terms say about how long the profile stays online? Look for honest wording, not slogans.
- What is the refund policy? Read the conditions, not just the number of days.
Moving from a subscription app
If you already pay for a card app, switching is simple. Plan it so nobody is left with a dead link.
- Build your new profile and test it on two phones.
- Update your email signature and social bios with the new link.
- Replace any QR codes on slides, signs and your own printed materials.
- Keep the old subscription until the end of its current billing period, so old links still work for a while.
- Cancel the old plan once everything points to the new profile.
A worked example
A consultant buys Brand Presence for $72. In year one she builds her profile, adds it to her email signature and shows her QR code at meetings.
In year two she changes her phone number and adds a new service. She edits the profile twice. Nothing is charged. In year three she rebrands, uploads a new logo and changes her colours. Still nothing is charged.
Her printed QR codes keep opening the same profile throughout, now with her new details.
Who a one-time card suits
- People who want to know the full cost on day one.
- Freelancers and small businesses watching fixed costs.
- Anyone who expects to keep the same card for several years.
- Teams that would rather not manage a renewal for every seat.
Is one-time the same as a free plan?
No. A free plan costs nothing but usually limits what you can do, and paid upgrades renew every year. A one-time card costs once up front, then nothing, with the full plan included from day one.
If a free plan covers everything you need, it is the cheapest choice. Our guide to free vs paid digital business cards explains what free plans usually limit. If you need more than it offers, compare the paid plan's 3-year total with one payment.
Who it does not suit
- People who only need a free plan's basics.
- Anyone who wants a physical NFC card. This store sells digital profiles only, with no NFC cards or other hardware.
- Large teams that need central seat management from one admin console.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a digital business card with no subscription?
Yes. On this site both plans, Brand Presence and Business Add-ons, are one-time payments with no subscription and unlimited edits.
What happens after the first year?
Nothing is charged. Your profile stays at the same link, your QR code keeps working and you can keep editing.
Does the profile stay online if I never pay again?
Yes. There is no renewal fee. Our terms provide the profile on an "as available" basis and set no end date for hosting.
Are edits really unlimited?
Yes. You can edit as often as you like, with no monthly or annual fee.
Is a one-time digital business card cheaper than a subscription?
Usually, over several years. A subscription charges again every year. A free plan can be cheaper still if it has everything you need.
Can I get a refund?
If you change your mind before your profile has been activated, you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase.
Will my QR code keep working?
Yes, as long as the profile is online. There is no subscription that can lapse, so there is no payment that can switch it off.