Side by side
Dot vs Haystack
Both stand on business card software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb
Dot offers several ways to share a profile, with contact exchange available on the free tier. NFC sharing depends on device capability, and the privacy policy qualifies the security of information sent in transit.
Visit Dot
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1
Haystack combines digital card sharing with contact capture and team administration. Check the one-card-per-email limit on the free version if you need multiple cards for one address.
Visit HaystackThe facts
| Dot | Haystack | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | dot.Profile+: $15 a month | Business (annual): $2.50 a year |
| Plans published | 2 | 8 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | dot.cards | thehaystackapp.com |
| On business card software | #2 of 22 | #1 of 22 |
Dot: what it does well
- Share profiles by device tap, QR code, or username link.
- Recipients can open profiles in a phone browser.
- Free profile includes two-way contact exchange.
- dot.Profile+ includes an AI business-card scanner.
What to know first
- NFC tapping depends on the phone's NFC capability.
- The paid plan costs $15 a month.
- Dot says information sent may not be secure in transit.
Haystack: what it does well
- Cards can be shared through QR, NFC, and messaging channels
- Recipients do not need the Haystack app
- Paper card scanning can add contacts to a CRM
- Team administrators can manage fields and card designs
What to know first
- Free version allows one card per email address
- Pro and Business plans are billed monthly