What does the business card scanner actually read?

It reads the printed text on the card — typically name, job title, company, email, phone number, and website — and saves it as a new contact automatically. You can edit any field afterward if the scan missed something.

Is scanning free, or does it need a subscription?

Free, with no scan limit and no watermark. Paid plans exist only for teams that want centralized card management across a company.

Does it also work for event badges, not just paper cards?

Yes, the same Scan tab has an Event Badge mode sized for lanyards.

Do I need an internet connection to scan a card?

No. Text recognition happens on your iPhone. You'll need a connection to save the contact to your account, but the scan itself works offline.

Is there an Android version?

Not yet. The scanner is part of the Typecard iPhone app. On Android you can still create and share your own digital card from the browser.

Free on the App Store. No trial, no paywall.

The business card scanner app that skips the typing

Point your iPhone camera at a paper business card and Typecard reads the name, company, title, email, and phone straight into a new contact — on-device, in seconds.

Create your own digital card

Typecard business card scanner app screen

No manual entry

Scan a card, get a contact

Frame the card in the viewfinder and tap the shutter. Typecard reads the printed text and pre-fills a contact card for you to check and save.

On-device

Private by default

Text recognition runs on your iPhone using Apple's Vision framework. The photo you scan isn't uploaded anywhere just to read it.

Two-way

Share yours back

The same Scan tab reads QR codes, so you can trade a paper card for a saved contact and hand back your own digital card in one meeting.

How the scanner works

Three steps between "here's my card" and a saved contact in your phone.

01

Open the Scan tab and choose Paper Card mode.
02

Line the card up in the frame and tap to capture — Typecard extracts the name, company, role, email, phone, and website.
03

Typecard saves it automatically — no form to fill out. If it missed something, fix it from the contact afterward.

Why it beats a stack of cards

Every card, actually searchable

A pocket full of business cards is a pocket full of contacts you'll never look up again. Scanning them the moment you get them means they're saved, searchable, and exportable before you lose the card itself.

—Free to use — no scan limit, no watermark
—Also scans QR codes and event badges
—Works alongside your own Typecard digital business card

Frequently asked questions

What does the business card scanner actually read?: It reads the printed text on the card — typically name, job title, company, email, phone number, and website — and saves it as a new contact automatically. You can edit any field afterward if the scan missed something.
Is scanning free, or does it need a subscription?: Free, with no scan limit and no watermark. Paid plans exist only for teams that want centralized card management across a company; see pricing.
Does it also work for event badges, not just paper cards?: Yes — the same Scan tab has an Event Badge mode sized for lanyards. See our trade show badge scanner page for details.
Do I need an internet connection to scan a card?: No. Text recognition happens on your iPhone. You'll need a connection to save the contact to your account, but the scan itself works offline.
Is there an Android version?: Not yet. The scanner is part of the Typecard iPhone app. On Android you can still create and share your own digital card from the browser.