NameDrop vs Digital Business Cards: Which Is Right for You? (2026)

George El-Hage 🔗 LinkedIn

Founder, Wave Connect | 1M+ digital business cards shared via Wave

I've tested every major contact-sharing method - NameDrop, AirDrop, QR codes, NFC, Apple Wallet - across hundreds of networking events since 2020. This comparison is based on real-world usage, not spec sheets.

NameDrop vs digital business card - it's a question I hear constantly. Apple's NameDrop feature has over 700 million potential users (every iPhone 11 or newer), so it's fair to ask: do you even need a digital business card anymore?

Short answer: yes, but it depends on what you're trying to do. NameDrop is genuinely great for quick personal contact sharing. But if you need analytics, branding, cross-platform reach, or anything beyond a basic name and phone number, you'll hit a wall fast. In this guide, I'll break down exactly what each tool does, where it shines, and when you need one over the other.

What Is Apple NameDrop?

Apple NameDrop is a built-in iPhone feature (iOS 17+) that lets you share your contact card by holding two iPhones close together. It uses NFC (Near-Field Communication) - the same tech behind Apple Pay's tap-to-pay. When two compatible iPhones get within a few centimeters of each other, a sharing prompt appears, and you can send your name, phone number, email address, and photo to the other person. It also works between an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

Think of it as a quick digital handshake. You don't need to download anything, open an app, or scan a code. Just tap and share. Apple introduced it with iOS 17 in September 2023, and it still works the same way in iOS 26.

iOS 26 Compatibility (Updated for 2026)

Here's what you need to know about NameDrop compatibility right now:

• Supported: iPhone 11 and newer (anything with an A13 Bionic chip or later)
• Dropped: iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are stuck on iOS 18 and won't get iOS 26
• Both devices need iOS 17 or newer for NameDrop to work
• Apple Watch: Series 7 and newer with watchOS 10.1+

Quick side note - Apple skipped "iOS 19" entirely. They moved from iOS 18 straight to iOS 26, aligning the version number with the calendar year. Same operating system, just a different naming convention.

What NameDrop Can't Do (Common Misconceptions)

The biggest misconception about NameDrop is that it's a full digital business card replacement. It's not - it only shares the basic contact card stored in your iPhone's contact settings. Here's what I mean: NameDrop sends your name, phone number, email, and photo. That's the ceiling. It doesn't create a profile, a landing page, or anything richer than what you'd get from reading someone's contact card.

Here's what NameDrop specifically cannot do:

• No LinkedIn, social media, or website links - your Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and company website aren't included
• No company info or job title branding - it shares your name, not your professional identity
• No analytics - you have zero visibility into whether someone saved your contact, viewed it, or deleted it
• No customization - you can't add your company logo, brand colors, or a custom layout
• No cross-platform sharing - if the other person has an Android phone, NameDrop simply doesn't work
• No team management - there's no way to deploy NameDrop across a team with consistent branding
• No CRM integration - contacts go into your phone's address book and that's it
• No follow-up tracking - no way to know who engaged with your info after the exchange

I've seen people at networking events assume NameDrop will send their LinkedIn profile or company website. It won't. If you check Reddit discussions about NameDrop, you'll see a common theme: most people either don't know about it, or tried it once and went back to other methods because it was too limited.

What Digital Business Cards Do Differently

A digital business card is a shareable online profile that includes your full professional identity - contact info, social links, company branding, media, and analytics - accessible on any device through a QR code, NFC tap, or direct link. Unlike NameDrop, which sends a basic contact record, a digital business card gives you a rich, customizable landing page that represents your professional brand.

Here's what sets them apart:

• Cross-platform: Works on iPhone, Android, desktop - any device with a browser. No app download required.
• Rich profiles: Add your LinkedIn, website, portfolio, social media, company logo, headshot, job title, and bio. Everything NameDrop leaves out.
• Analytics: See who viewed your card, when they viewed it, and what links they clicked. This is huge for follow-up after events.
• Dynamic updates: Change your job title, phone number, or company? Update once - everyone who has your card sees the new info instantly. No need to re-share.
• Multiple sharing methods: QR code, NFC tap, direct URL, Apple Wallet pass, email signature link, text message. NameDrop only works with physical proximity.
• Team management: Deploy branded cards for an entire sales team from one dashboard. Update everyone's cards at once when branding changes.
• CRM integration: Connect to Salesforce, HubSpot, or Pipedrive to push contacts directly into your pipeline.

The bottom line? NameDrop is a contact-sharing feature. A digital business card is a professional networking tool. They solve different problems.

NameDrop vs Digital Business Cards: Feature Comparison (2026)

Here's a side-by-side breakdown of NameDrop, a typical digital business card platform, and Wave Connect specifically. I've organized this around the features that matter most for professional networking, based on what I hear from the teams I work with.

Features verified as of February 2026. I personally tested NameDrop on iOS 26 (iPhone 15 Pro) and all Wave features listed above.

When to Use NameDrop

NameDrop is the right choice when you need a fast, casual contact swap with another iPhone user and don't need anything beyond basic info. I'm not here to bash it - it's a genuinely cool feature for the right situation. Here's when it makes sense:

• Personal contacts: Swapping numbers with a new friend, neighbor, or someone you met at a party. No need for analytics or branding here.
• Apple-to-Apple environments: If you know the other person has an iPhone (family gatherings, Apple-centric workplaces), NameDrop is fast and frictionless.
• Quick one-time exchanges: You just need to give someone your phone number, right now, with zero setup.
• People who don't want another app or service: NameDrop is already on your phone. Nothing to sign up for, nothing to configure.

For these situations, NameDrop is hard to beat. Tap, share, done. No QR code, no link, no friction. I still use it personally when I'm grabbing coffee with someone and they ask for my number. It's faster than dictating digits.

When You Need a Digital Business Card Instead

You need a digital business card the moment your contact-sharing requirements go beyond "send my phone number to one iPhone user standing next to me." That covers most professional situations. Here's the specific breakdown:

Professional Networking and Events

Conferences, trade shows, networking events - these are where NameDrop falls apart. You're meeting dozens (sometimes hundreds) of people over a few days. You need a way to share your digital business card that works regardless of what phone the other person has. A QR code on your phone or badge works for everyone - iPhone, Android, or even someone who just wants to type a URL on their laptop later.

Cross-Platform Audiences

Android has roughly 44% market share in the US, and it's even higher globally. If you're in sales, real estate, consulting, or any client-facing role, you can't afford to exclude almost half the market. A digital business card works on any device with a browser.

When You Need Analytics

Ever hand out 50 business cards at a conference and wonder which contacts actually looked at your info? With a digital business card, you don't have to wonder. You'll see who opened your card, when they opened it, and which links they clicked. That's how you prioritize follow-ups.

Teams and Enterprise

If you're a marketing manager deploying cards for a 50-person sales team, NameDrop isn't even in the conversation. You need centralized control, consistent branding, bulk deployment, and usage analytics across the team. That's what platforms like Wave are built for.

Brand Consistency

Your digital business card carries your company logo, brand colors, and professional layout. NameDrop sends a generic iOS contact card with no visual branding. If how you present yourself matters - and in professional settings, it always does - digital business cards win.

Can You Use Both? (Yes - Here's How)

NameDrop and digital business cards aren't competing tools - they're complementary. I use both regularly, and here's how they fit together in my day-to-day:

• NameDrop for casual/personal: Meeting someone at a dinner party? Friend of a friend at a barbecue? I use NameDrop. It's quick, it's built-in, and I don't need to track anything.
• Digital business card for professional: At a conference, client meeting, or networking event? I share my Wave card. The other person gets my full professional profile - LinkedIn, company website, job title - plus I get analytics on engagement.
• Pro tip - use them together: You can add your digital business card URL to the "Notes" field in your iPhone contact card. When you NameDrop someone, they receive your basic contact info AND a link to your full digital business card. Best of both worlds. 🔥

The "NameDrop or digital business card" framing is a false choice for most people. Use NameDrop when it fits. Use a digital business card when you need more. They're different tools for different jobs, like using a text message vs sending an email - both have their place.

What Changed for NameDrop in iOS 26?

In iOS 26, NameDrop's core functionality hasn't changed - it still shares the same basic contact card it has since iOS 17. But there are a couple of updates worth knowing:

• Device compatibility shift: iPhone 11 and newer are supported. The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR were dropped from iOS 26, so they're stuck on iOS 18. If you or the person you're sharing with has one of those older models, NameDrop may not work with the latest OS features.
• Wallet sharing: The NameDrop proximity gesture can now also share boarding passes, movie tickets, and event tickets through the Wallet app. This was actually introduced in iOS 17.2 and still works in iOS 26.
• Photos sharing: You can use the same tap gesture to share photos and videos through the Photos app - faster than standard AirDrop for quick media exchanges.

What didn't change? Everything I mentioned above. No analytics, no cross-platform support, no rich profiles, no team management. Apple clearly sees NameDrop as a convenience feature, not a business networking tool. And honestly? That makes sense for what it is. It just means that if you need professional-grade contact sharing, you still need a dedicated solution.

For the latest iOS 26 details, MacRumors has a comprehensive breakdown of every new feature and compatible device.

Beyond NameDrop: Other Ways to Share Your Contact Info

If NameDrop's limitations have you looking for alternatives, there are several ways to share your contact details that work across platforms and offer more functionality. Here's what I see people using most in 2026:

• QR code: Display it on your phone screen, print it on your lanyard, or add it to a presentation slide. Anyone with a camera can scan it. Universally compatible.
• NFC business card: A physical card with an embedded chip. Tap it against any NFC-enabled phone (iPhone or Android) and your digital profile opens instantly. No app needed.
• Direct link: Share your digital business card URL via text, email, or social media. Works anywhere you can paste a link.
• Apple Wallet pass: Add your digital business card to Apple Wallet so it's always one tap away - even without internet.
• Email signature: Add a link to your digital business card in your email signature. Every email you send becomes a networking opportunity.

Each method has its sweet spot. QR codes are great for high-volume events. NFC cards feel premium and work one-on-one. Direct links scale infinitely. The point is: you're not limited to NameDrop's single sharing method.