Wave Connect Review: Honest Breakdown by the Founder (2026)

George El-Hage 🔗 LinkedIn

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

I built Wave Connect in 2020 and have been running it ever since. This is me reviewing my own product - the good, the bad, and what I'd change. Every claim here is backed by real user data or my own experience.

Looking for an honest Wave digital business card review? Here's something you don't see every day - the founder reviewing his own product. Yes, that's me. And yes, I'm going to tell you things I'd change about Wave Connect.

I know what you're thinking: "Why would I trust a founder's review of his own product?" Fair question. Here's my promise - I'll share genuine strengths, real limitations, what actual customers say on G2 and Capterra, and specific situations where you should use a competitor instead. If Wave isn't right for you, I'd rather tell you now than have you sign up and leave frustrated.

Why I'm Reviewing My Own Product

Founders reviewing their own products is unusual, but it's also the most informed review you'll find. Nobody knows Wave's strengths and weaknesses better than the person who built it. I've read every customer support ticket. I know where people get stuck. I know what features we should've shipped two years ago.

Most "review" sites are either affiliates pushing whichever platform pays the highest commission, or competitors disguising ads as reviews. I figure the least I can do is be direct about what Wave is and isn't.

A few ground rules I set for myself writing this:

• I'll cite actual customer reviews from Capterra and G2, not hand-picked testimonials
• I'll tell you who should NOT use Wave
• I'll share real product limitations, not "areas of opportunity"

What Is Wave Connect? The Quick Version

Wave Connect is a digital business card platform that lets you create, share, and manage contact information digitally - no app download required for recipients. You share via QR code, NFC tap, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, email signature, or direct link. The person receiving your card opens it in their browser and can save your contact in one tap.

I launched Wave in 2020 because I was tired of handing out paper cards at events and never hearing back. The core idea hasn't changed: make it dead simple to share contact info, with zero friction for the person receiving it.

Here's what you get at each tier as of February 2026:

Pricing verified as of February 2026. Teams 100+ users get custom volume pricing.

What Wave Does Well (Strengths)

Wave's biggest advantage is removing friction from both sides of the card exchange - the person sharing and the person receiving. Recipients don't need to download an app, create an account, or do anything besides tap "Save Contact" in their browser. That single design decision drives everything we build.

No App Required for Recipients

This is the feature I'm proudest of. When someone scans your Wave QR code or taps your NFC card, your profile opens instantly in their browser. No app store redirect. No "create a free account" popup. Just your contact information, ready to save.

Why does this matter? Because every extra step kills adoption. I've seen teams switch from competitors where only 40-50% of their contacts ever saved the card. With Wave's browser-first approach, that number jumps significantly because there's literally nothing for the recipient to do except tap save.

The Free Plan Actually Works

I don't mean "works" in the sense that you can technically create a card. I mean you get analytics, contact export, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, unlimited sharing, and a paper card scanner - all without paying anything. Most competitors lock analytics and CSV export behind a $8-10/month paywall.

Team Deployment in Minutes

For teams, Wave's bulk Excel import means you can deploy cards for your entire organization by uploading a spreadsheet. I've watched admins onboard 200+ people in under 10 minutes. Lock down brand templates so everyone stays consistent, then manage updates centrally when someone changes roles.

Apple Wallet Integration

Double-tap your iPhone's side button, show the QR code, and you're sharing. No unlocking your phone, no opening an app, no fumbling. It's the fastest way to share a card at events, and it's included free.

What Wave Needs to Improve (Honest Critique)

No product is perfect, and Wave has real limitations I want to be upfront about. These are things I hear from customers and things that frustrate me personally. Some are on our roadmap. Some are deliberate trade-offs.

Let's be real about the multi-profile thing. If you're a real estate agent who also does consulting on the side, you currently can't have two separate Wave cards. That's a legitimate gap. Popl handles multiple profiles well if that's a dealbreaker for you.

The Android widget situation is also on me. We prioritized iOS because that's where most of our early users were, and we haven't caught up on Android yet. If you're on a Samsung or Pixel and want a home screen widget for quick sharing, Blinq currently does this better.

What Real Customers Say (G2 and Capterra Reviews)

Wave holds a 4.7/5 rating on both G2 and Capterra as of February 2026. I'm not going to pretend every review is glowing - but the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. Here's what people actually write.

What reviewers love most:

• "Makes it really easy to manage contact information when networking. Doesn't require the other person to also use Wave." - Jacob L. (G2, Small Business) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• "I always have an easy way to share contact information without having to carry business cards. I keep my Wave card in my wallet because I like showing it off." - Stephen R. (G2, Managing Partner) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What reviewers criticize:

• NFC doesn't work perfectly on every Android phone
• Some users want more design customization on the free plan
• Missing multi-profile support for people with multiple roles

I read every review that comes in. The NFC complaint is real but phone-dependent - it works flawlessly on iPhone 7+ and most modern Androids, but some older or budget Android models have NFC placement issues. That's a hardware limitation, not something I can fix in software.

Watch: Wave Connect in Action

I recorded this walkthrough showing how Wave actually works - creating a card, sharing it, and the team dashboard. This is the real product, not a demo environment:

Video recorded showing Wave Connect's core features. If any features have changed since this recording, I've noted updates in the sections above.

How Wave Stacks Up Against Competitors

I've tested every major digital business card platform, and they each have strengths in different areas. Here's how Wave compares on the features that actually matter, verified as of February 2026. For a deeper dive, check out our full comparison of the 8 best digital business cards.

Prices and features verified as of February 2026. For a detailed head-to-head, read Wave vs Blinq.

The real differentiator isn't any single feature - it's what's included free. Wave gives you analytics and contact export on the free plan. Every competitor makes you pay $8-10/month for those. On the free tier, we also don't spam your contacts with "Download our app!" pop-ups like Blinq, HiHello, and Popl do.

Who Should Use Wave (And Who Shouldn't)

Wave is built for simplicity and high adoption - not for power users who need deep automation or multi-profile management. Here's my honest recommendation on who should and shouldn't sign up.

Wave is a great fit if you:

• Network frequently - Conferences, events, sales calls. The Apple Wallet integration makes sharing instant.
• Manage a team (5-500 people) - Bulk Excel import plus brand template locking means you deploy in minutes, not weeks.
• Want the best free plan - Analytics, contact export, wallet passes, unlimited sharing - all at $0.
• Need CRM integration - HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive sync on Pro ($7/mo).
• Care about security - SOC 2 Type II certified for enterprise compliance.

You should look elsewhere if you:

• Need multiple card profiles - Use HiHello (4 free cards) or Popl for multi-profile support.
• Rely on Android widgets - Use Blinq until Wave catches up on Android.
• Want payment links on your card - Popl supports Cash App and Venmo integration.
• Need deep lead scoring and AI follow-ups - Mobilo offers more automation for enterprise workflows.

Wave's NFC Cards: Worth the Buy?

Wave sells custom NFC business cards with your branding, but you absolutely don't need one to use the platform. Your digital card works through QR codes, wallet passes, email signatures, and direct links without buying any hardware.

That said, I'm obviously biased here since we sell them. So here's the honest breakdown: NFC cards are great for in-person events where you want the "tap and share" wow factor. They work reliably on iPhone 7+ and most modern Androids. But if you're primarily networking remotely or via email, save your money - the free digital card does everything you need.

Final Verdict: Is Wave Worth It?

Wave Connect is the best digital business card for individuals who want a generous free plan and for teams that need fast deployment with zero recipient friction. It's not the best for multi-profile power users or Android-heavy teams (yet).

I'm obviously biased, but here's what I'd say to a friend: try the free plan. It costs nothing, it takes 2 minutes to set up, and you'll know within one networking event whether it fits your workflow. If the free plan does what you need, great - no pressure to upgrade. If you want CRM sync and advanced analytics, Pro at $7/month is genuinely affordable compared to the $10-15/month competitors charge.

I've spent 6 years building this thing. It's not perfect. But I think it's honest, it's simple, and it genuinely helps people make better connections. That's what I set out to do in 2020, and it's still what drives every feature decision we make. We're also shipping fast - our August 2025 product update added an AI badge scanner, offline QR codes, and six new CRM integrations. If you try it and love it, consider joining our referral program - it's a nice way to share the tool with your network and earn rewards.