Paper card or digital card?
The cardboard loyalty card has been around for 40 years. It works — but what are its real-world limits? Here's a factual comparison with a digital Quardy card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Download for freeDetailed comparison
The paper card isn't a bad system — it's just an old system. Here are the real day-to-day differences.
Comparison table
| Quardy | Paper cards | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to sign up a customer | €0 (free up to 50 customers) | ~10-15 cents per printed card |
| Can the customer forget their card? | Yes, No — always in their phone | Very often |
| Loss risk | Yes, Almost none | High (handbag, overstuffed wallet) |
| Balance updates | Automatic, real time | On each visit, by physical stamp |
| Merchant-side overview | Yes, Dashboard, statistics, history | No, No visibility |
| Customer re-engagement | Yes, Push notifications (Pro €9.99) | No, Impossible |
| Gift cards | Yes, Included in Pro (€9.99/month) | Partial, Paper voucher: fixed amount, no running balance |
| Fraud (fake stamps / copied cards) | Yes, Impossible (unique QR) | No, Possible with a similar stamp |
| Environmental footprint | 0 paper, 0 card, 0 ink | Cards thrown away every year |
| Initial effort | 2 minutes (create an account) | 2-3 days (design + print + delivery) |
| Initial investment | €0 | €50-200 depending on volume and finish |
Comparison updated August 2026
When paper cards still make sense
Choose Quardy if...
- 1.You have more than 30 loyal customers to manage
- 2.You want statistical tracking of your business
- 3.You want to be able to re-engage quiet customers
- 4.You want to modernise your image
- 5.You find paper cards expensive or impractical
Paper cards are still fine if...
- 1.You have fewer than 10 highly regular loyal customers
- 2.Your clientele is elderly and entirely without smartphones
- 3.You don't use any digital tools currently and don't want to start
- 4.You're planning to close or change business within 6 months
Typical testimonials from merchants who've migrated
'In 2 weeks, I already had 30 customers on Quardy' (bakery) — The switch from paper to digital happens faster than you'd think. Customers who scan once adopt immediately (zero friction), and word of mouth does the rest. Allow 2-3 months to migrate ~80% of your loyal base.
'I cut €8 of monthly cost and saved 1 hour of admin' (beautician) — No more cards to order, file or store. No more 'I forgot my card, can you check the drawer?' which used to waste 2-3 minutes per visit.
'My customers appreciate the modern feel without an app' (nail salon) — The native Wallet pitch is often decisive. Customers appreciate not being asked to install yet another app — a concern many merchants had at launch, which turned out to be unfounded.
Frequently asked questions
Why move from a paper loyalty card to digital?
Three main reasons: 1) paper cards are often forgotten or lost, which undermines your programme and frustrates your customers, 2) they have a printing and logistics cost (~10-15 cents per card produced), 3) they don't allow any tracking or communication. The digital card is always in the customer's phone, the balance updates automatically, and you can re-engage them by push notification if needed.
Does the paper card really cost more than a digital card?
Yes, beyond a certain volume. Printing 500 colour paper cards on 300gsm card stock costs around €50 to €80 depending on format and finish. Quardy is free up to 50 active customers, then €9.99/month (Pro) with no commitment. Over 12 months, 500 paper cards cost ~€70 + admin time; Quardy Pro costs ~€120/year but includes push campaigns, statistics and zero logistics.
Will my older customers adapt to digital?
It's the most common question, and the answer is surprising: yes, much better than you'd think. All they have to do is point their camera at your QR code and tap 'Add to Wallet'. No account to create, no app to install, no password.
How do I migrate from paper to digital without frustrating my loyal customers?
Run a 2-3 month transition where you accept both: customers presenting their paper card are validated by hand, new customers and those who want to switch get the digital card via Quardy. Display a clear sign in your shop explaining the change. At the end of the transition, gradually retire the paper card.
What if the Quardy app disappears one day?
Fair question. Quardy is an independent product developed in France. Your data belongs to you and can be exported at any time (CSV). If the app were ever to close, you'd have time to migrate elsewhere with your contacts. That said, the app uses stable standards (Apple Wallet, Google Wallet) that don't depend on Quardy's existence — the cards your customers have added will stay in their Wallet even if the service were to shut down.
Go digital with no risk
Free up to 50 customers. You can test it alongside your paper cards.