Comparison
Anexus Connect vs HiHello: free digital business card comparison
HiHello is a US-based digital business card app with a free tier and Chrome / Gmail extensions for scanning paper business cards. Anexus Connect is a Canadian NFC-first platform with premium metal hardware, a mini CRM with source attribution, and native sync to 10 CRMs including Pipedrive and Zoho. Here is the honest side-by-side.
Verdict
Pick HiHello if you will never carry a physical card, or if scanning paper cards from a Chrome / Gmail extension is the job you are hiring the app for. Pick Anexus Connect if the card matters — laser-engraved metal at $59.99 CAD, or a $24.99 Phone Tap sticker — and if you want the visitor log behind it — source, device and engagement score on every visit, AI follow-ups sent via Gmail and native sync to 10 CRMs, all on Anexus PRO ($6.99 CAD/mo), against Salesforce, HubSpot and Zapier on HiHello’s paid tiers. Both have a free plan, so the deciding question is whether you want hardware and attribution — if you do, that is Anexus Connect.
Anexus Connect vs HiHello: At a glance
| Feature | Anexus Connect | HiHello |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Digital NFC business card platform + mini CRM | Digital business card app (individual-focused) |
| Headquarters | Ontario, Canada | United States |
| Physical hardware | Metal Black, Stainless Steel, Phone Tap sticker | Optional NFC card add-on |
| Free tier | YesBasic plan, free forever | YesFree tier |
| Apple Wallet pass | YesApple + Google Wallet, auto-updating — free with any card, $1.99 one-time without one | Yes |
| Built-in mini CRM | YesNotes, reminders and lead priority on the free Basic plan — per-visitor source, device and engagement score on PRO | PartialContact management, address-book style |
| AI-drafted follow-ups | YesDrafted from the visitor’s activity, sent via Gmail (PRO) | PartialNot a core feature |
| CRM integrations | 10 CRMs (PRO) — HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho, Freshsales, Copper, Apollo, ActiveCampaign, Close, monday.com | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier on higher tiers |
| Sell from your profile | YesProfile Shop with Stripe Connect — products, services, digital downloads (PRO) | NoNo native storefront |
| Paper-card scanning | PartialBusiness-card scanner inside the app (PRO) — no browser extension | YesChrome and Gmail extensions |
| Zapier integration | NoNo Zapier connector — 10 direct CRM integrations instead (PRO) | YesZapier on higher tiers |
| Localised for | Site in English, French & Spanish — profile auto-translates for viewers in 18 languages (PRO) | English primarily |
| Starter price | $0 free · $24.99 Phone Tap · $59.99 metal · PRO $6.99/mo (yearly $59.99/yr) | Free tier + paid plans (see HiHello for current pricing) |
Choose Anexus Connect if…
- You want the physical card in the deal — laser-engraved Metal Black or Stainless Steel at $59.99 CAD, or a $24.99 Phone Tap sticker
- You need CRM sync to Pipedrive, Zoho, Freshsales, Copper, Apollo, ActiveCampaign, Close, or monday.com
- You want AI-drafted follow-ups sent via Gmail, tied to each visitor’s activity
- You want to sell products or services from your profile with Stripe
Choose HiHello if…
- You share by QR and in the app only — you will never carry a physical card
- You scan paper business cards from a Chrome or Gmail extension — Anexus has a business-card scanner too, but it lives in the app on PRO, with no browser extension
- Salesforce, HubSpot or Zapier are the only CRMs you need to sync to
Frequently asked
Does HiHello include a mini CRM with follow-ups like Anexus Connect?
HiHello focuses on contact management in an address-book style, with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier sync on higher tiers. Anexus Connect adds a mini CRM — notes, reminders and lead priority free on Basic — and on PRO logs each visitor by source and engagement score, drafts AI follow-ups sent from Gmail, and syncs natively to 10 CRMs. If follow-up automation tied to visitor activity matters, that is an Anexus strength.
Can I sell products or services from my profile with HiHello?
HiHello does not include a native storefront. Anexus Connect has a Profile Shop powered by Stripe Connect (PRO) for selling products, services, or digital downloads straight from your profile. If you want a tap to lead directly to a sale, that is unique to Anexus here.
Is HiHello better for free plans?
Both platforms start free. Anexus Basic is free forever with NFC sharing, a live profile, contact capture, the mini CRM (notes, reminders, lead priority), an appointment booking link and basic insights. HiHello has a free tier too, and on both platforms the heavier features — AI follow-ups, per-visitor scoring and CRM sync — sit on a paid tier (Anexus PRO, $6.99 CAD/mo). Compare the two free tiers against the features you actually need rather than on size.
Which is better for physical NFC cards?
Anexus Connect leads with physical hardware: Metal Black and Stainless Steel are precision-machined and laser-engraved, and the Phone Tap sticker is designed to live on the back of a phone. HiHello offers a card as an add-on but is primarily software-driven.
Can I import my HiHello contacts into Anexus Connect?
Yes — export contacts from HiHello as CSV / vCard and import into Anexus Connect. If you have your contacts synced to a CRM (HubSpot / Salesforce / Zoho etc.), connecting Anexus to that CRM (PRO) is usually easier than importing files.
Ready to try Anexus Connect?
Free Basic plan. Metal cards from $59.99. Phone Tap sticker $24.99. PRO $6.99/mo (yearly $59.99).