Prices checked
Cardly.ae vs Popl: which digital business card fits a UAE business?
Short answer: choose Cardly.ae if you need an Arabic interface, AED pricing on the web and NFC cards delivered across the UAE; choose Popl if your priority is event lead capture with CRM integrations. In the UAE App Store, Popl Pro Yearly is AED 184.99 — slightly less than Cardly.ae Pro at AED 199/year.
Popl is a digital business card and event lead-capture platform with native apps and CRM integrations. Cardly.ae is a UAE service built for bilingual, WhatsApp-first networking, with AED pricing and NFC cards delivered across the UAE. Here's a fair comparison, with every Popl figure linked to its source.
Updated
At a glance
- Popl Pro Yearly: AED 184.99 in the UAE App Store. Cardly.ae Pro: AED 25/month or AED 199/year.
- Cardly.ae has a full Arabic interface; Popl's app is listed in English only.
- Popl sells accessories to individuals only through its US Amazon store; Cardly.ae delivers NFC cards across the UAE.
How do Cardly.ae and Popl compare on price, Arabic and delivery?
| Feature | Cardly.ae | Popl |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | Pro: AED 25/month or AED 199/year, billed in AED on the web | Popl Pro Yearly: AED 184.99/year (UAE App Store); Popl Pro Yearly: US$76.99/year (US App Store) |
| Team plan | Teams: AED 180 per seat/year (or AED 19 per seat/month), from 3 seats | Quote only — one plan covers the whole team, with no per-seat price |
| Free plan | Yes: 1 bilingual card on the Free plan, with no time limit | Yes: Free tier for individuals, alongside Pro and Pro+ |
| Billing currency | UAE dirhams (AED) | AED at App Store prices in the iPhone app; team plans are quoted |
| Arabic interface & right-to-left cards | Yes: Full Arabic interface; one card with an Arabic/English toggle | No — the app is listed in English only |
| Physical NFC cards | Yes: PVC, bamboo and metal cards from AED 99, delivered across the UAE and dispatched within 1–3 working days; Express arrives the next working day after dispatch in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi (AED 35) | Accessories for individuals are sold only through Popl's Amazon store, which ships within the US |
| Apple/Google Wallet pass | Not yet | Yes — add your Popl QR code to Apple or Google Wallet |
| Native mobile apps | Partly: Web app — works in any phone or desktop browser | Yes: iPhone and Android apps |
| CRM connections | Partly: Lead capture with CSV export | Yes: CRM integrations included in Popl's quoted plans |
| Company | UAE company — Meta Pro Solutions, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone | Popl Co (App Store seller) |
Competitor figures as listed on each source below, checked 13 October 2026; App Store prices are exactly as the storefront shows them, with their billing period. They can change by region and taxes, so check the source before you buy. AED conversions use the fixed peg of AED 3.6725 per US dollar.
Sources
- Popl — pricing page (opens in a new tab) (popl.co)checked
- Popl — UAE App Store listing (opens in a new tab) (apps.apple.com)checked
- Popl — US App Store listing (opens in a new tab) (apps.apple.com)checked
- Popl Help Centre — buying accessories as an individual (updated 8 Feb 2026) (opens in a new tab) (support.popl.co)checked
- Popl Help Centre — adding your QR code to Apple or Google Wallet (opens in a new tab) (support.popl.co)checked
- Popl — Google Play listing (opens in a new tab) (play.google.com)checked
- Amazon.ae — search results for “nfc business card” (opens in a new tab) (amazon.ae)checked
We make Cardly.ae, so every competitor figure links to its source and we say where the other option fits better. How we research and update these comparisons
What does Popl focus on today?
Popl's website now leads with events: its pricing page presents Popl as an event lead-capture platform and says prices are quoted in a meeting rather than published, with one plan covering the whole team instead of a per-seat charge.
Individuals can still subscribe in the app: Popl Pro Yearly is US$76.99/year in the US App Store and AED 184.99 in the UAE App Store. Since September 2025, Popl's accessories for individuals are sold only through its Amazon store, which ships within the US; a Popl card was also listed on Amazon.ae at AED 53.42 when we checked.
For a UAE buyer, that makes Popl strongest for teams that staff trade-show booths and want leads synced to a CRM, and a weaker fit if you need Arabic or cards delivered locally.
What's different for UAE users?
Arabic that works properly
Cardly.ae is built Arabic-first: an Arabic interface, right-to-left layouts and one card that switches between Arabic and English. Popl doesn't offer an Arabic interface.
Dirham prices on the web
Cardly.ae prices are set in dirhams on the web. Popl doesn't publish prices on its website; in its iPhone app you pay in AED at App Store prices — Popl Pro Yearly is AED 184.99 in the UAE App Store.
Local delivery
NFC cards are made to order and dispatched within 1–3 working days. After dispatch, delivery takes 2–4 working days UAE-wide, or the next working day in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi with Express. Standard delivery is free on orders of AED 199 or more.
Small teams welcome
Teams start at 3 seats (AED 180 per seat per year), so a three-person office pays for three people.
Which one should you choose?
The right tool depends on your team, your clients and your market. Here's our honest take.
Choose Cardly.ae if…
- You or your clients prefer Arabic, or you need both languages on one card.
- You want to pay in dirhams on the web, not in US dollars.
- You need NFC cards delivered in the UAE within days.
- You're a small team — 3 to 20 people — and want team features from just 3 seats.
- WhatsApp is how your clients reach you.
Choose Popl if…
- Your priority is capturing leads at events and trade shows, synced to your CRM.
- You rely on native iPhone and Android apps rather than a web app.
- Your team works mainly in English, outside the Arabic-speaking market.
- You'd rather agree one team price in a meeting than pay per seat.
Popl alternatives for UAE users
Listed alphabetically; the order isn't a ranking. Cardly.ae is our own product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cardly.ae cheaper than Popl?
Does Popl support Arabic?
Can I move from Popl to Cardly.ae?
Does Cardly.ae have an app?
We aim to keep these comparisons fair and current. Spotted something out of date? Let us know and we'll correct it.
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