CardDeck lifetime deal: pay once, use CardDeck for good

The CardDeck lifetime deal is an offer to pay once and keep using CardDeck without a recurring subscription. It is being prepared for launch on AppSumo, a marketplace that sells software deals of this kind. You buy the deal on AppSumo, receive a code, and redeem it on your CardDeck account to unlock the plan it covers.

Deal terms — the price, the number of tiers, how many codes you can stack, and the exact limits per tier — are shown on the AppSumo listing. Those terms are the ones that apply. This page explains what the deal is for and how to decide whether it suits you; it does not set prices or limits.

The deal is built on the same product as the subscription plans. There is no separate "lifetime edition" with a different editor or a different QR system: your cards, codes and contacts live in a normal CardDeck account.

The lifetime deal covers the core CardDeck suite. Which limits apply to each part depends on the tier you buy, as listed on AppSumo.

• [Digital business cards](/digital-business-card) with a permanent link, QR code and one-tap save to contacts.
• QR codes — static codes for fixed data, and dynamic codes you can edit after printing and track.
• Barcodes — Code 128 for IDs, assets and tickets, and EAN-13 for retail products with automatic check digits.
• [Batch generation](/batch-generator) — upload a CSV or Excel file and generate cards, codes or barcodes in bulk.
• [Contact capture and management](/contact-management) — people who open your card can share their details back, and you can tag and export them.
• The card designer, templates and analytics.

Where a feature has a limit — number of cards, dynamic QR codes, batch rows per job, contacts captured — the number for your tier is the one stated on the AppSumo listing. If a feature is not listed there, assume it is not part of the deal and check the subscription features overview to see which plan includes it.

The lifetime deal suits people who already know they will use digital cards and QR codes for years and would rather not manage a subscription. Typical buyers:

• Freelancers and consultants who want a professional card, a few dynamic QR codes for printed materials and a contact list.
• Agencies that create QR codes, barcodes or cards for clients and want predictable costs.
• Small businesses that need staff cards, a counter QR code and occasional batch jobs.
• Founders who want CardDeck in place from the start without adding another monthly bill.

It is a weaker fit if you need features that sit on the Business plan, such as SSO, a custom domain, API access or very large batch jobs — unless the AppSumo listing explicitly includes them. Large organizations usually do better on a subscription with an agreed scope.

A lifetime deal trades a one-time cost for recurring payments. Whether it is good value depends on how long you will use CardDeck and how close the deal's limits are to what you need.

To compare, use the published subscription prices as a yardstick. Pro costs $6 a month billed yearly, which is $72 a year (₹299 a month, or ₹3,588 a year, in India). Team costs $5 per seat a month billed yearly with a 3-seat minimum, so at least $180 a year. Divide the deal price on AppSumo by the subscription price for the plan with similar limits, and you get the number of years it takes to break even. The full plan breakdown is on the pricing page.

Things to weigh beyond price:

• Limits are fixed by tier. A subscription can be upgraded month to month; a lifetime tier has the limits it has. Check that dynamic QR codes and contacts will last as you grow.
• Printed codes are long-lived. Dynamic QR codes on signs, packaging or cards need an active account for as long as the print is in use. A lifetime plan keeps them running without renewal dates.
• Teams change. If headcount will grow quickly, a per-seat subscription may fit better than a fixed lifetime allowance.

You redeem the deal by entering the code you receive from AppSumo in your CardDeck account. The general flow:

1. Buy the deal on the CardDeck AppSumo listing while it is available.
2. Copy the redemption code from your AppSumo account.
3. Sign in to CardDeck, or create an account if you are new.
4. Enter the code where the AppSumo listing directs you. Your account then moves to the lifetime plan for your tier.
5. Start building: publish your card, create QR codes or run your first batch.

If you already have a CardDeck subscription, redeeming a lifetime code changes the plan on your existing account, so you keep your cards, codes and contacts. How redemption interacts with an existing paid subscription, and whether codes can be stacked, is set out on the AppSumo listing.

Check the deal terms against how you actually plan to use CardDeck. A short checklist:

• Cards: how many published cards does your tier include, and do you need one per person or a few shared cards?
• Dynamic QR codes: how many will you print over the next few years? Each printed dynamic code uses one from your allowance for as long as it is active.
• Batch rows: what is the largest list you will upload at once — a staff list, a class, an event registration?
• Contacts: how many people do you expect to capture a year?
• Card types: do you need ID cards or event badges, and are they included in your tier?
• Refunds: AppSumo's refund policy for the listing applies; read it on the listing before you buy.

If the deal's limits are close to your needs today, choose a higher tier or a subscription. Running out of dynamic QR codes after codes are printed is the costliest mistake to fix.