Whether you're an individual freelancer, a small business owner, or a high-profile coach, you could do with a business card.
Your business card can be a conversation starter, something for people to keep and act on. It can grow your brand awareness, helping people learn more about your company and get in touch.
And contrary to popular belief, you don't need a pro designer to make custom business cards. Many free business card makers and templates enable you to DIY.
Discover seven of the best tools to make free business cards, as well as websites that offer business card templates you can make your own.
Use these resources to create and/or print off a stunning design, so potential customers and clients remember your business.
3 essential elements for a great business card
Business cards are more than just fancy paper, they're a simple tool for getting more customers. While cool designs can grab attention, your card's main job is to make it super easy for people to find you and your business. Every great business card has these essential parts:
1. Your brand logo
Your logo is the face of your business. A clean, professional logo placed where it's easy to see makes your card stand out and helps people remember your brand
2. Contact details and personal information
The whole point of a business card is to share your contact details. Make sure you include everything people need to reach you: your full name, title, phone number(s), email, website, and any social media profiles you use for your business.
3. Eye-catching visuals
The look of your card should match your brand. You can go with a clean, classic design with simple fonts and colors or try something more modern to stand out. Classic cards often use basic black or blue text on white backgrounds with clean layouts. Consider adding scannable QR codes linking to your site.
7 best free business card makers
1. Shopify's free business card maker
Best for professional business cards.
Shopify's business card maker is extremely quick and simple to use. Simply provide the information you want to showcase, upload your logo, and click the Create button. Shopify will then email you a download link for your business card mockup.
Although the business card design is not very customizable, Shopify makes sure you still look professional. Plus, you can make as many different business cards as you like, at no cost.
Design your business card for free, then print them using cardstock paper or a printing service. Shopify makes the creative process super fast and fun.
2. Canva
Best for creative business card designs.
People typically use Canva to create social media images, but it can also make business cards. To create one, pick from one of the suggested templates and add your details to download your own custom card.
Canva's drag-and-drop function means anyone can create stunning business cards—no design experience necessary. You can even create different versions of your cards for different clients, as well as swap out the default colors and fonts to reflect your brand.
There are hundreds of business card templates to choose from—you can filter for industry, style, color scheme, or theme via Canva's search tool.
3. Visme
Best for creating a balanced design.
On top of being easy to use, Visme also has dozens of free templates and editing tools. Pick a template, add your own branding, and use the grid feature to line up all the elements for a balanced composition.
Visme's drag-and-drop design tools were built with the non-designer in mind. Anyone can use them to design premium business cards that make a lasting impression. Plus, the card maker lets you choose between vertical and horizontal layouts for your business card.
Once you've created your design, download it as a PDF with bleed marks to send to your local printer.
4. Jukebox
Best for standard business cards.
Jukebox Print is another free business card tool that allows you to either create your design from scratch or use a premade template to create a custom business card. Choose from various templates to create a standard, fun, or meaningful business card.
JukeBox Print lets you choose between horizontal and vertical layouts for your business card. Additionally, you get a number of shapes, design elements, and backgrounds to elevate your design. Remember to keep the design relevant to your branding and industry so your small business becomes more recognizable.
Once you're happy with your design, you can download an image file to send to your printer or get them printed directly from Jukebox Print.
5. Adobe Express
Best for personalized business cards.
Adobe Express offers a large selection of design elements that put you in control of the creative process. You can change every element and experiment with the various design options until you achieve the desired result.
The tool lets you add custom imagery, such as your logo or a background design. And while you can add your contact information, Adobe suggests only including the most effective ways for someone to contact you.
If you're an ecommerce brand, maybe it's your website and Instagram page. If you're a visual artist, perhaps you only need to include your email and Behance handle. Think about how to engage your audience best as you create business cards.
6. VistaCreate
Best for brands that want custom dimensions.
If you need custom dimensions for your business cards and want an easy way to resize your designs, VistaCreate is the tool to check out. Its resizing feature lets you choose the size you need in a few clicks.
VisaCreate is lightweight, and its web-based editor lets you get granular with your business card design. You can add a logo, text, image, color palette, and even an overlay to elevate your card. The tool lets you save your brand assets, meaning you can quickly insert them into future designs.
In terms of printing, you can download the design in PNG, JPG, PDF, or PNG Transparent format with one click. All projects are saved in your VistaCreate account—you can revisit your design anytime you like.
7. Business Card Maker
Best for quick business card creation.
Business Card Maker offers a variety of card design options, which you can edit to make your own. Click any of the details on the card to modify them—you can change the font, style, and size in the design to your liking.
The tool has a PowerPoint-like interface, with templates on the left side. Pick any design you like and double-click on its content to personalize the card. You can upload your brand logo by clicking on the picture icon.
Once the design is ready, you can download it as a JPG or PNG file.
16 creative ways to make your business card stand out
With so many cards out there, yours has to be different. Here are 16 cool ideas to help you get inspired for your next design:
Non-standard shapes and sizes
Cards don't have to be rectangular. Circular, square, diamond, or custom shapes can reflect your business type. A pet store might use bone-shaped cards, while a music teacher could opt for notes or instrument silhouettes.
Portrait orientation layouts
Vertical designs work well for businesses that benefit from tall imagery. Portrait photographers can showcase headshots better, while architects might feature skyscrapers or towers.
Alternative materials
Consider plastic, metal, wood, cork, recycled materials, or fabric instead of traditional cardstock.
Business-related designs
Create cards that mirror your industry. A florist might design petals that unfold, while a construction company could use cards resembling building materials.
QR code integration
QR codes provide instant access to websites and social profiles. They're becoming standard on modern business cards.
Industry-specific graphics
Include visuals that represent your work. Wine sellers might add grape vine patterns, while photographers could feature camera aperture designs.
Textured lettering
Raised, embossed, or perforated text creates tactile interest. These techniques make your information literally stand out from flat designs.
Vibrant color schemes
Research shows people keep colored cards much longer than plain white ones. Bold colors increase retention and recall.
Attached incentives
Small samples, discount codes, or promotional items attached to cards create immediate value.
Digital alternatives
Another thing to think about is a digital business card. These cards are a great low-waste option since they live right on your phone. You can easily share one with someone by text or have them scan a QR code to get all your info.
Professional photography
High-quality images add elegance to minimalist designs. Florists might feature full-bleed flower photos, while juice companies could show natural landscapes.
Handwritten elements
Calligraphy and hand-lettered text create personal touches, provided the writing remains legible.
Custom artwork and illustrations
Original drawings, brand mascots, or collectible designs turn cards into keepsakes. Patterns and prints also add visual interest.
Functional designs
Multi-purpose cards serve practical functions. Think mini rulers for contractors or small tools that relate to your industry.
Laser-cut details
Cut-out shapes and patterns add dimension to simple cards. This approach works especially well for construction and woodworking businesses.
Unconventional objects
Modern networking tools don't need to be traditional cards. Consider printing information on relevant objects like erasers, small toys, or industry-specific items.
How to make a business card template
The easiest way to make a business card template is to turn your design into one. When you need to make a change, order more, or print cards for events, it's quicker and easier to use the original design instead of starting over.
Creating a template is easy: save the design in the program you're currently using and then export it to your PC. Extract the vector graphic from the file so you can open it in any design software for future edits.
Business card design template
Have a tight deadline for whipping up a design? Templates can offer a rescue. Below are some options to use for free business card design:
- Customizable digital business card templates by Koppl
- Templates for business cards by Avery
- GraphicsFamily's free business card templates
Remember to aim for consistency when using a template. Your business card's appearance should align with your brand's—a cohesive look is key to building trust with your target audience.
Make free business card designs
If you need business cards but hiring a professional designer is out of your reach, don't worry. Many online tools will let you design your own business card for free. Pick one from the list above to create and print your business card today.
Free business cards FAQ
What is the best free business card maker?
Shopify's free business card maker uses your logo and contact details to create branded business cards. The online tool lets you create a design in a few seconds and then print your card immediately.
Who offers the best business card templates?
Canva offers blank business card templates entrepreneurs can customize and make their own. You can also download free business card templates for Microsoft Excel or Word from Vertex42.
What is the best material for printing business cards?
Paper is the most commonly suggested material for business cards. There are many types of paper to choose from, from coated to uncoated, thick to thin, and more.
How much do business cards typically cost?
Standard business cards usually cost between 6 and 24 cents each to produce. Specialty designs with unique shapes, embossed text, or premium materials cost more. Most printing companies offer bulk discounts.
How many business cards should I print?
Order quantities depend on your networking frequency and industry demands. Most businesses order hundreds at a time, though distributing more cards can boost sales opportunities.
Can I add social media information to my card?
Absolutely. Include social media handles as text or use QR codes to link directly to your profiles online.
What should I avoid putting on business cards?
Skip personal home addresses, outdated contact information, spelling mistakes, and poor-quality images. These elements can create negative impressions.