Digital vs plastic membership cards: which is right for your club?
Plastic cards feel official, paper cards are cheap, and digital cards in the phone are becoming the norm. Here is an honest comparison to help your committee decide.
- Plastic cards look professional but must be reprinted at every change.
- Paper cards are cheap, but they wear out and are easy to copy.
- Digital cards in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet update themselves and can be scanned.
- Many clubs combine both: digital by default, a printed QR code for members who ask.
The three options
Plastic (PVC) cards are printed by a print shop or with a card printer. Paper cards are printed at home or by a copy shop, often laminated. Digital cards live in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on the member’s phone, like a boarding pass.
Side-by-side comparison
| Plastic | Paper | Digital (Wallet) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look and feel | Professional | Basic | Modern, in the club colours |
| Cost per member per season | Highest | Low | Free up to 50 cards, then a monthly plan |
| Delivery | Hand out or post | Hand out or post | Email or link, instant |
| Renewal | New card or sticker | New card | Updates itself |
| Lost card | Reprint | Reprint | Resend the link |
| Check at the door | Visual | Visual | QR scan: valid, expired or unknown |
| Copying | Hard | Easy | Each code is checked |
| Members without smartphone | Yes | Yes | Printed QR code |
The hidden cost: volunteer time
The price of the card itself is only part of the bill. The bigger cost is the time spent printing, sorting, handing out and replacing cards, and doing it all again every season. In a club of 200 members, a few lost cards a month and a season’s worth of renewals add up to evenings of work for the secretary.
A digital card removes most of that work: you import your list once, every member receives their card by email, and renewals are a change of date.
Choose your activity, type your club’s name, and add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Free, no sign-up.
When plastic still makes sense
- Your members are mostly older and rarely use a smartphone.
- The card is also a key for a door system that reads RFID or magnetic stripes.
- The card is a keepsake, for example for honorary members or anniversaries.
When digital is the better choice
- You check cards at the door of matches, parties or the gym.
- Members renew every season and you want the card to follow.
- You want to send the cards quickly, without a distribution day.
- You also sell tickets and want one tool for both.
The mixed approach
You do not have to choose for everyone. Make the digital card the default, and print the QR code of their card for members who ask. The same scanner reads both. With MPass you can create a test card in one minute, show it at the next committee meeting, and decide with something real in hand. Prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Are digital membership cards secure?
Yes. Each card has its own code, checked when it is scanned, and Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards are signed so they cannot be edited by the member.
Can older members use a digital card?
Most can, since it only takes one tap to add. For those who prefer paper, print the QR code of their card: the scanner reads both.
How much does a digital membership card cost?
With MPass, it is free for up to 50 active cards. Larger clubs pay a fixed monthly price, with no commission on membership fees.
Choose your activity, type your club’s name, and add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Free, no sign-up.
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