A private business card scanner that works offline
cardlio for iPhone, iPad and Mac · October 2026
cardlio reads business cards on your iPhone, iPad or Mac itself. Recognition runs on the device in 28 languages, there is no account, and no cardlio server stores your cards. Its App Store privacy label reads Data Not Collected.
Where your cards live
On your devices and in your own private iCloud, which keeps your iPhone, iPad and Mac in step. We run no servers that ever see your contacts.
What works offline
Scanning, recognition and your whole library. Only these need a connection: the Apple Maps check of an address, the optional cloud AI, the Google, Office 365 and iCloud syncs, the team library, and creating an Apple Wallet pass.
What cardlio never does
- It never contacts the people you scan — no e-mails, no invitations.
- It never reads the rest of your Google contacts: it reads back only the contacts it created itself.
- It never sends a card anywhere you did not choose. The CRM webhook is off until you switch it on, and the card photo is never sent.
- Cloud AI is optional: Apple's Private Cloud Compute, where Apple's servers keep nothing, or Claude or Gemini with your own key — used only if you choose one in Settings.
The details are in the privacy policy.
Questions
Does cardlio work on a plane?
Yes. Scanning, recognition and your library work fully offline. iCloud sync resumes once you are back online; the Apple Maps address check can be run again from the card's ⋯ menu.
Can cardlio see my contacts?
No. Your cards stay on your devices and in your private iCloud; no cardlio server stores them.
Do I need an account?
No. cardlio has no sign-up and no account.
Get cardlio
A free download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and for Mac. Your first 10 cards are free. Questions: support@cardlio.app.