Snowball vs Microsoft Lens
Microsoft Lens scans documents. Snowball builds relationships.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Snowball | Microsoft Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Contact management | Document scanning |
| Offline scanning | Limited | |
| Voice notes | ||
| Follow-up reminders | ||
| Contact extraction | Automatic to contacts | Manual copy required |
| Smart tags | ||
| CRM integrations | 100+ | Microsoft 365 only |
| Relationship tracking |
Microsoft Lens is a Scanner, Not a Contact Tool
Microsoft Lens is great for scanning documents, whiteboards, and receipts. It can scan business cards too—but then what? The text goes to OneNote or Word. There's no contact management, no reminders, no relationship tracking.
- Business card mode just extracts text—doesn't create contacts
- No way to add context, notes, or voice memos
- No follow-up reminders
- No CRM integrations beyond Microsoft ecosystem
- Designed for documents, not relationships
Key Differences
Purpose-Built for Contacts
Snowball is designed for one thing: turning business cards into relationships. Microsoft Lens is a generic document scanner with a business card mode bolted on.
Scan to Contact Instantly
Snowball creates a contact record automatically. Microsoft Lens gives you text you have to manually copy into your contacts app.
Add Context While Fresh
Voice notes, tags, follow-up reminders. Capture what you discussed, not just contact details. Microsoft Lens has none of this.
Works With Any CRM
Sync to HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and 100+ tools. Microsoft Lens only connects to Microsoft 365 apps.
When Microsoft Lens Makes Sense
- You primarily scan documents, whiteboards, and receipts
- You're deeply embedded in Microsoft 365
- You just need OCR text extraction, not contact management
- You want one app for all scanning types
When to Choose Snowball
- You want scanned cards to become real contacts
- You need to add context and voice notes
- You want follow-up reminders
- You need to sync to non-Microsoft CRMs
- You're serious about networking and relationship building
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Microsoft Lens create contacts?
Microsoft Lens extracts text from business cards but doesn't create contact records. You have to manually copy information to your contacts app.
Is Snowball better for document scanning?
No—Snowball focuses on business cards and contacts. For general document scanning, Microsoft Lens is a better choice. Use both.
Does Snowball work with Microsoft 365?
Snowball integrates with Outlook via standard sync options. For deeper Microsoft 365 integration, you can use Zapier or Power Automate.
Which is more accurate for business cards?
Snowball's AI is specifically trained for business cards and achieves 98%+ accuracy. Microsoft Lens uses general OCR that may require more correction.