# NFC Reader / Writer — Read, save, and share NFC tags

> Utility app to read, save, and share data from NFC tags. (iPhone/iPad app by Andrew Sowers.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Andrew Sowers](https://appshunter.io/developer/592605673)
- Category: Utilities, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.58/5 from 19 App Store ratings · 106 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 5 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2017-09-20
- Data updated: 2026-07-08
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328/reviews.md

## What is NFC Reader / Writer?

With NFC Reader you can read tags, save them for later viewing, share them, save contacts, open URLs and more! Be advised: Reading NFC tags requires iPhone 7, 8, or X.

FAQ:
- Will my iPhone work with NFC? That depends: iPhone 7 and up supports NFC reading and NFC reading only works when NFC tags are NDEF formatted. If you're not sure what that means, you can reach out to our support for more information.
- Are NFC tags RFID tags? No, NFC NDEF tags are not RFID tags - this means your gym cards, debit/credit cards, hotel cards, etc aren't readable by this app.
- Will this app help me pair to my speaker/router/camera/etc? No, this app doesn't support deep integrations into NFC enabled products - this app is intended to read NFC tags and display data within those tags. Some tags contain actionable data like website URLs, text messages, geotags, contact cards, etc.

If you have any questions, reach out to me at andrew@baristable.com

## Key features

- Read NFC tags
- Save tags for later
- Share tag data
- Save contacts from tags
- Open URLs from tags
- Display text messages

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of NFC Reader / Writer?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- ✅ Works well for NFC reading on compatible devices
- 👍 Nice, clean user interface design
- 🎯 Effective for product traceability and information display
- 💪 Reliable performance on iPhone 7 and newer models
- 🔧 Useful for reading various NFC tag types and formats

**Cons**

- 🐛 App crashes on startup for unsupported devices
- ❌ Inconsistent NFC reading functionality across devices
- 📱 Limited compatibility - only works on iPhone 7+
- 😕 Poor documentation and unclear instructions
- ⚠️ Misleading compatibility information in app store
- 🚫 Does not work on iPhone 6, 6S, SE, and older models
- 🔴 Session invalidation errors during scanning
- 🎨 UI differs from promotional screenshots
- 📢 Unwanted ads and subscription prompts

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on launch for devices without NFC support
- NFC reading fails on iPhone 6, 6S, and SE despite claimed compatibility
- Session invalidated - feature not supported error messages
- Apple Pay popup appears when scanning NFC tags
- Unreadable symbols displayed on screen during scanning
- App won't open on multiple device models
- CoreNFC framework compatibility issues

**Most requested features**

- Support for older iPhone models (iPhone 6, 6S, SE)
- Ability to open amiibo files from Google Drive
- Italian language support
- Better error handling and user notifications
- Support for writing NFC tags on all compatible devices
- Graceful handling for devices without NFC hardware

## Recent user reviews (10 of 106)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Amanda

*2024-05-31, version 1.3.2*

What’s up today? I’m having a bad day

### 3/5 — Not working with iPhone

*2023-10-13, version 1.3.2*

I cannot read NFC cards with my iPhone using the app. I have multiple cards which can be read on other devices. I have also tested my phone's hardware by scanning the cards using the the iPhone Shortcuts app. So I know the cards are good, and the phone's NFC reader hardware works. But when I try to read the cards using the app with my phone and other phones, it does not work. Can you please help?

I am giving 3 stars based on a nice UI and will increase to 5 if I get help to make it work or an explanation why it doesn’t work for me.

### 1/5 — Will

*2023-07-22, version 1.3.2*

Will it work on Digimon vital bracelets?

### 1/5 — Don’t work

*2021-09-22*

Don’t work on iPhone 11

### 4/5 — Change new logo

*2021-09-21*

New logo is ugly but the app is fine ;)

### 5/5 — Works well

*2021-08-17, version 1.3.0*

This is one of the better read apps I’ve used, others have odd format issues or can’t read certain data. Most of the bad reviews are from people who have devices that don’t have the physical hardware needed to read NFC, so I’d take most and toss them out. One gripe is that the “main screen” of the app is different than the pictures shown here, I wish it appeared the same because I prefer the aesthetic of the “scan” bar along the bottom like in the pictures rather than a circle off center on the bottom of the screen, but that’s a minor critique.

### 5/5 — Instagram

*2021-07-18*

@call_me_shivam29

### 5/5 — César

*2021-06-23, version 1.3.0*

López

### 1/5 — Scam?

*2021-02-23, version 1.2.2*

This app downloaded itself onto my phone. I immediately deleted it, but it still seems to be a scam. DON’T DOWNLOAD.

### 5/5 — Слов нет

*2021-02-10*

Я всё делаю как сказали, но он не подключается

## Frequently asked questions about NFC Reader / Writer

### What iPhones support NFC reading?

NFC tag reading is supported on iPhone 7 and newer models. It's important to note that NFC reading functionality is limited to reading NDEF formatted tags. If you are unsure about your iPhone's compatibility or the tag format, you can contact support for assistance.

### Can this app read my gym or credit cards?

No, this app cannot read gym cards, debit/credit cards, hotel cards, or other RFID tags. It is specifically designed to read NFC NDEF formatted tags, which are distinct from general RFID tags.

### What kind of data can I get from NFC tags?

This app can extract various types of actionable data from NFC tags, including website URLs, text messages, geotags, and contact cards. It displays this data and allows you to save or share it.

### Does this app help me pair devices like speakers or routers?

No, this app does not support deep integrations for pairing NFC-enabled products like speakers, routers, or cameras. Its primary function is to read and display data contained within NFC tags, not to facilitate device connections.

### Is there a cost to use NFC Reader?

The app is free to download and use, but it does include in-app purchases and advertisements. Specific features or an ad-free experience may require a purchase.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.1 — 2026-07-07

Welcome to NFC version 2! NFC Reader has become NFC, and now supports writing NFC tags! All of the same tag reading features from before are present, but you can now enjoy an updated design and ability to write several popular NDEF tag types.

This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

### 1.3.2 — 2021-10-30

New launch screen
Updated default theme blue color to match app icon
Updated NFC FAQ URL in profile

### 1.3.1 — 2021-09-20

Check out our new logo!

### 1.3.0 — 2021-03-10

Lots of fun stuff in this release. I've cleaned up the user interface to better match iOS 14 design philosophies including the addition of dark mode and sliding modals for each gesture dismissal of scenes. I've also added the ability to scan for parse application/vnd.wfa.wsc records so you can scan NFC tags with wifi credentials and connect right from the app. We have also added the concept of themes. Email andrew@baristable.com with new theme suggestions.

### 1.2.2 — 2018-01-02

NEW FEATURES:
content extension for quick launch of tag scanning
new force touch shortcuts for quick launch of tag scanning
Improved error messaging for invalid phones and tags

## Apps similar to NFC Reader / Writer

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfccool-tools-tag-reader/id1249686798) | 4.5 (6,591) | Free | Utilities |
| [Smart NFC Tools: Read & Write](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-nfc-tools-read-and-write/id1527587931) | 4.6 (464) | Free | Utilities |
| [NFC Tools](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-tools/id1252962749) | 4.6 (12,957) | Free | Utilities |
| [Simply NFC - Tag Writer/Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-nfc-tag-writerreader/id1262550712) | 4.1 (183) | Free | Utilities |
| [NFC21 Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc21-reader/id1293225257) | 3.0 (4) | Free | Utilities |
| [NFC Tap](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-tap/id1278913597) | 4.2 (229) | Free | Utilities |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-08.*