Comparison

SerialMagic Keys vs NFC Tools

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SerialMagic Keys

This app enables wireless RFID GEN2 UHF, NFC, and barcode readers, along with other devices, to send data directly into iOS applications. It supports a wide range of Bluetooth scanners and sensors, making it ideal for inventory, asset tracking, and data collection tasks.

Highlights
  • Connects wireless RFID GEN2 UHF, NFC, and barcode readers
  • Integrates with sensors, scales, and other wireless devices
  • Sends data directly into iOS apps
  • Supports a wide range of Bluetooth scanner models
  • Enables data input for inventory, asset tracking, and more
  • Reads and writes NDEF data
  • Simulates keyboard input for data posting
Features
Read full description

SerialMagic Keys provides a simple yet powerful way to connect wireless RFID GEN2 UHF, NFC & barcode readers, meters, sensors, scales, and other wireless devices to easily get data into iOS apps. Why not just use Bluetooth HID (keyboard mode) devices? Many Bluetooth devices are not supported on iOS, and when they are apps must be updated to work. For example use BLE and MFi devices like idChamp® RFID & NFC readers like NF4, RS4, RS3, 1862, 1128, Allflex RS420, LPR, GPR+ Livestock & readers and countless other models with ALL iOS apps that take typed input, e.g. FileMaker Go. RFID-NFC and barcode enable web apps and native apps for inventory, cycle counting, asset tracking, book scouting, package tracking, medical apps - all apps can be RFID, NFC, Barcode, Sensor enabled with SerialMagic Keys. Supports more Bluetooth scanner models than any product of its kind. Scanfob®, idChamp®, BlueSnap caBLE(tm) Bluetooth to RS232 (BLE) dongles. Bluetooth CaBLE can iOS enable virtually any RS-232 device to iOS. Scanfob® 3002i 2D barcode scanner, Scanfob® 2006 laser barcode scanner, Koamtac KDC Scanners, Socket CHS Scanners, 8Qi, Honeywell, Symbol, and hundreds more. Also works with Bluetooth UHF GEN2 RFID readers like Scanfob® Ultra-BB2, Scanfob® Qid, idChamp EUB 4-port, EUA 1-port embedded Gen2 UHF RFID readers CipherLab 1862, TSL 1128 and NFC readers like Scanfob® NFC-BB2. Read & write NDEF data using idChamp® NF4 & RS4. Keyboard simulation can post NDEF data to any app that can accept keystrokes. Read HID Corporate 1000 cards, iClass, Seos, PROX, HID Mobile Access BLE credentials, Apple Student ID, and more using idChamp NF4, and RS4 for high security applications. Write UHF GEN2 EPC and user memory tags with Scanfob® Ultra-BB2, idChamp 1862, idChamp 1128, and more. Measure distance with Leica Disto E7100i, E7500i, etc. and post Keyboard simulation post measurements to all apps that accepts keystrokes. Use measurement rounding feature for simplified use e.g. round to nearest fraction of foot, meter, inch. Post PosiTector 6000 probe coating thickness measurements to any iOS app. Note when using app with non-genuine scanner, registration code may be needed.

About

NFC Tools

Easily read and write data to NFC tags. Lock tags permanently, set passwords for protection, and remove them. Save tag data for later use and merge information into arrays.

Highlights
  • Read NFC tags
  • Write text and data to tags
  • Lock tags for permanent writing
  • Set and remove tag passwords
  • Save tag data for future use
  • Merge data into arrays
Read full description

Our app is a handy NFC tag application that allows users to read and write data easily. With the app, you can read NFC tags as well as write text information and data sets to them. Additional features include the ability to lock tags to write permanently and set a password to protect the information. You can also remove passwords from tags and save the data in the app for future use. Our app allows you to merge data into a single array and write it to a tag, as well as save a history of read tags. Note that the read function is available for free, while any write operations require a paid subscription. This application contains auto-renewable subscriptions and In-App Purchases: 1 week: $4.99 1 month: $12.99 1 year: $39.99 Lifetime: $59.99 Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ywEtsl1ibGZSBUPZHny6EeZHtC-wIIxaqwZKRqpEwls/edit?usp=sharing Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SerialMagic Keys4 screens
NFC Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SerialMagic Keys at 83% against NFC Tools's 28%. SerialMagic Keys also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium). NFC Tools's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SerialMagic Keys sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and NFC Tools sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SerialMagic Keys ships an update monthly, NFC Tools every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SerialMagic Keys versus NFC Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSerialMagic KeysNFC Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (451 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better28.1% of reviews
Number of ratings—451 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB114 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSerialio Ltd.Hunter Nelson

Customer experience

SerialMagic Keys

Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

NFC Tools

All ratings451 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral4.0%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews57 reviews
Positive28.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative70.2%

In-app purchases

9 purchases

SerialMagic Keys

One-time9
  • Enable RFID-NFC User Data Reading & Writing$19.99
  • Built-in NFC reading$19.99
  • Allow Special Key(s)$19.99
Show 6 more
  • Enable Data Handling$24.99
  • More supported scanners$29.99
  • Laser Measurer support$49.99
  • S3 Scale Head support$79.99
  • PosiTector 6000 support$89.99
  • Advanced Posting Mode$99.99
6 purchases

NFC Tools

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Weekly2 variants$4.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial2 variants$4.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is SerialMagic Keys free?
SerialMagic Keys is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFC Tools free?
NFC Tools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SerialMagic Keys or NFC Tools have ads?
Neither SerialMagic Keys nor NFC Tools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SerialMagic Keys or NFC Tools?
SerialMagic Keys ships an update monthly, and NFC Tools every 11 days. Most recently, SerialMagic Keys was updated on September 14, 2026 and NFC Tools on September 23, 2026.

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