Comparison

Serial Control vs Smart NFC Tools

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

Head to head
About

Serial Control

Create custom interfaces for serial devices from your smartphone or tablet. Design control pages with buttons and sliders, build command libraries, and automate actions based on device responses. Seamlessly integrate with StarTech.com serial products.

Highlights
  • Customizable control interfaces
  • Command library builder
  • Event-based action automation
  • Automatic device detection
  • Integrated account control
  • HEX and ASCII command editor
Features
Read full description

Serial Device Application Software for iOS Build and customize your own serial control interface from your smartphone, tablet, or web browser Features • Use with your existing StarTech.com serial products (for example, NETRS232, NETRS2321P, NETRS232485, NETRS232485W) • Issue console commands, build a command library, or design a control page that’s tailored to your application, complete with buttons, sliders, and switches. • Easily set up events based on response types, and map actions to run when an event occurs. • The app automatically detects the StarTech.com serial devices that are connected to your network. • Integrated account control lets you create an account, save settings, and share it across multiple devices. • Includes a HEX and ACSII command editor. • Conveniently test commands as you edit them.

About

Smart NFC Tools

Easily read, inspect, and modify NFC tags with this intuitive tool. Write to tags in various formats to trigger actions like opening websites or making calls. Prioritizes user privacy by operating entirely offline.

Highlights
  • Read NFC tag content
  • Inspect and modify NFC tags
  • Erase, lock, and copy tags
  • Write NFC tags in various formats
  • Trigger phone calls or open websites
  • 100% offline operation
Read full description

Smart NFC Tools is the most accessible and easy to use NFC Reader and Writer for mobile devices! With a simple user interface and powerful tools you can interact with NDEF-Formatted NFC cards without any external hardware! - Read, Inspect and modify: Read a tag by touching the back of your device against it and Smart NFC Tools will show you a full report on the tag's content and give you options such as erase, lock and copy. It's super easy! - Write in many formats: Smart NFC Tools enables you to write NFC tags in popular formats that allow for custom interactions such as opening a website or triggering a phone call just by touching the tag with a compatible device! - Note about privacy: Smart NFC Tools works 100% offline, without any personal or content data being sent to an external server or third party server. Your privacy is our priority! Embrace the world of NFC technologies using your phone or tablet! Smart NFC Tools is now available for all iOS devices!

Screenshots

Serial Control4 screens
Smart NFC Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Serial Control at none against Smart NFC Tools's 1. Serial Control also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Smart NFC Tools's advantage is review sentiment (30% vs 0%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads 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. Smart NFC Tools sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Serial Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, Smart NFC Tools weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Serial Control versus Smart NFC Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSerial ControlSmart NFC Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.6 (478 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews30.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—478 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarTech.comArthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.

Customer experience

Serial Control

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Smart NFC Tools

All ratings478 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive30.3%
Neutral3.0%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

Serial Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Smart NFC Tools

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Doesn't work to save contact card
  • App glitches
  • Doesn't work to read card and fob
  • Paid for unlock, but restore doesn't work after iOS update
  • Paid for ability to lock tags, but feature does not work
Show 1 more
  • App not working after 15 minutes, even after purchase

Requested features

2 requests
  • Add social media to chips
  • Ability to add multiple items to card after paying

In-app purchases

None

Serial Control

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Smart NFC Tools

One-time1
  • NFC Tools Premium$1.99

Questions

Is Serial Control free?
Serial Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smart NFC Tools free?
Smart NFC Tools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Serial Control or Smart NFC Tools have ads?
Neither Serial Control nor Smart NFC Tools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Serial Control or Smart NFC Tools?
Serial Control ships an update every 5 weeks, and Smart NFC Tools weekly. Most recently, Serial Control was updated on October 3, 2026 and Smart NFC Tools on October 14, 2026.

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