NFC Scanner vs Smart NFC Tools
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NFC Scanner
Easily read NFC tags on your iPhone or iPod. This utility app provides a history of scanned tags, supports multi-record tags, and allows you to open links directly from within the application. It's designed for quick, one-handed use.
- Read NFC tags on iOS
- Scan history
- Automatic scanning option
- Multi-record tag support
- One-hand optimized UI
- Open links from app
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Read NFC Tags for the first time on iOS! NFC Scanner features: - A history of the tags you scanned - Optional automatic scanning when the app is launched for quick tag reading. - Support for multi-record tags - User interface optimized for one-hand use - Open links from right within the app + more coming soon!
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Smart NFC Tools at 4.6 against NFC Scanner's 1.8. Smart NFC Tools also leads on review sentiment (30% vs 10%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). NFC Scanner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). 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
Both are free to download. Smart NFC Tools sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NFC Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.
Smart NFC Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart NFC Tools has 477 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of NFC Scanner's written reviews are positive against 30% of Smart NFC Tools's.
NFC Scanner ships an update every 4 weeks, Smart NFC Tools weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NFC Scanner | Smart NFC Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.8 (16 ratings) | 4.6 (477 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 10.0% of reviews | 30.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 477 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wander Bit LLC - Photo & Video Editor Apps and More | Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA. |
Customer experience
NFC Scanner
Smart NFC Tools
Bugs and requests
NFC Scanner
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
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- 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
NFC Scanner
No in-app purchases
Smart NFC Tools
- NFC Tools Premium$1.99
Questions
Is NFC Scanner free?
Is Smart NFC Tools free?
Which has better reviews, NFC Scanner or Smart NFC Tools?
Do NFC Scanner or Smart NFC Tools have ads?
Which is updated more often, NFC Scanner or Smart NFC Tools?
Other comparisons
