Comparison

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader vs NFC21 Tools

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

Head to head
About

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

This app allows you to read and write NFC tags, scan and create QR codes, digitize documents, and capture 3D models. It offers advanced NFC tools like encryption and batch operations, alongside a versatile QR code scanner and document scanner with OCR.

Highlights
  • Read and write NFC tags
  • Scan and create QR codes
  • Digitize documents with OCR
  • Capture 3D models and room scans
  • Advanced NFC tools (encryption, batch operations)
  • Customizable QR codes with logos
  • Automation and integration with iOS Shortcuts
Features
Read full description

Read and write NFC tags, scan and create QR codes, digitize documents, and capture 3D models - all in one app trusted by over 9 million users. NFC READING & WRITING Read any NFC tag to see web links, Wi-Fi, contacts, locations, payment links, and more. Write your own tags with 25+ message types (text, contacts, Wi-Fi, locations, calendar events, iOS Shortcuts, FaceTime, SMS, email, social media, payments, and Google Review links) that open apps, trigger shortcuts, or connect to services like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Spotify. NFC Tools: • Format, lock, password protect, analyze, and copy tags • NTAG 424 DNA: read secure tags, verify SUN tamper-proof messages, configure keys and SDM • NFC Tap Counter: teach NFC tags how to count • Batch Operations: write multiple tags sequentially, import from CSV/Excel • Custom Commands: send raw hex commands for advanced tag manipulation NFC Apps: • Passport & ID: read your passport or ID chip to view the stored personal data and photo • Sonicare Reset: read your Philips Sonicare brush head usage stats and reset its timer • Amiibo: scan to reveal the character with official artwork, build your collection, and back it up • OpenPrintTag: store 3D printing filament info on spools for automatic material detection • NFC Safe: store encrypted secrets on tags with 256-bit AES encryption QR CODE & BARCODE SCANNER • Scan any QR code or barcode with batch mode, plus a share extension to detect codes in your photos. • Create custom QR codes for all the same message types as NFC. • Design them with your own colors, logos, and Genmoji, and add them to home screen widgets. Supported formats: QR, Aztec, Code128, PDF417, DataMatrix, EAN, and 15+ other barcode types. DOCUMENT SCANNER • Capture documents with automatic edge detection and on-device OCR. • Import images from your photo library or files. • Save as searchable PDFs with full-text search. • Export to iCloud or share directly. 3D OBJECT & ROOM SCANNER • Scan objects into 3D models using photogrammetry. • Scan rooms with LiDAR to generate floor plans, detecting doors, windows, and furniture. • Measure dimensions and calculate floor area. • Export for 3D printing and CAD applications. Requires: iPhone with LiDAR sensor (iPhone 12 Pro and newer) AUTOMATION & INTEGRATION • Webhooks: send scan data to your server for inventory or custom integrations • iOS Shortcuts: launch scans via Siri, access scan history, write tags through automation • Widgets: quick-launch scanning from home screen, lock screen, or Control Center • Auto-Actions: open links, run shortcuts, play audio, or trigger text-to-speech when scanning tags CUSTOMIZATION Choose from multiple themes and icons, text-to-speech voices in 40+ languages, and Game Center achievements. Note: NFC functionality requires iPhone 7 or newer. iPhones read NFC but not all RFID frequencies. NFC.cool is in no way affiliated with Nintendo or Philips. Amiibo is a registered trademark by Nintendo and Sonicare is a registered trademark by Philips. These functions in NFC.cool are for educational purposes only. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

NFC21 Tools

Explore NFC technology with an advanced yet user-friendly toolset. Read, write, and manage NFC tags with support for various data types, including URLs, contacts, and Wi-Fi credentials. Organize your scanned tags with filters and access detailed information.

Highlights
  • Read and write NFC tags
  • Manage tag history with filters
  • Create standard, extended, and expert tag types
  • Support for URL, Phone, Email, SMS, FaceTime, and Shortcuts
  • Advanced options for Text, Address, Position, Contact, and Wi-Fi
  • Define custom data types (MIME-Type)
  • Share Bluetooth device IDs
Read full description

We love NFC, therefore we decided to develop our NFC21 tools. Our app offers you an advanced yet easy to use toolset to explore NFC with your iPhone. Reading as well as writing of NFC-tags is supported and wrapped in an attractive user interface. NFC21 tools greets you with a history view, which contains all NFC-Tags you have read or written. Additional filters enable you to narrow down the list to ‘Read’, ‘Written’, ‘Drafts’ or ‘Favorites’ only. Tap on an entry for more details like the serial number (uid), memory size, write lock as well as the stored content. Based on the latter, an available action is offered like opening a link in Safari or the import of v-cards into the Contacts app. Creation of own NFC-tags starts with the selection of a type. We differentiate three different types. First, the standard-type creates NFC-tags which are readable by newer iPhones (iPhone XS, XR or newer) without an additional app. Second, extended types which offer more advanced scenarios like sharing of locations, contacts or WIFI-credentials. These types require a suitable app (like NFC21 Tools or NFC21 Reader) to read and process the stored content. Lastly, the expert type allows the definition of own datatypes, which require suitable / custom apps to use them. In summary, NFC21 Tools support the following tag-types: Standard (usable without an app with iPhone XS, XR or newer): • URL: Share a link to a website with an NFC-tag. Long / complicated addresses are a problem of the past. • Phone number: Share a number with NFC – always right and directly dialable. • E-Mail: Prepare a message for a recipient, ready to send with a tap. • SMS: Create a short message for a predefined number, an optional text and ready to send in an instant. • FaceTime: Start a FaceTime conversation with a scan. • Shortcut: Execute a shortcut from the apple shortcuts app with a simple scan. Advanced (with App): • Text: Hide a text within an NFC-tag, waiting to be read by a scanning fellow. • Address: Prepare a location for maps to ease getting direction – complicated street names are not a problem anymore. • Position: Locate an exact position (treasure)? Store longitude and longitude for use in the maps app. • Contact: Make your business card smart and let others scan your data like magic. • WiFi: Share credentials and ease login with a tag scan. Expert: • Data: Allows to define custom data types (MIME-Type). • Bluetooth: Share Bluetooth device IDs for easier coupling. Recommended NFC-Tag types: • NXP NTAG 203, 213, 215, 216 Support and NFC-Tags The NFC21 Tools app is developed by the NFC21 GmbH. Do not hesitate to send feedback and feature requests to our support. We recommend NFC-Tags based on the NXP NTAG-Series. In our online-shop we offer you a broad selection of NFC-products in various shapes and colors. Furthermore, we produce custom NFC-products based on your individual requirements.

Screenshots

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader4 screens
NFC21 Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NFC21 Tools at none against NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader's 26. NFC21 Tools also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader's advantage is ratings volume (6.7K vs 32) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). On price 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. NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. NFC21 Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFC21 Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader has 6.7K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader's written reviews are positive against 57% of NFC21 Tools's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader ships an update every 11 days, NFC21 Tools every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader versus NFC21 Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFC.cool Tools Tag ReaderNFC21 Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6.7K ratings)4.8 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.9% of reviews — better56.6% of reviews
Number of ratings6.7K — better32
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size102 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNicolo StanciuNFC21 GmbH

Customer experience

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

All ratings6,676 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews1,207 reviews
Positive65.9%
Neutral4.7%
Negative29.3%

NFC21 Tools

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive56.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative37.7%

Bugs and requests

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to read certain NFC tags
  • App freezes during NFC operations
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 13 and newer
  • Inconsistent behavior when writing tags

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to clear/erase NFC tags
  • Integrate with Shortcuts app
  • Offline mode for writing NFC tags
  • Add support for RFID tags
  • Improve instructions and documentation

NFC21 Tools

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

26 purchases

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

Subscriptions20
  • Unlimited Monthly Special$1.991 Month
  • Business Cards Service Monthly3 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Unlimited 3DT Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
Show 17 more
  • NFC.cool Scanner Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • UnlimitedPro3DT Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Platinum Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Ultra3DT Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Unlimited3DT Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Mini3DT Yearly3 Days trial$17.491 Year
  • Mini7DT Yearly7 Days trial$17.491 Year
  • Unlimited Yearly Special$19.001 Year
  • Business Cards Service Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited 3DT Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Unlimited7DT Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • NFC.cool Scanner Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • UnlimitedPro7DT Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • UnlimitedPro3DT Yearly3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Ultra3DT Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Ultra7DT Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Business Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • Donut$0.99
  • Rainbow Dark Mode$0.99
  • Unlimited QR-Code Widgets$3.99
Show 3 more
  • Speech Synthesizer$3.99
  • Ad-free$6.99
  • Unlimited Lifetime$49.99
None

NFC21 Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader free?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFC21 Tools free?
NFC21 Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader or NFC21 Tools?
NFC21 Tools is rated higher. NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while NFC21 Tools averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.
Do NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader or NFC21 Tools have ads?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader shows ads; NFC21 Tools does not.
Which is updated more often, NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader or NFC21 Tools?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader ships an update every 11 days, and NFC21 Tools every 2 months. Most recently, NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and NFC21 Tools on July 6, 2026.

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