NFC Tools vs NFC Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NFC Tools
Easily read and write data to NFC tags using a straightforward interface. Interact with tag content, view detailed information, and record standard data like contacts, URLs, and WiFi configurations.
- Read NFC tag data
- Write standard information to tags
- Store VCARDs and URLs
- Share contact details
- Save tag contents
- Configure WiFi and Bluetooth
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NFC Tools can read and write your NFC tags with a simple and lightweight user interface. By passing your device near an NFC chip, you can read the data it contains and interact with the content. The "Read" section allows you to see data such as: - the maker of the tag - the type of tag (ex : Mifare Ultralight, NTAG213) - the norm of the tag (ex : NFC Forum Type 2) - the available technology (ex: NFC A) - its serial number (ex : 04:85:c8:5a:40:2b:80) - the size of the tag and of the data on it - if you can write on the tag - all the data on the tag (NDEF format) NFC Tools can record standard information on your tags which will be compatible with any NFC device. For instance, you can store a VCARD to share your contact details easily, open an URL, share a phone number or even a geolocation. The "Write" section let you record standardised data such as: - a simple text - a link to a website - an email - a contact - a phone number - a predefined text message - an address or geolocation - a WiFi or Bluetooth configuration - personalised data - and more... The write function allows you to add as much data as you wish. This way you can record large quantities of information on your tag. The app also allows you to save the contents of your chip for later access. NFC Tools has been tested with the following NFC tags: - NTAG 203, 210, 210u, 212, 213, 213TT, 215, 216, 413 DNA, 424 DNA - Ultralight, Ultralight C, Ultralight EV1 - ICODE SLI, SLI-S, SLIX, SLIX-S, SLIX-L, SLIX2, DNA - DESFire EV1, EV2, EV3 - ST25TV, ST25TA - Felica If you encounter any problem, don’t hesitate to contact us. Notes: - Compatible from iPhone 7. - Use the "compatibility" mode to read/write Mifare Classic tags.
NFC Reader
Instantly read NFC and RFID tags without an account or internet connection. It supports various tag types, including business cards, Wi-Fi credentials, and location data, with features like multi-scan and a detailed history.
- Read NFC/RFID tags instantly
- Offline functionality
- Supports multiple tag types (vCard, Wi-Fi, URL)
- Scan history and multi-scan
- Hexadecimal data view
- Share tag content
- Privacy-focused, no account needed
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Hold your iPhone near any NFC or RFID tag and instantly read its content. No account. No setup. Works offline. REAL-WORLD USE CASES • Tap a business card tag → contact imported directly into your address book • Tap a WiFi tag → connected instantly, no password typing • Tap a product tag → URL opens in your browser automatically • Tap a door or badge tag → phone number dialed or email drafted in one step • Tap a location tag → map opens with the exact coordinates • Tap a NFC label on equipment → log and track your assets • Tap an unknown tag → raw content and hex data displayed for technical analysis SUPPORTED TAG TYPES • Text — view and copy raw text • URL & URI — open links instantly (http, ftp, file and other schemes) • vCard — import contacts with all fields prefilled • Phone — dial the stored number directly • Email — compose a message with subject and body prefilled • SMS — open Messages with recipient and text prefilled • WiFi — connect to a network automatically, including open networks • Location — view coordinates on a map • Smart Poster — display title and URL from composite tags • FeliCa — read IDm and system code from FeliCa tags • MiFare — read identifier from MiFare tags (ISO 14443, ISO 15693, ISO 18092) • RFID — compatible with a wide range of RFID tags and transponders KEY FEATURES • Multi-Scan — scan multiple tags in one session and review all results at once • Scan History — every tag saved automatically with date and type • Hex View — inspect the raw tag payload in hexadecimal • Share — export tag content via any app on your device • In-App Browser — open URLs without leaving the app • Privacy First — no account required, no data sent to any server • Dark Mode — full support for iOS dark mode
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: NFC Tools at 50% against NFC Reader's 0%. NFC Tools also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. NFC Tools sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NFC Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
NFC Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC Tools has 14K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of NFC Tools's written reviews are positive against 0% of NFC Reader's.
NFC Tools ships an update every 3 weeks, NFC Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NFC Tools | NFC Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (14K ratings) — better | 3.7 (43 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14K — better | 43 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #113 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | wakdev | Julien Millau |
Customer experience
NFC Tools
NFC Reader
Bugs and requests
NFC Tools
Reported bugs
4 issues- Cannot unlock NFC tags after locking them
- Contacts and WiFi records not working as expected
- Inconsistent behavior when reading/writing tags
- Restore purchase feature not functioning properly
Requested features
5 requests- Add ability to bulk write NFC tags
- Improve compatibility with wpa2 enterprise WiFi settings
- Implement file explorer for loading custom tag data
- Add option to write data to Apple Wallet
- Provide emulator functionality for testing without tags
NFC Reader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NFC Tools
- NFC Tools - Pro Edition$3.99
NFC Reader
- Remove Ads$1.99
Questions
Is NFC Tools free?
Is NFC Reader free?
Which has better reviews, NFC Tools or NFC Reader?
Do NFC Tools or NFC Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, NFC Tools or NFC Reader?
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