Simply NFC vs MTools BLE RFID Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simply NFC
Easily read and write to NFC tags using your phone. This app supports various tag types including text, URLs, contacts, and HomeKit scenes. It also offers accessibility features, Siri Shortcuts, widgets, and iMessage extensions for convenient tag management and automation.
- Read and write NFC tags
- Supports text, URL, vCard, SMS, email, phone, app launch, custom URI, location, HomeKit, and Wi-Fi tags
- Trigger HomeKit scenes
- VoiceOver accessibility
- Siri Shortcuts integration
- Widget and iMessage extension
- Export scanned history
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Simply NFC is a powerful, accessible, and easy-to-use NFC reader and writer for iPhone. Scan NFC tags instantly, create programmable tags, trigger HomeKit scenes, automate workflows, and create spoken text tags for visually impaired users, all without external hardware. Built with accessibility in mind: * Full VoiceOver support throughout the app * Spoken text tags that read aloud when scanned * Great for labeling household items, storage, medication, equipment, and more * Accessible scanning and writing workflows for blind and visually impaired users Features: * Scan NFC tags instantly * Read raw tag information * Save scan history automatically * Multi-tag scanning * Apple Watch remote scanning support Write and program NFC tags directly from your iPhone: * Text tags * Text-to-Voice tags * URL tags * HomeKit scene tags * Wi-Fi setup tags * Contact cards (vCard) * Email, SMS, phone, and FaceTime tags * Custom URI and app-launch tags * Location tags Advanced NFC features: * Import tag records * Configure write passwords * Edit and rewrite compatible tags * Export history as CSV or tab-delimited text * Integrate scans with your own web services HomeKit support: * Trigger HomeKit scenes from NFC tags * Background NFC support on compatible devices * Great for smart home and accessibility automations Siri Shortcuts and integrations: * Start scanning with Siri * Launch single or multi-scan modes * iMessage extension for sharing scan history Developer features: * URI scheme support: simplynfc://reader simplynfc://scan simplynfc://multiscan simplynfc://writer * Callback support for apps and websites * Send scanned tag data directly to your server * Build NFC workflows into your own apps and services Simply tap “Read NFC” and hold your iPhone near a tag. It’s that simple. Simply NFC is designed for beginners, power users, accessibility needs, smart homes, inventory systems, and NFC development workflows. We love hearing from our customers, so feel free to contact us with questions, concerns, issues, bugs, suggestions, or feature requests. We are always looking for ways to improve Simply NFC.
MTools BLE RFID Reader
This application allows users to read and write data to various NFC tags using compatible BLE devices. It offers advanced features for managing and editing tag data, including UID manipulation and firmware upgrades for supported hardware.
- Read and write NFC tags
- Mifare Classic and Ultralight support
- UID changer for magic cards
- Tag dump editor
- ChameleonUltra device management
- Firmware upgrades
- Tag scanner and ID logger
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MTools BLE App is an all-in-one App for PN532 BLE, PCR532, ChameleonUltra, ChameleonUltra Dev Kit, ChameleonLite and Pixl.js devices. It supports reading and writing of Mifare Classic 1K, Mifare Classic 4K, Mifare Ultralight, Mifare Ultralight C, NTAG203, NTAG213, NTAG215, NTAG216, Mifare Desfire, Mifare Plus and other NFC tags with APDU command. Mifare Classic Tools UI friendly Mifare Dump editor full dump reading Tag formatter Partial and full sectors writing UID Changer Gen1A, Gen2, Gen3 & Gen4 Magic card support Mifare Ultralight Mifare DESFire GEN4 GUI Configuration to Mifare Classic Ultralight DESFire Shadow mode settings UID/SAK/ATQA/ATS Password ChameleonUltra Slot Manager Quick Reading & Simulating Slot Dump Button settings Mifare Classic Settings Mfkey32 Firmware Upgrade Pixl.js BLE File Transfer Dump uploader Slot name editor Firmware Upgrade Tag Scanner ID Logger Tag ID Sharing Mifare Dump Importing by bin, mct or json Share dump as bin, mct or json Dump to Keys Mifare Keys Public Keys Private keys by user History keys by card OTA Tool Firmwre Repository File selectable Upgrading process
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: MTools BLE RFID Reader at 75% against Simply NFC's 47%. MTools BLE RFID Reader also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). Simply NFC's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (183 vs 17). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Simply NFC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and MTools BLE RFID Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Simply NFC holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simply NFC has 183 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Simply NFC's written reviews are positive against 75% of MTools BLE RFID Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Simply NFC ships an update fortnightly, MTools BLE RFID Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simply NFC | MTools BLE RFID Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (183 ratings) — better | 3.8 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 183 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lakeside Llama LLC | MTools Tec Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
Simply NFC
MTools BLE RFID Reader
Bugs and requests
Simply NFC
Reported bugs
13 issues- Wifi joining option fails
- Phone does nothing when tapping Wifi tag
- App stops telling device to speak loudly after a few scans
- App does not read tags at all
- NFC tag not read after 5 minutes
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Fails with different brand NFC tags
- Privacy policy not updated
- Error connecting or too much information when writing tags
- HomeKit scenes do not work, redirect to developer's website with 404 error
- White buttons on white background (visibility issue)
- Pro version not working for some users
- Restore purchase feature does not work
- App states it won't work with specific iPhone models despite being listed as compatible
Requested features
9 requests- Improve Wifi tag support
- Fix issue with 'speak loudly' feature stopping
- Preview Pro upgrade records
- Allow custom URL schemes in URI Record
- Long term tag save area for review, edit, and rewrite
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Add more languages (e.g., Russian)
- Improve VoiceOver support for tag selection and reading results
- Support writing HomeKit enabled tags on iPhone
- Add dark mode option for better visibility
MTools BLE RFID Reader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Simply NFC
- Pro Version$4.99
MTools BLE RFID Reader
- MTools Premium$8.99
Questions
Is Simply NFC free?
Is MTools BLE RFID Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Simply NFC or MTools BLE RFID Reader?
Do Simply NFC or MTools BLE RFID Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simply NFC or MTools BLE RFID Reader?
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