# Simply NFC vs NFC Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NFC Reader at 100% against Simply NFC's 47%. Simply NFC's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.1 vs 3.7). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simply NFC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NFC Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simply NFC holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simply NFC has 187 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Simply NFC's written reviews are positive against 100% of NFC Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simply NFC | NFC Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-nfc-tag-writerreader/id1262550712/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-wallet-card/id6778759720/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **187** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 47.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lakeside Llama LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/380892444) | [Mayur Sutariya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824431483) |

## What reviewers say

### Simply NFC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-nfc-tag-writerreader/id1262550712)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simplicity and minimalism
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Decent design for a utility app
- 👍 Works well for simple things like URLs
- 👍 Good for understanding NFC chips

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Wifi option does not work
- 🐛 Wifi record doesn't work
- 🐛 Not all functions available in free version
- 🐛 Paid version has limited URL schemes
- 🐛 Does not read certain NFC tags (e.g., Mifare ultralight)

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### NFC Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-wallet-card/id6778759720)

This app reads and writes NFC tags, scans QR codes and barcodes, and generates authentication codes. It keeps a history of all your scans and managed codes for easy access.

**Highlights:** NFC tag reader and writer, QR code and barcode scanner, Built-in authenticator for verification codes, Scan history management, Create custom NFC records, Generate time-based verification codes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $12.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $39.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simply NFC free?

Simply NFC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NFC Reader free?

NFC Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simply NFC or NFC Reader?

Simply NFC is rated higher. Simply NFC averages 4.1 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while NFC Reader averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Simply NFC or NFC Reader have ads?

NFC Reader shows ads; Simply NFC does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simply NFC or NFC Reader?

Simply NFC ships an update fortnightly, and NFC Reader fortnightly. Most recently, Simply NFC was updated on November 2, 2026 and NFC Reader on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*