# NFC Tap vs NFC Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NFC Tap at 55% against NFC Reader's 0%. NFC Tap also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NFC Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NFC Tap asks for nothing beyond the download.

NFC Tap holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC Tap has 229 ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of NFC Tap's written reviews are positive against 0% of NFC Reader's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFC Tap | NFC Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (229 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-tap/id1278913597/reviews)** | [3.7 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-tag-scanner/id1324286598/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **229** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | **55.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STMicroelectronics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801774735) | [Julien Millau](https://appshunter.io/developer/1324286597) |

## What reviewers say

### NFC Tap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-tap/id1278913597)

This app allows users to read and write NFC tags, supporting various tag types and NDEF message formats. It enables quick actions like connecting to Wi-Fi, pairing Bluetooth devices, opening URLs, and initiating calls or messages directly from NFC tags.

**Highlights:** Read/Write NFC tags, Support ST25 Type5 & Type4A tags, Read/Write NDEF Messages (URL, Text, SMS, etc.), Connect to Wi-Fi devices, Pair Bluetooth devices, Initiate calls, SMS, and emails, Control ISO15693 commands

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Handy for development
- 🚀 Works as intended (initially)
- 👍 Great color scheme
- 👍 Simple navigation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not work anymore
- 🐛 Unable to write to tags
- 🐛 Error messages
- 🐛 Not user friendly
- 🐛 Hard to navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to write to tags
- Error indicating need to read tag first
- No longer works
- Cannot read, edit, or write back memory to 15693 tag
- Crashing when scanning NXP Mifare

**Requested features**

- Display NDEF record in HEX
- Fix password protection bug on iOS
- Allow importing bin files
- Improve user-friendliness for beginners
- Connect Digimon Vital Bracelet with VB Lab


### NFC Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-tag-scanner/id1324286598)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFC Tap free?

NFC Tap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NFC Reader free?

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

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

NFC Tap is rated higher. NFC Tap averages 4.2 out of 5 from 229 ratings, while NFC Reader averages 3.7 from 43 ratings.

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

NFC Reader shows ads; NFC Tap does not.

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

NFC Tap ships an update every 2 months, and NFC Reader every 2 months. Most recently, NFC Tap was updated on September 21, 2026 and NFC Reader on July 7, 2026.

---

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