Comparison

NFC Tap vs Japan NFC Reader

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

Head to head
About

NFC Tap

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
Read full description

The NFC Tap iOS App leverages on the new NFC core feature of iOS 17, supporting the read an write of NFC tags from iPhone 7 and later devices. It gives users a new experience based on the tag's NDEF content, making it easier and faster to perform recorded actions as described below. Main Features: • Support every STMicroelectronics ST25 Type5 & Type4A series tags. • App Clip based on URL https://www.myst25.com/clip • Read/Write user memory for Type5 tags. This allows user to read, write or update the content of any Type5 tags. • ISO15693/NFC Type5 commands list User Interface. This allows user to manage all ISO15693 commands. • ISO15693/NFC Type5 custom commands list User Interface • Fast Transfer Mode using STMicroelectronics ST25DV-I2C and ST25DVC tags. • PWM Control user interface for STMicroelectronics ST25DV-PWM tags. • Read/Write any kinds of NDEF Messages, NFC Forum compliant (URL, Text, SMS, email, Call, Map, VCard, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi®, Mime and Externals) • Universal Link with URL : https://www.myst25.com • Custom App URL Scheme “nfctap://”: - This allows user to open our iOS app from any other iOS app or from the safari browser using the custom URL scheme “nfctap://” In Details, the App features several functions enabled by the NFC tag content: - Connect to Wifi devices identified by its SSID, Key password and encryption type. - Connect to Bluetooth devices: Facilitates the pairing with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. After tapping a tag with the phone, the NFC Tap iOS App will recognize any Bluetooth pairing NDEF record and connect the phone directly to the specified device. - Open a URL in a browser: Opens a web page to the URL contained in the tag's NDEF record. - Get contact information: Displays and saves contact information (including ID picture) by tapping a tag containing a business card(vCard) message. - Geolocalize a position: Opens Apple Maps to the GPS location stored in the tag being tapped. - Initiate an SMS or Email: Opens the relevant email or SMS application with information contained in the tag being tapped. The user can then choose to send the email/SMS or edit it before sending. Use cases include, but are not limited to, customer service information for warranty or loyalty programs. - Initiate a phone call: Opens the phone service to the number contained in the tag's NDEF message. - Read a Text: Displays the text message contained in the tag being tapped. - Mime NDEF exemples: MimeType = application/pdf / MimeData = userManual.pdf - External NDEF exemples: application = video ; type = mpeg ; Data = video.mov Additionally, the NFC Tap App application include Bluetooth pairing with a ST25DV discovery board.

About

Japan NFC Reader

Easily check the balance and usage history of various Japanese transit and e-money cards directly on your iPhone. Supports a wide range of IC cards and payment services for convenient financial tracking.

Highlights
  • Check e-money balance
  • View usage history
  • Supports Transit IC cards
  • Supports Rakuten Edy, nanaco, WAON
  • Supports Hong Kong Octopus card
  • iPhone compatibility
Read full description

You can check Japanese e-money balance and usage history on your iPhone. Support: ・Transit IC(Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, SUGOCA, TOICA, Kitaca, manaca, nimoca, はやかけん(Hayakaken)) ・IruCa ・PASPY ・SAPICA ・icsca ・OKICA ・Ryuto ・Region Affiliate Transit IC(totra, Iwate Green Pass, iGUCA, HACHICA, AOPASS, nolbé, Shuhoku Orange Pass, AkiCA, Towada SkyBlue Pass, cherica, MegoICa, …and more!) ・Rakuten Edy ・nanaco ・WAON ・Japan Univ. Co-op IC Prepaid ・八達通 (Octopus) (Hong Kong) Devices that support card scanning: WITH iOS 13.0 OR LATER iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone SE (3rd generation) iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone SE (2nd generation) iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone 7 (sold in Japan) iPhone 7 Plus (sold in Japan)

Screenshots

NFC Tap4 screens
Japan NFC Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Japan NFC Reader at 5.0 against NFC Tap's 4.2. Japan NFC Reader also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 55%). NFC Tap's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Japan NFC Reader sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NFC Tap asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Japan NFC Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC Tap has 229 ratings behind it against 24, 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 67% of Japan NFC Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFC Tap ships an update every 2 months, Japan NFC Reader every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
NFC Tap versus Japan NFC Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFC TapJapan NFC Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (229 ratings)5.0 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings229 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSTMicroelectronicsRyoga Tanaka

Customer experience

NFC Tap

All ratings219 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral6.8%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive55.3%
Neutral3.9%
Negative40.8%

Japan NFC Reader

All ratings24 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

NFC Tap

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Error message: 'need to read a card on the main screen'
  • App closes when scanning NXP Mifare
  • Password protection bug on iOS (cannot enter password)
  • CCFile Error with Type 5 chips on iPhone
  • Required to scan tag before reading/writing memory
  • Throws an error for CCFile
  • Unable to read ST25 chips on iPhone

Requested features

6 requests
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Remove automatic tag scan prompt on app open

Japan NFC Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NFC Tap

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Japan NFC Reader

One-time2
  • Hide Ads (General)$1.99
  • Hide Ads (Advanced Features)$4.99

Questions

Is NFC Tap free?
NFC Tap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Japan NFC Reader free?
Japan NFC Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NFC Tap or Japan NFC Reader?
Japan NFC Reader is rated higher. NFC Tap averages 4.2 out of 5 from 229 ratings, while Japan NFC Reader averages 5.0 from 24 ratings.
Do NFC Tap or Japan NFC Reader have ads?
Japan NFC Reader shows ads; NFC Tap does not.
Which is updated more often, NFC Tap or Japan NFC Reader?
NFC Tap ships an update every 2 months, and Japan NFC Reader every 6 days. Most recently, NFC Tap was updated on September 21, 2026 and Japan NFC Reader on July 5, 2026.

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