NFC Reader / Writer vs NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NFC Reader / Writer
This utility app allows you to read, save, and share information stored on NFC tags. It can extract data like URLs, contact cards, and text messages. Note that NFC tag reading requires an iPhone 7 or newer.
- Read NFC tags
- Save tags for later
- Share tag data
- Save contacts from tags
- Open URLs from tags
- Display text messages
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With NFC Reader you can read tags, save them for later viewing, share them, save contacts, open URLs and more! Be advised: Reading NFC tags requires iPhone 7, 8, or X. FAQ: - Will my iPhone work with NFC? That depends: iPhone 7 and up supports NFC reading and NFC reading only works when NFC tags are NDEF formatted. If you're not sure what that means, you can reach out to our support for more information. - Are NFC tags RFID tags? No, NFC NDEF tags are not RFID tags - this means your gym cards, debit/credit cards, hotel cards, etc aren't readable by this app. - Will this app help me pair to my speaker/router/camera/etc? No, this app doesn't support deep integrations into NFC enabled products - this app is intended to read NFC tags and display data within those tags. Some tags contain actionable data like website URLs, text messages, geotags, contact cards, etc. If you have any questions, reach out to me at andrew@baristable.com
NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer
This utility app allows users to scan and read data from NFC tags. It provides a straightforward interface for accessing raw information and exporting it. The application is free to use and does not display advertisements.
- Scan NFC tags
- Read NFC tag data
- Export RAW data
- Simple interface
- No advertisements
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Hold your iPhone near a tag and see what's inside. Then edit it, copy it to another tag, or wipe it clean. Version 2.0 is a full rewrite with a new design and many new features. FREE, NO ADS Reading, erasing and export are free forever. No ads, no subscriptions, no sign-up. READ & ERASE • Tag type, exact chip model, ID, memory size and lock status • Text, links and other NDEF records in plain, readable form • Raw memory dump with a HEX view for non-NDEF tags • Copy any value with one tap • Export a scan as clean JSON • Erase a tag back to blank PRO (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) • Write text or a link: web, email, phone, SMS or location • Clone a tag to a blank tag in a few taps • Write files or several records at once • Edit records as JSON, or raw memory in a hex editor • Write to and erase password-protected NTAG21x tags • Permanent lock (can't be undone) Your first 3 writes are free, clones included. Pay once, keep it forever. No subscription. GOOD TO KNOW • Bank cards, transit passes and encrypted access cards are protected by design. iOS doesn't allow copying or editing them, so the app shows only their ID and basic info. • Works offline. No data collection. • You need an iPhone with NFC. Made by one independent developer: me. Question or an idea? Use the support link, I read every message.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer at none against NFC Reader / Writer's 1. NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (33% vs 16%). NFC Reader / Writer's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 100 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and iOS requirement 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 Reader / Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.
NFC Reader / Writer ships an update monthly, NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer every 100 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NFC Reader / Writer | NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (19 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 16.0% of reviews | 33.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 100 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Sowers | Aleksandr Balyberdin |
Customer experience
NFC Reader / Writer
NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer
Bugs and requests
NFC Reader / Writer
Reported bugs
7 issues- App crashes immediately on launch for devices without NFC support
- NFC reading fails on iPhone 6, 6S, and SE despite claimed compatibility
- Session invalidated - feature not supported error messages
- Apple Pay popup appears when scanning NFC tags
- Unreadable symbols displayed on screen during scanning
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- App won't open on multiple device models
- CoreNFC framework compatibility issues
Requested features
6 requests- Support for older iPhone models (iPhone 6, 6S, SE)
- Ability to open amiibo files from Google Drive
- Italian language support
- Better error handling and user notifications
- Support for writing NFC tags on all compatible devices
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- Graceful handling for devices without NFC hardware
NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NFC Reader / Writer
- Remove Ads$1.99
NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is NFC Reader / Writer free?
Is NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer free?
Do NFC Reader / Writer or NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer have ads?
Which is updated more often, NFC Reader / Writer or NFC Scanner, Reader & Writer?
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