# NFC Reader / Writer vs Biometric Passport Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Biometric Passport Reader at 4.6 against NFC Reader / Writer's 3.6. Biometric Passport Reader also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). NFC Reader / Writer's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price there is nothing between them.

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

Biometric Passport Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Biometric Passport Reader has 229 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of NFC Reader / Writer's written reviews are positive against 50% of Biometric Passport Reader's.

NFC Reader / Writer ships an update monthly, Biometric Passport Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFC Reader / Writer | Biometric Passport Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328/reviews) | **[4.6 (229 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biometric-passport-reader/id1510585886/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **229** |
| Positive reviews | 16.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Sowers](https://appshunter.io/developer/592605673) | [Iris Development AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1510585885) |

## What reviewers say

### NFC Reader / Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328)

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.

**Highlights:** Read NFC tags, Save tags for later, Share tag data, Save contacts from tags, Open URLs from tags, Display text messages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

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

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Works well for NFC reading on compatible devices
- 👍 Nice, clean user interface design
- 🎯 Effective for product traceability and information display
- 💪 Reliable performance on iPhone 7 and newer models
- 🔧 Useful for reading various NFC tag types and formats

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes on startup for unsupported devices
- ❌ Inconsistent NFC reading functionality across devices
- 📱 Limited compatibility - only works on iPhone 7+
- 😕 Poor documentation and unclear instructions
- ⚠️ Misleading compatibility information in app store

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Biometric Passport Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/biometric-passport-reader/id1510585886)

Scan and verify the embedded chip in passports and ID cards using your device's camera and NFC. This app provides offline functionality for secure identity verification, remote onboarding, and compliance with KYC/AML regulations.

**Highlights:** Reads biometric chips, Scans machine-readable zone, Offline functionality, Identity verification, Remote onboarding, KYC/AML compliance

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFC Reader / Writer free?

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

### Is Biometric Passport Reader free?

Biometric Passport Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NFC Reader / Writer or Biometric Passport Reader?

Biometric Passport Reader is rated higher. NFC Reader / Writer averages 3.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Biometric Passport Reader averages 4.6 from 229 ratings.

### Do NFC Reader / Writer or Biometric Passport Reader have ads?

NFC Reader / Writer shows ads; Biometric Passport Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, NFC Reader / Writer or Biometric Passport Reader?

NFC Reader / Writer ships an update monthly, and Biometric Passport Reader weekly. Most recently, NFC Reader / Writer was updated on October 14, 2026 and Biometric Passport Reader on October 25, 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.*