# NFC Reader / Writer vs Smart NFC Tools

The clearest difference is rating: Smart NFC Tools at 4.6 against NFC Reader / Writer's 3.6. Smart NFC Tools also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NFC Reader / Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Smart NFC Tools sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart NFC Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart NFC Tools has 476 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 30% of Smart NFC Tools's.

NFC Reader / Writer ships an update monthly, Smart NFC Tools weekly. The most recent releases landed on July 8, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NFC Reader / Writer | Smart NFC Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-writer/id1286968328/reviews) | **[4.6 (476 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-nfc-tools-read-and-write/id1527587931/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **476** |
| Positive reviews | 16.0% of reviews | **30.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Sowers](https://appshunter.io/developer/592605673) | [Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.](https://appshunter.io/developer/867175889) |

## 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


### Smart NFC Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-nfc-tools-read-and-write/id1527587931)

Easily read, inspect, and modify NFC tags with this intuitive tool. Write to tags in various formats to trigger actions like opening websites or making calls. Prioritizes user privacy by operating entirely offline.

**Highlights:** Read NFC tag content, Inspect and modify NFC tags, Erase, lock, and copy tags, Write NFC tags in various formats, Trigger phone calls or open websites, 100% offline operation

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NFC Tools Premium | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💰 Reasonable price
- 🚀 Works great
- 👍 Very practical
- 👍 Excellent app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Does not work
- 👎 Waste of money
- 👎 Free version limited
- 👎 Scam and money taken
- 👎 Paid and no function

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't work to save contact card
- App glitches
- Doesn't work to read card and fob
- Paid for unlock, but restore doesn't work after iOS update
- Paid for ability to lock tags, but feature does not work

**Requested features**

- Add social media to chips
- Ability to add multiple items to card after paying


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NFC Reader / Writer free?

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

### Is Smart NFC Tools free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NFC Reader / Writer or Smart NFC Tools?

Smart NFC Tools is rated higher. NFC Reader / Writer averages 3.6 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Smart NFC Tools averages 4.6 from 476 ratings.

### Do NFC Reader / Writer or Smart NFC Tools have ads?

NFC Reader / Writer shows ads; Smart NFC Tools does not.

### Which is updated more often, NFC Reader / Writer or Smart NFC Tools?

NFC Reader / Writer ships an update monthly, and Smart NFC Tools weekly. Most recently, NFC Reader / Writer was updated on July 8, 2026 and Smart NFC Tools on September 24, 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.*