Comparison

NFC21 Reader vs NFC

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

Head to head
About

NFC21 Reader

Easily read and interact with NFC tags. Scan tags to preview content and immediately perform actions like opening websites, adding contacts, or connecting to Wi-Fi. Supports various tag types for seamless interaction.

Highlights
  • Scan NFC tags
  • Preview tag content
  • Directly execute actions
  • Supports URL, VCard, WiFi, Text, GEO, Phone, Mail, SMS
  • Continuous improvement and new features
  • Simple and usable interface
Read full description

We love NFC! That's why, we strive to provide the most simple and usable solution to read NFC-Tags. NFC21 Reader focuses on the content of a scanned NFC-Tag and offers an action to proceed immediately – without any distractions whatsoever. NFC tags are used to store information like website links, phone numbers, business cards or WiFi configurations. NFC21 Reader enables you to read and interact with such nfc tags in just two easy steps: First, by scanning the NFC tag, you get a preview of its contents. Second, execute an action matched to the given content. For example, to open a weblink in Safari, import a business card into contacts or show a location in maps. NFC21 Reader supports the following Tag-Types: • URL: Website Links to open in Safari. • VCard: Business cards, that may be added to your contacts. • WiFi: Network configuration to easily join a secured WiFi. • Text: Short texts that can be copied to the clipboard. • GEO: Location that is shown in maps application. • Phone Number: To easily dial a stored phone number. • Mail: Create a new mail with prefilled address and subject. • SMS: Start a new SMS-chat with a given phone number. We improve the application continuously and add more types and actions. Do you miss a feature? Our development team would love to listen to your idea! NFC-Expert? Experts should take a look at our NFC21 Tools app. It allows to create and write to own NFC-Tags and provides more detail and technical information about used tags.

About

NFC

Easily read and write data to NFC chips with a user-friendly interface. Supports various data types like text, websites, and contacts, with options for password protection and color-coded tags for organization. Store records in iCloud for convenience.

Highlights
  • Read NFC data
  • Write NFC data
  • Support iCloud storage
  • Password protection for NFC
  • Color-coded data tags
  • Write various data types
Features
Read full description

The NFC Helper can read and write NFC chips through a simple and portable user interface. Put your device close to the NFC chip, and you can write data and read NFC data. Support iCloud to store read records Support NFC to write content and set password to enhance security The NFC Helper can record any standard information on an NFC tag and is compatible with any NFC device. Write data support: -A simple text -A website -E-mail -Contacts -Telephone numbers -Predefined text -Personalize data. Etc At the same time, the color mark of the written data is added, which is convenient to distinguish the important level of the data NFC Helper provides convenience for life, come and experience it ~

Screenshots

NFC21 Reader4 screens
NFC3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NFC at 4.0 against NFC21 Reader's 3.0. NFC also leads on ratings volume (26 vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). NFC21 Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support 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. NFC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NFC21 Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFC holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC has 26 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of NFC21 Reader's written reviews are positive against 57% of NFC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFC21 Reader ships an update every 5 weeks, NFC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
NFC21 Reader versus NFC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFC21 ReaderNFC
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (4 ratings)4.0 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews — better56.8% of reviews
Number of ratings426 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNFC21 GmbHErxiangHeyi Information

Customer experience

NFC21 Reader

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative29.4%

NFC

All ratings26 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral3.8%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive56.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative43.2%

In-app purchases

None

NFC21 Reader

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NFC

One-time2
  • LifeTime$7.99
  • LifeTime$12.99

Questions

Is NFC21 Reader free?
NFC21 Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NFC free?
NFC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NFC21 Reader or NFC?
NFC is rated higher. NFC21 Reader averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while NFC averages 4.0 from 26 ratings.
Do NFC21 Reader or NFC have ads?
NFC shows ads; NFC21 Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, NFC21 Reader or NFC?
NFC21 Reader ships an update every 5 weeks, and NFC every 6 weeks. Most recently, NFC21 Reader was updated on October 5, 2026 and NFC on October 15, 2026.

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