Comparison

NFC21 Tools 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 Tools

Explore NFC technology with an advanced yet user-friendly toolset. Read, write, and manage NFC tags with support for various data types, including URLs, contacts, and Wi-Fi credentials. Organize your scanned tags with filters and access detailed information.

Highlights
  • Read and write NFC tags
  • Manage tag history with filters
  • Create standard, extended, and expert tag types
  • Support for URL, Phone, Email, SMS, FaceTime, and Shortcuts
  • Advanced options for Text, Address, Position, Contact, and Wi-Fi
  • Define custom data types (MIME-Type)
  • Share Bluetooth device IDs
Read full description

We love NFC, therefore we decided to develop our NFC21 tools. Our app offers you an advanced yet easy to use toolset to explore NFC with your iPhone. Reading as well as writing of NFC-tags is supported and wrapped in an attractive user interface. NFC21 tools greets you with a history view, which contains all NFC-Tags you have read or written. Additional filters enable you to narrow down the list to ‘Read’, ‘Written’, ‘Drafts’ or ‘Favorites’ only. Tap on an entry for more details like the serial number (uid), memory size, write lock as well as the stored content. Based on the latter, an available action is offered like opening a link in Safari or the import of v-cards into the Contacts app. Creation of own NFC-tags starts with the selection of a type. We differentiate three different types. First, the standard-type creates NFC-tags which are readable by newer iPhones (iPhone XS, XR or newer) without an additional app. Second, extended types which offer more advanced scenarios like sharing of locations, contacts or WIFI-credentials. These types require a suitable app (like NFC21 Tools or NFC21 Reader) to read and process the stored content. Lastly, the expert type allows the definition of own datatypes, which require suitable / custom apps to use them. In summary, NFC21 Tools support the following tag-types: Standard (usable without an app with iPhone XS, XR or newer): • URL: Share a link to a website with an NFC-tag. Long / complicated addresses are a problem of the past. • Phone number: Share a number with NFC – always right and directly dialable. • E-Mail: Prepare a message for a recipient, ready to send with a tap. • SMS: Create a short message for a predefined number, an optional text and ready to send in an instant. • FaceTime: Start a FaceTime conversation with a scan. • Shortcut: Execute a shortcut from the apple shortcuts app with a simple scan. Advanced (with App): • Text: Hide a text within an NFC-tag, waiting to be read by a scanning fellow. • Address: Prepare a location for maps to ease getting direction – complicated street names are not a problem anymore. • Position: Locate an exact position (treasure)? Store longitude and longitude for use in the maps app. • Contact: Make your business card smart and let others scan your data like magic. • WiFi: Share credentials and ease login with a tag scan. Expert: • Data: Allows to define custom data types (MIME-Type). • Bluetooth: Share Bluetooth device IDs for easier coupling. Recommended NFC-Tag types: • NXP NTAG 203, 213, 215, 216 Support and NFC-Tags The NFC21 Tools app is developed by the NFC21 GmbH. Do not hesitate to send feedback and feature requests to our support. We recommend NFC-Tags based on the NXP NTAG-Series. In our online-shop we offer you a broad selection of NFC-products in various shapes and colors. Furthermore, we produce custom NFC-products based on your individual requirements.

About

NFC

Easily read, write, and lock NFC tags with this utility app. It supports various tag types, allows writing text or URLs, and offers pre-built templates for common tasks like Wi-Fi logins and contact cards. You can also erase tags and set passwords.

Highlights
  • Read NFC tag data
  • Write text and URLs to NFC tags
  • Lock NFC tags to make them read-only
  • Pre-built templates for common NFC tasks
  • Set and remove NFC tag passwords
  • Erase NFC tags
Features
Read full description

NFC - Reader & Writer provides a simple and easy-to-use solution to Read, Write, and Lock an NFC Tag. Read: - Tap the Read button to read a compatible NFC Tag. - Opens URL's if allows in settings - Manufacturer & model (NTAG213, NTAG215, Ultralight, Mifare, etc.) - Serial number & tech details - Memory size, tag type & available technologies - iCloud-Synced Tag Read History Write: - Type in text then press the write button to write to an NFC Tag. - Write in text or URL (using https:// format). - Save any template or stack you create Create useful NFC tags in seconds with prebuilt templates: - Wi-Fi Login - Contact Card - Bluetooth - Location / Maps - Website Link - Email - SMS - Custom Text or NDEF Records Lock: - Press the lock button to make an NFC Tag "read only" meaning you will no longer be able to write to that same NFC Tag (This is permanent) Tools: - Set or remove NFC passwords - Erase tags *Works with iPhone 7 or newer* More features to come!

Screenshots

NFC21 Tools4 screens
NFC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NFC21 Tools at 4.8 against NFC's 4.3. NFC21 Tools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). NFC's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. NFC21 Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFC21 Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 95 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of NFC21 Tools's written reviews are positive against 59% of NFC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFC21 Tools ships an update every 2 months, NFC fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NFC21 Tools versus NFC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFC21 ToolsNFC
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (32 ratings) — better4.3 (95 ratings)
Positive reviews56.6% of reviews59.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3295 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB16 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNFC21 GmbHCameron Nazemi

Customer experience

NFC21 Tools

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive56.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative37.7%

NFC

All ratings95 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive59.2%
Neutral4.1%
Negative36.7%

Bugs and requests

NFC21 Tools

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NFC

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Full tag text truncated
  • App became unusable
  • Doesn't open URLs
  • No read on iPhone 15 Pro
  • Doesn't read NFC tags
Show 3 more
  • Not working at all
  • Can't get all scans
  • Kodu okumuyor

Requested features

7 requests
  • Automatic scan on app open
  • Dark mode icon
  • Formatting NFC tag
  • SSID WiFi option
  • Ad-free version
Show 2 more
  • Reset NFC chip
  • Clear NFC chip to factory default

In-app purchases

None

NFC21 Tools

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NFC

Subscriptions1
  • NFC Pro (Monthly)$0.491 Month
One-time1
  • NFC Pro$0.99

Questions

Is NFC21 Tools free?
NFC21 Tools 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 Tools or NFC?
NFC21 Tools is rated higher. NFC21 Tools averages 4.8 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while NFC averages 4.3 from 95 ratings.
Do NFC21 Tools or NFC have ads?
NFC shows ads; NFC21 Tools does not.
Which is updated more often, NFC21 Tools or NFC?
NFC21 Tools ships an update every 2 months, and NFC fortnightly. Most recently, NFC21 Tools was updated on July 6, 2026 and NFC on September 22, 2026.

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