NFC21 Tools vs NFC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Read NFC data
- Write NFC data
- Support iCloud storage
- Password protection for NFC
- Color-coded data tags
- Write various data types
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: NFC21 Tools at 4.7 against NFC's 4.0. NFC21 Tools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). NFC's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NFC21 Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.
NFC21 Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 26 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 57% and 57% positive.
NFC21 Tools ships an update every 2 months, NFC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NFC21 Tools | NFC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (37 ratings) — better | 4.0 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 56.6% of reviews | 56.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 37 — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NFC21 GmbH | ErxiangHeyi Information |
Customer experience
NFC21 Tools
NFC
In-app purchases
NFC21 Tools
No in-app purchases
NFC
- LifeTime$7.99
- LifeTime$12.99







