Comparison

NFC Reader & Writer vs NFC Mate

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

Head to head
About

NFC Reader & Writer

This app transforms your iPhone into a comprehensive NFC toolkit. Easily scan and decode various NFC tag types, then write your own custom tags with templates. It also offers advanced insights into tag data and history tracking.

Highlights
  • Read NDEF tags (Text, URL, Wi-Fi, etc.)
  • Advanced tag insights (security, memory)
  • Write custom tags from templates
  • Quick actions for tag management
  • Tag history logging and export
  • NFC compatibility check
Features
Read full description

NFC Reader & Writer turns your phone into a complete NFC toolkit. Hold it near a tag to see exactly what is stored on it, then write your own tags in seconds. READ NDEF TAGS • Tag contents appear the moment your phone touches it • Text, URL, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vCard, email, SMS, phone number, address, app and location records • Run an action straight from the record you scanned ADVANCED TAG INSIGHTS • Security analysis with the tag's security flags • Memory breakdown — used, free and total capacity • NDEF decoder with a plain-language summary of every record • Raw data in HEX and ASCII for advanced users WRITE YOUR OWN TAGS • Build a tag from templates: text, URL, Google search, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vCard, email, SMS, phone, address, location and custom URL • Add several records to one tag before you write it QUICK ACTIONS ON IPHONE • Open the Quick Actions tab for one-tap access: Copy Tag, Copy Tag to Infinity, Erase Tag, Lock Tag (Read-Only) and Automations • Erase Tag wipes a tag so you can reuse it, after a confirmation • Lock Tag makes a tag permanently read-only (write-protect), after a confirmation. This is a Pro feature TAG HISTORY • Every scan is saved with its time and record count • Reopen, share or delete any entry • Export your history to CSV NFC COMPATIBILITY CHECK • Detect whether your device has NFC hardware • Check whether NFC reading is available on your iPhone • Verify read and write capability USEFUL EXTRAS • Device information at a glance • One-tap shortcuts to your system settings • Tools: compass, battery, flashlight and screen light • Dark mode • Available in 14 languages SUPPORTED TAGS ON IPHONE • Reads NDEF data on NFC Forum Type 1–5 tags: ISO 14443 (NTAG, MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE DESFire), ISO 15693 (ICODE) and FeliCa • Writes to tags that are NDEF-formatted and not locked • iPhone cannot read MIFARE Classic, tags that are not NDEF-formatted, or bank, transit and ID cards WHAT YOU NEED 1. iPhone 7 or newer, on iOS 15 or later 2. Nothing to switch on: NFC on iPhone is always ready Free to use, supported by ads. An optional Pro upgrade removes ads and unlocks unlimited Advanced Tag Insights and Lock Tag, available monthly, yearly or as a one-time purchase. Questions or a problem? Write to support@yalintech.com and we will help. Privacy Policy: https://yalintech.com/legal/nfc/privacy Terms of Service: https://yalintech.com/legal/nfc/terms

About

NFC Mate

Manage NFC tags with ease. Read, write, copy, erase, and lock NFC tags quickly. Supports NDEF format and tracks your recent activity for efficient NFC operations.

Highlights
  • Read and write NFC tags
  • Copy and erase NFC tags
  • Lock NFC tags to make them read-only
  • Track recent read/write history
  • Support for NDEF format
Features
Read full description

NFC Mate - Your All-in-One NFC Toolkit Unlock the full potential of NFC with NFC Mate, the ultimate app for managing NFC tags. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just getting started, NFC Mate provides powerful tools to make working with NFC easier and more efficient. Key Features: • Read and Write NFC Tags: Effortlessly read and write data to NFC tags in seconds. • Copy and Erase Tags: Clone NFC tags or wipe their data for reuse. • Lock NFC Tags: Make your NFC tags read-only to secure your data. • History Tracking: View your recent read and write records for easy reference. • Support for NDEF Format: Compatible with the widely used NDEF data format for seamless integration. Why Choose NFC Mate? NFC Mate is designed for convenience and efficiency, with an intuitive interface that lets you perform NFC operations in just a few taps. Whether you’re organizing smart cards, creating custom tags, or exploring NFC technology, NFC Mate has you covered. Download NFC Mate now and take your NFC experience to the next level! Privacy policy: https://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/live/29811b12-d82a-4f90-a8cc-bf11f06160fd Terms of Use: https://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/live/29811b12-d82a-4f90-a8cc-bf11f06160fd Contact us: nfc4help@gmail.com

Screenshots

NFC Reader & Writer4 screens
NFC Mate3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NFC Mate at 4.6 against NFC Reader & Writer's 4.0. NFC Mate also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). NFC Reader & Writer's advantage is ratings volume (106 vs 17) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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 Reader & Writer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and NFC Mate sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFC Mate holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC Reader & Writer has 106 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NFC Reader & Writer ships an update fortnightly, NFC Mate weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NFC Reader & Writer versus NFC Mate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNFC Reader & WriterNFC Mate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (106 ratings)4.6 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews13.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings106 — better17
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYalintechIsitan SENSOY

Customer experience

NFC Reader & Writer

All ratings106 ratings
Positive76.4%
Neutral1.9%
Negative21.7%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive13.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative80.0%

NFC Mate

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

NFC Reader & Writer

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$7.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • One time purchase$10.99
  • One time purchase$24.99
1 purchases

NFC Mate

One-time1
  • NFC Mate Pro$1.99

Questions

Is NFC Reader & Writer free?
NFC Reader & Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFC Mate free?
NFC Mate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NFC Reader & Writer or NFC Mate?
NFC Mate is rated higher. NFC Reader & Writer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while NFC Mate averages 4.6 from 17 ratings.
Do NFC Reader & Writer or NFC Mate have ads?
NFC Reader & Writer shows ads; NFC Mate does not.
Which is updated more often, NFC Reader & Writer or NFC Mate?
NFC Reader & Writer ships an update fortnightly, and NFC Mate weekly. Most recently, NFC Reader & Writer was updated on November 3, 2026 and NFC Mate on November 4, 2026.

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