# StarNFC vs NFC Reader

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NFC Reader at 100% against StarNFC's 25%. StarNFC's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StarNFC sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and NFC Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StarNFC ships an update every 2 weeks, NFC Reader every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarNFC | NFC Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [志红 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567776882) | [27GROUP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1589401961) |

## What reviewers say

### StarNFC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnfc-nfc-tools/id1573144215)

This tool allows you to read, write, and manage NFC tags on your iPhone. Create smart tags for daily use, automate actions with iOS Shortcuts, and share information like Wi-Fi details or contact cards easily.

**Highlights:** NFC Tag Reader, NFC Tag Writer, Tag Management, iOS Shortcuts Automation, Wi-Fi Information Tags, Media & Smart Links

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StarNFC Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| StarNFC Monthly Story | $3.99 | per month |
| StarNFC Annual Story | $24.99 | per year |
| StarNFC Premium | $12.99 | one-time |


### NFC Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfc-reader-business-tools/id6449728958)

This app combines NFC tag reading, QR code scanning, and document scanning into a single, user-friendly tool. It also features text-to-speech and customizable settings for a streamlined experience.

**Highlights:** NFC tag reading, QR code scanning and generation, Document scanning to PDF, Text-to-Speech functionality, User-friendly interface, Customizable settings, High-speed scanning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarNFC free?

StarNFC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NFC Reader free?

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

### Do StarNFC or NFC Reader have ads?

Both StarNFC and NFC Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarNFC or NFC Reader?

StarNFC ships an update every 2 weeks, and NFC Reader every 6 months. Most recently, StarNFC was updated on October 6, 2026 and NFC Reader on October 5, 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.*