How they work
An NFC card has a tiny chip that sends a link when a phone touches it. A QR code is a printed pattern the phone camera reads. Most NFC business cards send a link to a profile page hosted by the card's company; a vCard QR code can hold the contact itself.
Comparison
| QR code | NFC card | |
|---|---|---|
| Phones | Any phone with a camera | iPhone XS and newer; Android with NFC switched on |
| Cost | Free to make; prints on any card | Typically more than paper cards, often with an app subscription for editing |
| Works from a screen | Yes | No |
| Works offline | Yes (vCard QR) | Usually needs internet to open the profile |
| Speed | Point the camera, tap the banner | Tap, tap the notification |
| Lasts | As long as the paper | As long as the chip and the vendor's link |
The best of both
Put a vCard QR code on your card — it works with every phone — and, if you like tapping, write your card link onto a blank NFC sticker (NTAG215 or NTAG216; NTAG213 is usually too small for a long link) with an app like NFC Tools. You get both, with no subscription. More on NFC without a subscription
Ask before you buy an NFC card
- Where does the chip's link point, and does it keep working if I stop paying?
- Can I rewrite the chip myself?
- Does the card also have a QR code, for phones without NFC?
Frequently asked questions
Are NFC business cards worth it?
They're a nice conversation starter, but a QR code does the same job on more phones for free. If you buy one, make sure it also has a QR code.
Do iPhones read NFC business cards?
Yes, iPhone XS and newer read NFC tags in the background when the screen is on.
Can a QR code and NFC be on the same card?
Yes, and that's the most reliable option.
Can I write my own NFC tag?
Yes. Write your card link as a URL record to an NTAG215 or NTAG216 tag with a tag-writing app.
Contact files follow vCard 3.0 (RFC 2426); QR codes follow ISO/IEC 18004. Checked 2026-11-07.