How each one works
NFC, or near-field communication, uses a small radio chip and antenna that a phone reads when held very close, typically within a few centimeters. The tag needs no battery; the phone’s field powers it. A QR code is ink or pixels, read by the camera from a distance that depends on its printed size.
Both can carry a web link, contact details or other small payloads. NFC tags commonly store data in the NDEF format, while a QR code stores it in the pattern itself.
Choosing between them
QR codes win on cost and reach: they can be printed on anything, shown on screens and read from across a room if large enough. NFC wins on convenience at close range and in the dark, and it can be hidden under a label or inside a product. Many businesses use both on the same card, stand or sign.
- Range: NFC a few centimeters; QR from a few centimeters to many meters, depending on size
- Cost: NFC needs a chip per item; a QR code costs only printing
- Reading: NFC needs a phone with NFC turned on; QR needs a camera and line of sight
- Visibility: a QR code shows people there is something to scan; NFC often needs a printed prompt
- Screens: QR codes work on displays; NFC does not