QR vs NFC: when to use each technology and which suits your case

They are different technologies that solve the same problem in opposite ways.

QR (Quick Response Code): It is a black-and-white visual pattern that encodes information (usually a URL). The phone camera detects and reads it. It needs no electricity, has no moving parts and cannot be hacked remotely. It prints on any surface: paper, plastic, fabric, glass. The production cost is practically zero: generating the code is free or very cheap, and printing it costs the same as any other printing.

NFC (Near Field Communication): It is a chip that emits a very short-range radio signal (less than 5 cm) when a phone is brought close. The phone detects the signal without needing to open any app: a notification appears automatically on screen. The chip can store data or point to a URL. It requires the physical object to have the chip integrated: adhesive NFC labels, chipped cards, key fobs, wristbands.

This production difference explains everything: QR has near-zero marginal cost. NFC has a per-unit cost that ranges from 0.10 euros (simple NFC labels bought in bulk) to 2-5 euros (designed cards or key fobs).

Compatibility is one of the most relevant factors when choosing between the two.

QR:
• iOS: compatible since iOS 11 with the native camera. No additional app.
• Android: compatible since Android 8 with the native camera. On Android 7 and earlier, a QR reading app is required.
• Budget smartphones: work if they have a rear camera of sufficient resolution.
• Real coverage: practically 100% of smartphones in active use in Spain.

NFC:
• iOS: the iPhone 7 and later have an NFC chip, but background NFC tag reading (without an app) is only available from the iPhone XS (iOS 13+). iPhone 6 and earlier have no NFC at all.
• Android: most models launched since 2015 include NFC, but there are notable exceptions in the budget segment. The percentage of Android devices with active NFC is around 65-70%.
• Real coverage: approximately 70-75% of smartphones in Spain have functional NFC for reading tags.

Compatibility conclusion: if you need it to work for 100% of your customers, QR is the safe option.

The choice depends on four factors: cost, user experience, medium surface and scale.

Comparison table:

| Factor | QR | NFC | |--------|----|-----| | Production cost | Practically zero | 0.10-2 euros per unit | | Requires opening the camera | Yes | No (just bring the phone close) | | Works without an app | Yes (native iOS/Android camera) | Yes (iOS 13+ and modern Android) | | Surfaces | Any printable flat surface | Requires chip: label, card, key fob | | Visible to user | Yes (user sees the code) | No (chip is invisible) | | Updatable without replacing medium | Yes (dynamic QR) | Yes (if chip is rewritable) | | Compatible with 100% of phones | Yes | No (~70-75%) | | Scales to thousands of units | Yes, minimal cost | Significant cost at scale |

When to use QR:
• Flyers, posters, packaging, restaurant menus, business cards
• When the audience may not have NFC (mass events, tourism, general hospitality)
• When the volume of units is high and per-unit cost matters
• When the medium is flat and printing is the only option

When to use NFC:
• Premium business cards where the frictionless experience justifies the extra cost
• Luxury products or high-end packaging
• Point of sale where the customer interacts closely with the product
• When the physical medium already has a chip (bank cards, passports, inventory labels)

Combining QR and NFC in the same medium is the most robust solution when user experience is a priority and the budget allows it.

A common example is the digital business card. The card has:
• A QR printed on the back: any phone scans it with the camera
• An NFC chip integrated in the plastic: iPhone XS+ and modern Android devices detect it when brought close

Both point to the same destination: the professional's vCard or contact landing page. If the destination is a dynamic QR code from codigo-qr.es, you can update the destination for both channels at once without changing the physical card.

The cost of a card with NFC and printed QR ranges from 1 to 3 euros per unit in runs of 50-200 units, compared to 0.10-0.30 euros for a card with QR only. The difference matters if you hand out 500 cards a year, not so much if you hand out 50.