NFC vs engraved vs QR pet tags: which should you choose in the UK?

Short answer: In Great Britain, a dog on a road or in a public place must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address on it or on a tag attached to it, so an engraved tag is the legal baseline. An NFC + QR tag adds what engraving can’t: a finder can reach you privately and straight away, and you can update your details without buying a new tag. For most owners the best setup is both.

From Steve: Charlie, my golden retriever, wore an engraved disc before Taggzi. It worked, but it put my phone number on show to anyone who picked him up, and that's the main reason I wanted something better.

This guide is about choosing. If you want the technical detail, read how NFC pet tags work and QR code vs NFC pet tags.

At a glance

How does each type of pet tag work?

Engraved tags carry your details on the metal. They never fail, but there’s very little space, your phone number is on show to anyone, and any change means a new tag.

QR tags open a pet profile when someone points a phone camera at the code. You can edit the details at any time.

NFC tags do the same with a tap: the finder holds their phone to the tag and the profile opens in the browser. Neither type needs an app on the finder’s phone, and both need a mobile signal or Wi-Fi to load the profile.

What can go wrong with each one?

Every tag type has a weak spot, and knowing it helps you cover it.

• Engraved: the details go out of date the day you move house or change your number, and engraving can wear down on a tag that rubs against a collar for years.
• QR only: a deep scratch across the code can stop a camera reading it, and a finder has to know to scan it.
• NFC only: the phone has to touch the tag (NFC works over a couple of centimetres), and on Android the phone’s NFC setting has to be on. iPhone XS and later read NFC tags without opening any app.

A tag with both NFC and a printed QR code covers most of these: if one route fails, the other still opens the same page. The Taggzi tag also says “Scan me” and “Tap me” on the front, so a finder knows what to do.

Where does Taggzi fit?

The Taggzi tag is metal, resin-coated and waterproof, with no battery. It has both NFC and a printed QR code, so if the NFC chip is ever damaged the QR code still works. The finder sees your pet’s page in their browser, with no sign-up. Tags cost £2.99 plus delivery (order a tag), and the Free plan covers one pet, with private messages from finders, Lost Mode, a printable poster and community alerts. Taggzi Pro (£2.99 a month or £24.99 a year) adds private voice and video calls from the finder’s browser, instant scan alerts, a scan map and the Pet Passport.

Because the details live on your pet’s page rather than on the metal, a new phone number or a house move is a two-minute edit, not a new tag.

Where do microchips and GPS trackers come in?

Neither replaces a tag. According to GOV.UK, all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old, and in England cats must be by 20 weeks old, but a microchip can only be read with a scanner, usually by a vet, a dog warden or a rescue centre. GOV.UK is clear that a microchipped dog must still wear a collar and tag with your name and address in a public place. More in microchip vs smart tag.

A GPS tracker shows where your pet is on a map, but it needs charging and tells a finder nothing about you. Taggzi is not a GPS tracker: it works at the moment someone finds your pet. If you want live location, pair it with a GPS collar. See Taggzi vs GPS pet trackers.

Which pet tag should you pick?

• You want the legal minimum only: an engraved tag with your name and address.
• You want to be reachable fast and keep your number private: add an NFC + QR tag.
• Your pet roams or you want live tracking: add a GPS collar as well.

More detail: Taggzi vs engraved tags, are QR code pet tags legal in the UK? and pet ID tags that keep your phone number private.

FAQ

Is a QR tag enough on its own in the UK?

For dogs, no. Your name and address must be on the collar or on a tag attached to it, so keep an engraved tag or have them printed on the same tag.

Do finders need an app to scan an NFC or QR tag?

No. Any modern iPhone or Android opens the profile in the browser.

What if the NFC chip stops working?

The printed QR code still opens the same profile.

Can I change my phone number later?

Yes. Edit the pet profile and the tag doesn’t need replacing.