NFC and QR tags, explained simply
An NFC tag is read by touching a phone to it. A QR tag is read by pointing the phone’s camera at it. Neither needs a battery, and a modern phone doesn’t need an extra app for either. Here’s how each one works, where each falls short, and why ID tags work best with both.
What is an NFC tag?
An NFC (near-field communication) tag holds a tiny chip and aerial, with no battery. When a phone comes very close, the phone’s own radio field powers the chip for a moment and reads what’s stored on it. On a Taggzi tag that’s a web link.
NFC only works at very short range. On a Taggzi tag you need a proper tap: about 2 cm. iPhone XS and newer read NFC tags with a tap, and so do most Android phones once NFC is switched on in settings.
What is a QR code tag?
A QR code is a printed pattern that any phone camera can read: open the camera, point it at the code and tap the link that appears. It works from further away than NFC and on almost every smartphone, but it needs some light and a code that isn’t badly scratched. On a Taggzi tag the code sits under a resin coating to protect it.
NFC vs QR at a glance
| NFC | QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| How you read it | Touch the phone to the tag | Point the camera at the code |
| Phones that read it | iPhone XS and newer; most Android phones with NFC on | Any phone with a camera |
| Distance | A proper tap (about 2 cm on a Taggzi tag) | Further away, depending on the code’s size and the light |
| In the dark | Works | Needs some light (a phone torch helps) |
| Scratched or dirty | Usually still works: the chip is inside | Can fail if the code is badly damaged |
| Needs mobile signal | Yes: it opens a web page | Yes: it opens a web page |
| Battery | None | None |
No signal? A finder can note the tag ID printed on the back of a Taggzi tag and enter it later at taggzi.com/find-pet.
Is an NFC or QR tag a tracker?
No. An NFC or QR tag can’t tell anyone where it is. It only does something when a person finds it and scans it. Here’s how the three kinds of tag compare:
| GPS tracker | Bluetooth tag (e.g. AirTag) | NFC + QR ID tag | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shows where it is | Yes | Roughly, when near a phone on its network | No; you hear about it when it’s scanned |
| Lets a finder contact you | Not usually | Only if the owner has turned on Lost Mode | Yes: that’s what it’s for |
| Battery | Recharge regularly | Replace now and then | None |
They do different jobs, so they work well together. Read more in Taggzi vs GPS pet trackers and Taggzi vs AirTag.
Can someone copy or hack an NFC tag?
A Taggzi tag stores only a web link to the tag’s page. No name, phone number or address is stored on the tag itself, so reading the chip tells someone nothing more than scanning the QR code would. What a finder sees is set on your profile, and you can change it at any time.
Where scan-to-return tags are used
- Pets (on sale now): Taggzi-Pet.
- Luggage (coming soon): Taggzi-Travel.
- Bikes, scooters and sports kit (coming soon): Taggzi-Active.
- Tools and equipment (coming soon): equipment tags.
- Someone who may need help to get home (coming soon): Taggzi-Care, a discreet “if found, please help” ID.
- Valuables (coming soon): Taggzi-Luxe.
Choosing an ID tag: a quick checklist
- Both NFC and QR, so any phone can use it.
- No app needed by the finder.
- Details you can change online, without buying a new tag.
- Control over what a finder sees.
- No battery to run flat.
- Tough enough for where it lives: Taggzi tags are resin-coated metal and waterproof.
Choosing one for a pet? See QR code vs NFC pet tags and how NFC pet tags work.
Questions
Does NFC work through a phone case?
Usually, yes. Most cases are thin enough. A very thick or metal case can block it; if a tap doesn’t work, scan the QR code instead.
Do I need to turn NFC on?
On iPhone XS and newer, no: it’s always ready. On Android, NFC is a setting that some phones have switched off. Scanning the QR code works either way.
What if there’s no signal?
NFC and QR both open a web page, so the finder needs mobile data or Wi-Fi. Without signal, they can note the tag ID printed on the back and look it up later at taggzi.com/find-pet.
Can a QR code expire?
Some QR codes use links that stop working when a subscription ends. A Taggzi tag’s link doesn’t change, and every Taggzi tag keeps opening its profile.
Is my personal data stored on the tag?
No. The tag holds a web link only. Your details stay in your Taggzi account, and you choose what a finder sees.
Do NFC tags wear out?
An NFC chip has no battery and no moving parts, so there’s nothing to run down. Physical damage can stop one working, which is why a Taggzi tag also carries a printed QR code and is resin-coated.