Both QR codes and NFC cards do the same job: they open your digital business card on someone else's phone without them typing anything. The difference is how the phone reads them, and that changes where each one works best.
QR code
A QR code is a printed square pattern. The other person opens their camera, points it at the code and taps the link that appears.
- Works almost everywhere — current iPhone and Android cameras read QR codes without an extra app.
- Free and easy to print — put it on flyers, menus, shop windows, product packaging, presentation slides and invoices.
- Works at a distance — people can scan a poster or a screen from a few feet away.
NFC card
An NFC card has a tiny chip inside. When someone holds a phone near it, the phone opens your page.
- Fast and memorable in person — one tap, no camera, which feels impressive in a meeting.
- Needs to be close — the phone has to be within a few centimetres.
- Phone settings matter — most recent phones read NFC, but on some Android phones NFC must be switched on first.
Quick comparison
- Cost: QR is free to print; an NFC card is a one-time purchase.
- Best for: QR for printed material and crowds; NFC for face-to-face meetings.
- Compatibility: QR works on practically every smartphone; NFC works on most modern ones.
The practical answer: use both
Your Tapmysite card comes with a link and a QR code from day one. Many people add an NFC card later for meetings and keep the QR code on everything they print. Because both point to the same live page, any update you make shows up everywhere at once.
Create your card and download your QR code in a few minutes.