NFC Review Cards vs QR Review Cards – Which Gets More Reviews?
Key facts
- Question answered
- NFC tap versus a printed QR code
- NFC
- Tap the phone to the card; no camera needed
- QR
- Works on any phone with a camera
- Our products
- NFC on every product; printed QR optional on cards
- Same destination
- Your Google review page
How an NFC tap compares with a QR scan for collecting Google reviews — and why many businesses use both on the same card.
If you're a UK business choosing between an NFC review card and a QR review card, the honest answer is that you rarely have to choose. Both open the same Google review page; they just get the customer there in different ways. NFC suits quick, face-to-face moments at a till or desk, while QR works with any phone camera and from further away. The best setup for most businesses combines the two.
Tap vs Scan: How They Differ
A tap needs the phone held close to the card; a scan needs the camera pointed at the code. Tapping skips opening the camera and lining up the code, which helps at a busy counter or in dim light. Scanning works on every smartphone with a camera, including phones that can't read NFC or have it switched off. Neither method is guaranteed to produce more reviews — the bigger factors are whether you ask, and when.
| Feature | NFC tap | QR scan |
|---|---|---|
| What the customer does | Holds the phone to the card | Opens the camera and points it at the code |
| Phone support | iPhone 7 and later (XS/XR and later in the background); Android with NFC on | Any phone with a camera |
| Distance | A few centimetres | Works from further away |
| Lighting | Not affected | Needs enough light to read the code |
| Best for | Tills, desks, handing over in person | Receipts, windows, leaflets, invoices |
Why Many UK Customers Find Tapping Familiar
Contactless card and phone payments are an everyday habit in the UK, so holding a phone near a card at the till already feels normal to many customers. On iPhone XS/XR and later, the review link pops up as soon as the phone is held near the card. iPhone 7 to X need the NFC tag reader in Control Centre, and Android users need NFC switched on — which is why keeping a QR code alongside makes sense.
Where QR Codes Make Sense
- Printed receipts and invoices customers take away
- Shop window displays read from outside
- Leaflets, flyers and direct mail
- Menus, table cards and posters
- Any customer whose phone doesn't support NFC or has it turned off
Where NFC Works Well
- Tills, bar tops and reception desks (cafés, pubs, salons, dental practices)
- With the card machine or bill at restaurant tables
- Mobile tradespeople handing over a card when a job's done
- Taxis and private hire vehicles at the end of a journey
- Gym receptions, treatment rooms and beauty salons
Practical setup for UK businesses: a combined NFC and QR card or stand at the till, plus a QR code or short review link on the receipt. Customers can tap, scan or do it later — whichever suits them.
Choosing for Your Business
If most of your customers are in front of you, an NFC review card or counter stand with a printed QR code covers almost everyone. If most of your contact is remote — deliveries, online orders, invoices — a QR code and a direct link do most of the work. Both are fine under Google's rules as long as you offer them to every customer and never reward reviews. Our QR code review card guide goes into more detail.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Are NFC review cards better than QR codes?
They suit different moments. NFC is quick for face-to-face asks on compatible phones; QR works on any phone camera and from further away. Combining both covers the most customers.
Will my customers know how to tap an NFC card?
Many will, because contactless payment is so common in the UK. A short prompt such as "just hold your phone near the card" helps, and the QR code is there for anyone who prefers to scan.
Can I use both NFC and QR on the same review card?
Yes. The NFC chip handles in-person taps and the printed QR code works for anyone who prefers to scan or takes the card away.
Which phones can read an NFC review card?
iPhone 7 and later can read NFC tags; iPhone XS/XR and later do it in the background, while iPhone 7 to X use the reader in Control Centre. Android phones need NFC switched on.
Does NFC always convert better than QR?
NFC removes the camera step, but we don't have an independent, controlled study to quote a figure. Fewer steps between intent and the review page tends to mean fewer people give up along the way.
Do I need both NFC and QR on the same card?
It's a sensible default. The printed QR code works with any phone camera, so customers whose phones don't read NFC still have a way in.
Do NFC and QR open the same page?
Yes — both are set to your Google review link, so the customer ends up on the same review page either way.
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