NFC Business Cards: A UK Buyer's Guide (Contact vs Review Cards)
An NFC business card is a card with a chip that opens a web page when a phone taps it. Some open your contact details, others open your Google review page. Check what the tap opens, which phones work, and whether there's a monthly fee before you buy.
In this guide
An NFC business card is a card with a small chip inside. When someone holds their phone against it, the phone opens a web page. What that page is depends on the card. Some cards open your contact details, which suits networking. Others open your Google review page, which suits a business that wants more customer reviews.
This guide explains the difference, which phones work, what to check before you buy, and which type you probably need. The tap needs no app on the phone.
What is an NFC business card?
NFC stands for near field communication, the same technology behind contactless payments. The chip in the card is passive, so it needs no battery. It gets its power from the phone for the fraction of a second the two are touching.
Most NFC cards store a short web link rather than a whole contact file. When the phone taps the card, it opens that link. Many cards also print a QR code that opens the same link, so phones without NFC, or people who prefer to scan, can still use it.
Two kinds of NFC business card
The cards look similar, but they do different jobs.
| Contact-sharing card | Review card | |
|---|---|---|
| What a tap opens | A profile page with your name, number, email, website and social links | Your Google review page, ready to write a review |
| Who it's for | People who network, sell or meet clients and want to share their details | Local businesses that want more Google reviews from happy customers |
| Who taps it | A new contact | A customer, usually at the till, the desk or on handover |
| What to check | Whether the profile page has a monthly fee, and how you edit it | That it opens your exact review page, and has a QR backup |
Many websites call both "digital business cards", which is why buyers end up with the wrong one. Check what the tap opens before you pay.
Will it work on every phone?
Almost every modern phone can read an NFC card, but a few settings matter.
iPhone
According to Apple, the iPhone XR, XS and later models, and the second-generation iPhone SE, read NFC tags automatically with the screen on. The iPhone 7, 8 and X need the NFC Tag Reader added to Control Centre first.
Android
Most Android phones read NFC cards, but NFC has to be switched on. Search "NFC" in Settings and check it's enabled. Google explains how to turn NFC on. If a phone shows "NFC tag detected" and nothing happens, see our guide to the "no supported app" message.
Why the QR code matters
Older phones, phones with NFC turned off, and people who don't know where the NFC antenna sits will all struggle with a tap. A QR code on the same card means nobody is left out. Our NFC compatible phones page lists what to check.
What to check before you buy
NFC business cards look alike online, so compare these points rather than the photos.
- What the tap opens. Contact details, a website or a review page. Make sure it matches your goal.
- A QR code on the card. It's the backup for any phone that can't tap.
- Whether there's a monthly fee. Some providers charge for the profile page as well as the card. Work out the cost over a year, not just the price of the card.
- Whether the other person needs an app. A good card opens in the phone's browser with nothing to install.
- Setup. Check who programmes the card and whether it arrives ready to use.
- The finish and the seller. Metal, carbon, marble and coloured cards feel different in the hand. A UK seller means UK delivery and someone to contact if the card doesn't work on a phone you try it on.
Which one do you need?
- You want people to save your details. Choose a contact-sharing card from a provider whose profile page you can edit, and check the monthly fee.
- You want more Google reviews. Choose a review card that opens your review page directly. For a local business, it turns a happy customer's goodwill into a review before they leave.
- You want both. Use two cards, one for each job, so each tap does one thing clearly.
Our guide on how to get more Google reviews covers when and how to ask, our guide on getting more Google reviews has the latest strategies, and Google review card vs QR code explains why a tap beats a scan.
Our NFC business cards
Tap and Rate business cards are review cards in a business-card format. A customer taps their phone on the card, or scans the QR code, and lands on your Google review page. They come in navy, matt black, carbon, marble and pink, at £34.99 each with no monthly fee. You give us your Google review link, or your business name and postcode, and we set the card up before it ships. Browse the business card collection, or see our NFC review cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NFC business card?
It's a card with an NFC chip inside. When someone holds their phone against it, the phone opens a web page, such as your contact details or your Google review page. Most cards also carry a QR code as a backup.
Does the other person need an app?
No. The page opens in the phone's normal browser. They only need a phone with NFC switched on, or a camera to scan the QR code.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Recent iPhones (XR, XS and later) read cards automatically, and older models like the iPhone 7, 8 and X need the NFC Tag Reader added to Control Centre. On Android, make sure NFC is turned on in Settings.
Is there a monthly fee for Tap and Rate business cards?
No. They're a one-off £34.99 each, with no subscription or monthly fee.
Do your business cards share contact details?
No. Tap and Rate business cards open your Google review page, so customers can leave a review in a few seconds. If you need to share contact details, a contact-sharing card from another provider is the better fit.
How much does an NFC business card cost in the UK?
Prices vary by finish and by whether the provider charges for the profile page. Whatever you choose, work out the cost over a year, not just the price of the card.
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Get more Google reviews with one tap
NFC and QR stands, cards and tiles that send customers straight to your review page. No app, no subscription, fast UK delivery.
