What is the difference between QR Codes and NFC chips?

Adding a QR code or a NFC chip shows you are up with contemporary trends. High-quality business cards for your brand will help establish credibility and enhance the conveyance of your message to the relevant audience. The guide below can be handy for creating your first business card or revisiting an existing one.

Regardless of whether you want a vCard or a Digital business card;
– if coded by a QR code or NFC chip, we need the data.
Paste your requirements into this spreadsheet template.
Please feel free to call us if you are stuck 😀

Overview

In a nutshell, both options can be programmed to contain data.

Both have their advantages — QR codes are great for widespread, low-cost applications, while NFC chips are better for secure and fast transactions.

QR Code

A QR code, short for Quick Response code, is a type of two-dimensional barcode that can store information such as website links, contact details, or payment data. It consists of black squares arranged on a white background in a square grid, which can be scanned using a smartphone or QR code reader.

Originally developed in the 1990s for tracking automotive parts, QR codes have since become widely used for various applications, including marketing, authentication, and contactless transactions. Their ability to store data and be easily scanned makes them a convenient tool for quickly accessing digital information.

A QR code is a form of printed data. It visually represents encoded information using a pattern of black and white squares, which can be printed on paper, packaging, signs, or digital screens. When scanned by a smartphone or QR reader, the pattern is decoded to reveal the stored data, such as a website URL, text, or other digital content.

Keep in mind the more detail added into the QR code (eg vCard), the greater the complexity of the QR code = the larger the QR code needs to be printed to scan correctly .

1. Type: 2D barcode that can store information.
2. How It Works: Scanned using a smartphone camera or QR scanner app.
3. Data Storage: Stores URLs, text, or other small data.
4. Usage: Commonly used for website links, payments, contact information, and digital menus.
5. Pros: Cheap to produce, printable, easy to distribute.
6. Cons: Requires manual scanning, can be faked (phishing risks).

QR Code DATA

The amount of data a QR code can store depends on its version (size) and the type of data being encoded. Here’s a general breakdown:

• Numeric data (digits only): Up to 7,089 characters
• Alphanumeric data (letters and numbers): Up to 4,296 characters
• Binary data (8-bit bytes): Up to 2,953 bytes
• Kanji characters (used in Japanese text): Up to 1,817 characters

Larger QR codes can store more data, but they become more complex and harder to scan. Error correction levels (which help QR codes remain readable even if damaged) also affect storage capacity, as higher error correction reduces the amount of storable data.

Adding a QR code to your business card is a smart way to enhance engagement and make a lasting impression. With just a quick scan, potential clients or contacts can access your website, portfolio, social media, or even a video introduction, making it easier for them to connect and engage with your brand. It adds an interactive element to your card, turning a simple piece of paper into a gateway to your digital presence.

1. Instant Access to Information: QR codes allow clients to instantly access your website, portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or other resources by simply scanning with their phones, making it easier to learn more about you or your business.
2. Enhanced Engagement: By embedding links to multimedia content, QR codes on business cards can direct clients to videos, testimonials, and special offers, making your card more interactive and memorable.
3. Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective: With a QR code, you can share frequently updated information without reprinting cards, reducing waste and lowering costs over time. This is conditional of using an online service - see additional info below .

Typical applications for QR codes include:

NFC Chip

NFC (Near Field Communication) chips are essentially memory chips, containing transferrable data when tapped next to a phone or other NFC enabled reader.
NFC chips are used in business cards to enable quick and contactless sharing of information. Here’s how they work and why they’re useful:

1. Type: Small electronic chip that uses short-range wireless communication.
2. How It Works: Activated when tapped by an NFC-enabled device (e.g., smartphone or payment terminal).
3. Data Storage: Stores dynamic data like payment credentials or authentication tokens.
4. Usage: Used in contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay), keyless entry, and smart cards.
5. Pros: Faster, more secure, no camera needed.
6. Cons: More expensive than QR codes, requires an NFC-enabled device.

NFC Data Allowance

The amount of data a NFC Chip can be encoded with dramatically varies depending on the chip.
NTAG-213 is the most common that we sell (due to its cheaper price).
It has a memory capacity of 144 bytes of usable storage for data.
NTAG-215 is the next step up. It has a memory capacity of 504 bytes of usable storage for data.

What this means?

• Text Storage: It can hold around 136 characters of plain text.
• URL Storage: If encoding a URL, it can store a shortened web link (e.g., Bit.ly links).
• vCard (Contact Information): Limited to basic details (name, phone, email, etc.)
  See more info here
• Other Uses: Can store small commands, authentication data, or be used for basic NFC applications.

This has 144 bytes of available memory.
Keep in mind:
* a basic vCard with NO logo and basic details will be above 3,000 bytes.
* a basic vCard WITH logo and basic details will be above 8,000 bytes.

This is the reason why we encode URL / LINKS to the cards.

WARNING Size of links

In this example, we have a Google Reviews link: See more details here

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en-AU&gl=au&q=Fluid+The+Color+Salon,+3/8+Martha+St,+Camp+Hill+QLD+4152&ludocid= 1745254678834947767&lsig=AB86z5WhAxRg6Cdkd8pOQYk0saj2#ip= 1&lrd=0x6b915bb680e0f35f:0x183863e2368ba6b7,1,,,,

This equates to 331 bytes - well over the allowable 144.
In this instance you would either need to:

1. Upgrade to a bigger data sized chip, such as the NTAG-215 (which has an allowable 504 bytes)
2. Use a URL shortening service such as Bit.ly

Encoding NFC cards

These are the NFC writing options based on the free app NFC Tools (by wakdev):

The two most common methods of using NFC for business cards are:

1. Encoding a URL to a Digital Business Card:
   Basically you are only encoding a URL. When the NFC card is tapped to a phone, it is sending the URL to the phone to open a webpage.
   This webpage usually contains the business's logo (or photo), a bit of info text and the following buttons:
   • Link to website & social media
   • Download vCard (save contact to person's phone)
   See more details here
2. Encoding link to a downloadable vCard.
   

We can encode the NFC cards for you, alternatively, you may wish to encode them yourself.
This is common when you have a quantity of cards, but don’t want to commit to having the same data encoded on them at the time of purchase.

Luckily, encoding the NFC chip is a simple process. All you need is your phone and a free app!

1. Select ‘write’ from the top menu
2. Select ‘ add a record’
3. select “URL/URI”
4. enter / paste the URL
5. click write
6. tap card to write

Test your card by esiting app, then tapping the card to the back of your phone

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Why Choose Us for Business Cards Printing

At Print Promotion, we offer the best in business cards according to your unique brand. From premium material to cutting-edge printing techniques, we ensure the cards leave the right impression on the recipients' minds. Services are offered across Newstead, QLD, and all surrounding regions to provide our customers with quality and personalisation.

Building your brand identity requires a strategy, including selecting the best business cards. From selecting materials to perfecting the design, emphasis is placed on every detail. Choose a reliable printing service for your business cards and enjoy a professional look that reflects the very heart of your brand.

Get started today!

Call us on 1300 669 211,or shop online at www.printpromotion.com.au. Although online shopping is available, we recommend a complimentary consultation (via phone or video call) based on your artwork to ensure the best results. Let us help you print business cards that will leave a lasting impression!