By Card Smart, Vanderbijlpark. Updated 24 October 2026.
If you are choosing between them for your business, this page shows what each does. The wider picture is in our guide to choosing NFC cards in South Africa.
Side by side
| NFC tap | QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| How the customer uses it | Holds the phone against the card | Points the camera at the code |
| Needs a phone with | An NFC chip | A camera |
| Steps for the customer | One tap | Open the camera, aim, tap the link that appears |
| Works at a distance | No, only a few centimetres | Yes, as far as the camera can read it |
| Where it can go | On a card or stand with a chip inside | Anywhere it can be printed |
| Can be affected by | Thick cases and metal surfaces next to the chip | Glare, damage and poor print quality |
When NFC is the better choice
NFC suits places where the customer is already standing at the counter or holding the card, because one tap is quicker than opening the camera. It is the better choice on a stand next to the till. See our NFC Google review stands.
When a QR code is the better choice
A QR code suits posters, windows, receipts and anywhere the customer is not within arm's reach. It also works on phones without NFC.
Why we use both
An NFC chip and a QR code cost almost nothing extra to put on the same card, and together they cover every phone. Both open the same page. To understand how the tap works, read how an NFC card works.
Common questions
Is NFC more secure than a QR code?
Neither is secure by itself. Both only open a web address, so what matters is where the address leads and whether anyone can swap the code or chip for another one.
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