NFC vs QR Code for Google Reviews: Which Works Better?

Short answer: both get a customer to your Google review page without typing or searching. NFC is a tap, so it suits a card you hand over or a stand at the till. A QR code is a scan. It suits things people see from a step away, like a table plate or a door sticker.

If you can, use both. Most of our review cards carry an NFC chip and a QR code on the same card, for exactly that reason.

Last updated 7 November 2026.

NFC vs QR code at a glance

NFC (tap) QR code (scan)
How it works The customer holds their phone near the card or stand. A link appears and they tap it. The customer opens their camera, points it at the code and taps the link.
What the customer does One movement. No camera and no aiming. Two steps: open the camera, then aim. It takes longer in dim light or at an angle.
Phone support Most recent iPhones and Android phones, with no app. On some Android phones NFC has to be switched on in settings. Almost any smartphone with a camera, with no app.
How close the phone has to be Touching, or nearly touching. Anywhere the camera can see it clearly, from a hand's width to across a table.
Cost You pay once. The chip adds a little to the price of a card or stand. You pay once. The code is only print, so the price depends on what it's printed on.
Outside, or somewhere wet The chip sits inside the card, so rain and fingerprints don't bother it. Fine while the print stays clean and flat. A scratched or peeling code stops reading.
Best placement In the hand or within reach: a card your staff hold out, a stand by the till. Anywhere people look from a step away: a table plate, a door sticker, a menu.
If it doesn't work The QR code on the same card still does the job. Someone can still search for you by name, though most people won't bother.
Changing where it points Email us and we point it somewhere else. The card, stand or plate stays the same.
When to use both When you don't want to leave anyone out. People who like to tap will tap, and everyone else can scan.

Do NFC cards work better than QR stickers for reviews?

Face to face, yes. When you or your staff are standing with the customer, a card is quicker. You hold it out, they tap, and the review page opens. Nobody has to open a camera or find the right angle.

A QR sticker does a different job. It works when nobody is there to hand anything over: on the door as people leave, on a mirror, on a table. It also works on older phones that can't read NFC.

So the two aren't rivals. A card is for the moment you ask in person. A sticker covers the times you're not there to ask.

Which one gets you more reviews?

Honestly, the technology isn't what decides it. The moment you ask is.

A customer who has just been handed back their car keys will tap. The same person at home that evening won't. So whichever you choose, put it where that good moment happens, and make sure somebody actually asks.

What NFC and QR both remove is the boring middle bit. No searching, no scrolling past the map and the opening hours. Your review page opens and the customer writes.

We won't promise you a number of reviews. Anyone who does is guessing. What we can say is this: the fewer steps between "I'm happy" and "I'm typing", the more people finish.

Where each one goes, spot by spot

  • The counter or till. A stand that stays put, so nobody has to find it. Staff can turn it to face the customer while the card machine thinks.
  • The table. A plate, because nobody is standing there. People read it while they wait for the bill.
  • Reception. A stand where people pay and book their next visit. That's usually the warmest minute of the whole appointment.
  • The door or the window. A sticker, facing people on their way out. It catches the ones who were too shy to say anything in person.
  • On the doorstep, at the end of a job. A card from your pocket. The customer can see the finished work, which is the best possible time to ask.
  • Markets, fairs and trade shows. A card, because the whole thing is hand to hand, and often there's nowhere to stick anything.
  • The takeaway bag or the box. A sticker on the lid. It gets read at home, when the food was good and the evening is calm.
  • The invoice or the receipt. A printed code. Handy for trades, where the customer often isn't there when you finish.
  • Pockets and lanyards. One card per person, so whoever gets the thank-you is the one who asks.

NFC vs QR code for gathering customer reviews: which fits your business?

Think about where your customer is standing when they're happiest with you. That's where the card, stand or plate should be.

  • Restaurants and cafés: a QR plate on each table, plus a card the server holds out with the bill.
  • Salons, clinics and studios: a Google review stand at reception, where people pay and book their next visit.
  • Contractors and mobile services: a card in your pocket. You ask on the doorstep, when the job is done and the customer can see the result.
  • Shops and market stalls: a stand by the till and a sticker on the door.
  • A whole team or several locations: a pack of cards, so every person has one. For bigger orders with your own logo, see corporate orders.

How do QR codes help in collecting customer reviews?

Writing a review is the easy part. Finding the right page is what stops people. A customer has to open Google and search your name. Then pick the right listing, scroll past the photos and the opening hours, and hunt for the review button. Plenty of people mean to do it later and never get round to it.

A QR code skips all of that. The customer points their camera at it and your review form opens.

You can make a review QR code yourself. Google gives every Business Profile its own review link. Turn that link into a QR code, print it, and you're away. That's a fine way to start.

A ready-made plate or sticker saves you the printing, cutting and laminating. We also set each one up for your business for free. If your profile is hard to find, we fix it by email.

When it doesn't work, and what to do

  • The phone ignores the tap. Try the top of the phone, near the camera, and hold it still for a second. On Android, NFC may be switched off in settings.
  • A thick case, or a metal counter. Both can block the chip. Lift the card off the metal and hold it in the air.
  • The camera won't read the code. Usually light. Move out of the glare, or hold the phone square to the code instead of at an angle.
  • An older phone. Some can't read NFC at all. That's exactly what the printed code on the same card is for.
  • Outside, after a few months. Print fades and peels. Check your stickers now and then, the way you'd check a price label.
  • The wrong page opens. Email us the card number, the four or five digits under the QR code. We'll point it at the right page.

What to look for when you buy

Most review cards look alike in a photo. These are the things that matter once it's in your hand.

  • Both ways on one card. A chip to tap and a code to scan, so no customer is left out.
  • Set up for you. Someone should connect it to your business profile before it arrives. If the profile is awkward to find, they should sort that out too.
  • A link you can change. You may move from Google to Facebook, or open a second location. The card should follow you.
  • Nothing monthly. You pay once for the card, stand, plate or sticker.
  • Something solid. Our review cards are 85.5mm by 54mm, the size of a bank card. The plates are 120mm by 120mm and 3mm thick, so they sit flat on a counter.
  • A way back if it goes wrong. We give a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 30-day free replacement.

What we'd choose

If you only buy one thing, pick something with both NFC and a QR code, like a Google review card. Tap for the phones that do it, scan for everyone else. Then add a plate or a few stickers in the spots where nobody is standing.

Frequently asked questions

Do customers need an app to tap an NFC review card?

No. They hold their phone near the card and a link appears. One tap on that link opens your review page.

Does NFC work on both iPhone and Android?

It works on most recent iPhones and Android phones. On some Android phones NFC has to be switched on in settings first. If a phone doesn't react, the QR code on the same card does the same job.

Do the cards, stands or plates need batteries, Wi-Fi or power?

No. There's no battery inside and nothing to plug in. The customer's phone only needs its own internet connection to load your review page.

Can I change which page my card opens?

Yes. Email us and we'll point it at the new page for you. Setup and changes are free.

Is there a monthly fee?

No. You pay once for the card, stand, plate or sticker.

Can I make my own review QR code instead?

Yes. Google gives every Business Profile a review link, and you can turn that link into a QR code yourself. You then handle the printing and the setup. Once it's printed, you can't change where it points.

Will a phone case stop the tap from working?

A thick case, or a metal plate inside it, can block the chip. Holding the card against the top of the phone usually solves it. The QR code is always there as a backup.

Can I put a QR plate or sticker outside?

You can, and plenty of businesses do. Keep it out of direct weather where you can, and replace it when the print starts to fade.

Does a customer need a Google account to leave a review?

Yes. Google asks people to be signed in before they write. Most phones are already signed in, so the customer usually goes straight to the form.

What happens if my card stops working?

Email us the card number, which is the four or five digits under the QR code. We fix the setup by email, and there's a 30-day free replacement if the card itself is faulty.

Can one card point to Facebook or Instagram instead of Google?

Yes. We make cards for Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as well. If you change your mind later, we can point an existing card somewhere else.

Still not sure which one fits? Send us a message and tell us what kind of business you run. We'll say which one we'd use, even if it's the cheaper one.