What Is RFID VS NFC Card?

1. RFID vs NFC Card: 

What You Need to Know RFID and NFC are two wireless technologies that are often used for identification, communication and data transfer. But what are the differences between them and how do they work? In this blog post, we will explain the basics of RFID and NFC, their similarities and differences, and their applications and benefits.

2. What is RFID?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is a wireless, non-contact based technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags. These tags are often either attached to an object (e.g. vehicles, equipment, etc.) or implemented in an access card often used in personnel access control solutions.

RFID tags can be passive or active. Passive tags do not have a battery and rely on the reader's signal to power up and send back data. Active tags have a battery and can transmit data to a passive reader. Passive tags are cheaper, smaller and more durable than active tags, but have a shorter range and less memory. Active tags are more expensive, larger and have a shorter lifespan than passive tags, but have a longer range and more memory.

RFID tags can operate on different frequency ranges, such as low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) or ultra-high frequency (UHF). The frequency determines the reading range, data transfer speed, interference resistance and cost of the RFID system. Generally, lower frequencies have shorter ranges, slower speeds, less interference and lower costs than higher frequencies.

RFID technology has many applications, such as:

•  Inventory management: RFID tags can help track the location, quantity and status of goods in warehouses, stores or supply chains.

•  Asset tracking: RFID tags can help monitor the movement, condition and maintenance of valuable assets such as equipment, vehicles or tools.

•  Access control: RFID cards or key fobs can help authenticate users and grant them access to restricted areas or resources.

•  Animal identification: RFID tags can help identify pets, livestock or wildlife and store information such as health records, vaccination history or owner details.

3. What is NFC?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication and is a wireless technology that enables short-range communication between compatible devices. NFC is a subset of HF RFID and operates on the same frequency of 13.56 MHz.

NFC devices can be active or passive. Active devices can both send and receive data, while passive devices can only send data. Active devices include smartphones, tablets or readers, while passive devices include tags, cards or stickers.

NFC devices can communicate in two modes: reader/writer mode or peer-to-peer mode. In reader/writer mode, an active device reads or writes data from or to a passive device. In peer-to-peer mode, two active devices exchange data with each other.

NFC technology has many applications, such as:

•  Contactless payments: NFC devices can emulate credit cards or debit cards and enable secure transactions by tapping them on a reader.

•  Data sharing: NFC devices can transfer data such as photos, videos or contacts by bringing them close together.

•  Smart posters: NFC tags can store information such as web links, phone numbers or coupons that can be accessed by tapping them with an NFC device.

•  Device pairing: NFC devices can establish a connection with other devices such as Bluetooth speakers or Wi-Fi routers by tapping them together.

4. RFID vs NFC: The 5 Key Differences

RFID and NFC are both wireless technologies that use radio waves to identify and communicate with tags or devices. However, they have some key differences that make them suitable for different purposes. Here are the five main differences between RFID and NFC:

• Reading Range

RFID has a longer range than NFC, which is why it’s often used for industrial purposes. RFID can be read from a distance of up to 12 meters away, while NFC has a much shorter range of only about four cm. This makes NFC better suited for contactless payments and other applications where close proximity is necessary.

• Communication Speed

NFC has a faster communication speed than RFID, which is why it’s often used for data transfer. NFC can transfer data at up to 424 kbps, while RFID can transfer data at up to 640 kbps. However, this difference is not very significant in practice, as both technologies are fast enough for most applications.

• Data

NFC has more data capacity than RFID, which is why it’s often used for storing personal information. NFC tags can store up to 8 KB of data, while RFID tags can store up to 4 KB of data . This makes NFC better suited for storing web links, phone numbers or coupons that can be accessed by tapping them with an NFC device.

• Cost Effectiveness

RFID is more cost effective than NFC, which is why it’s often used for mass production. RFID tags are cheaper, ranging from $0.10 to $1.50 per tag , while NFC tags are more expensive, ranging from $0.15 to $2.00 per tag . This makes RFID better suited for inventory management, asset tracking or animal identification.

• Compatibility

NFC is more compatible than RFID, which is why it’s often used for device pairing. NFC devices can communicate with any other NFC device, regardless of the manufacturer or model. RFID devices, on the other hand, may not be compatible with each other, depending on the frequency, protocol or standard they use. This makes NFC better suited for data sharing, smart posters or device pairing.

5. RFID vs NFC: Summary

As you can see from the differences between both technologies, each holds unique properties that are demonstrated in NFC and RFID access control. NFC is best used to securely transfer a range of data over short distances, hence its prevalence in access control and payment applications. RFID is best used to identify and track objects over long distances, hence its prevalence in inventory management and asset tracking applications.