How NFC business cards work
An NFC business card has a tiny chip inside. When someone holds their phone near it, the phone reads a link from the chip and opens it: your contact card, website, booking page or Instagram. No app, no battery, no typing.
How does the tap actually work?
NFC (near field communication) is the same short-range radio your phone uses for tap-to-pay. The chip in the card has no battery. The phone's own field powers it for a split second, reads the link stored on it, and shows it.
The range is a couple of centimeters, so the card only opens when someone deliberately taps it. Nothing is broadcast and nothing is tracked by the chip itself.
What can the card open?
- A digital business card page with your photo, phone, email and socials
- A "save contact" file so your details land in their phone contacts
- Your website, portfolio or a single product page
- A booking calendar, menu or price list
- Your Google review page (see our Google reviews guide)
- Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp or any other link
Can I change where the card points?
Yes, if the chip points to a page you control. The simplest way is to point the card to a free Digital Card page: you edit the page whenever you want and every card you already handed out shows the new info. No reprint.
Tip: print a QR code on the back as well. A few people still prefer to scan, and the QR can point to the same page.
Which phones read NFC cards?
Almost every smartphone sold in recent years. On iPhone XR, XS and newer, and iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer, tag reading is automatic. On iPhone 7, 8 and X it works after turning on the NFC Tag Reader in Control Center. On Android, NFC must be switched on in Settings, and it usually is by default.
Details and fixes are in our iPhone guide.
How long does an NFC card last?
The chip is sealed inside the card and has no battery, so there is nothing to run out. Treat it like a regular plastic card: avoid bending it in half or punching holes through the chip area.
Questions
Do people need an app to tap my card?
No. Modern iPhones and Android phones read the card with no app.
Does an NFC card work without internet?
The tap itself works offline, but the page it opens (your website or Digital Card) needs mobile data or Wi-Fi to load.
Can the chip be hacked or track people?
The chip only stores a link. It has no battery, no GPS and does not collect data about the person who taps it.
How many times can a card be tapped?
As many times as you like. Each tap just reads the same stored link.
Sources: Apple: models that support NFC Tag Reader · Google Wallet Help: turn on NFC
