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Free tool · Tagging

RFID vs QR vs NFC: which asset tag fits?

Describe how and where your assets are scanned. You’ll get a comparison matrix showing how QR/barcode, NFC and UHF RFID fit each requirement — not a single “winner”.

Runs in your browser No sign-upFit matrix with notes
Describe how your assets are scanned
1 · How far away must assets be read?
2 · Will the tag be visible?
3 · Do you need to read many at once?
4 · Environment (tick all that apply)
5 · Budget per tag
6 · Reading hardware
QR / barcode
Strong fit
Printed label · camera or scanner

Fits these requirements well.

NFC
Poor fit
Tap-to-read · most smartphones

Struggles with: read distance.

UHF RFID
Poor fit
Radio · handheld or fixed reader

Struggles with: reading hardware.

RequirementQR / barcodeNFCUHF RFID
Read distance
Up to ~30 cm, in hand
Good fit
Normal phone or scanner range.
Poor fit
Range is only a few centimetres — users must physically tap each tag.
Good fit
Well within handheld UHF read range.
Line of sight
Label visible & reachable
Good fit
Visible labels scan reliably.
Good fit
No line of sight needed, only proximity.
Good fit
No line of sight needed.
Bulk scanning
Periodic counts
Workable
One scan per asset — fine for moderate counts, slow for thousands.
Workable
One tap per asset — similar effort to QR.
Good fit
A sweep reads many tags in seconds.
Environment
Indoor, no special surfaces
Good fit
No special requirements.
Good fit
No special requirements.
Good fit
No special requirements.
Tag budget
Moderate
Good fit
Durable printed labels fit a moderate budget.
Good fit
Standard NFC tags fit a moderate budget.
Good fit
Standard UHF labels fit a moderate budget.
Reading hardware
Phones only
Good fit
Any smartphone camera.
Good fit
Most modern smartphones read NFC.
Poor fit
Phones can’t read UHF RFID — you need a handheld sled or fixed reader.
In Asetavo
Plan availability
All plans, including free Starter.Growth plan and above.Business plan and above (tags, handhelds and fixed readers).
You don’t have to choose just one

Many teams label everything with QR for everyday phone scans and add UHF RFID to high-value or high-movement assets that need bulk counts or door and zone monitoring. In Asetavo one asset can carry several tags and any of them resolves to the same record. This matrix reflects general characteristics of each technology — always test a sample of tags on your real assets before a full roll-out. See the RFID vs barcode cost calculator to compare costs.

How it works

How to choose between RFID, NFC and QR codes

Four steps. Every number is an input you control, and nothing leaves your browser.

Read distance

Decide how far away assets need to be read from.

Line of sight & bulk

Say whether the label will be visible and whether you need to read many at once.

Environment

Flag metal surfaces, liquids and outdoor or harsh conditions.

Budget

Set your per-tag budget and whether you can buy reader hardware, then read the matrix.

About this tool

What you need to know

QR codes and barcodes, NFC and UHF RFID each solve a different problem. QR and barcode labels are printed, cheap and readable by any phone camera, but need line of sight and are scanned one at a time. NFC tags are read by tapping a phone within a few centimetres — no camera and no line of sight needed — but they are also read one at a time. Passive UHF RFID tags are read by a dedicated reader from a distance of metres, many at once and without line of sight, which is why RFID transforms large stock-takes and door or gate monitoring; it also costs more per tag and needs reader hardware.

Environment matters as much as the use case. Metal surfaces detune ordinary RFID and NFC tags, so metal assets need on-metal (anti-metal) tag variants. Liquids absorb UHF energy and reduce read range. Outdoor and industrial assets need durable, UV- and abrasion-resistant labels whatever the technology.

Many organisations mix technologies: QR on everything for phone scanning, NFC where tap-to-identify is useful, and UHF RFID on high-value or high-movement items that need bulk counts or zone alerts. The matrix is a planning aid based on general characteristics of each technology; confirm read performance with a sample of your actual assets and tags before a full roll-out.

In Asetavo · Tagging (QR, barcode, NFC, UHF RFID)

Ready to move beyond the calculator?

You don’t have to pick one: in Asetavo each asset can use the tag technology that fits it.

  • QR & barcode on every plan; NFC from Growth; UHF RFID from Business
  • Phone scanning, RFID handhelds and fixed portals
  • Several tag types on the same asset
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FAQ

Questions, answered

QR codes are printed images read by a camera with line of sight. NFC is a short-range radio tag read by tapping a phone within a few centimetres. UHF RFID is a longer-range radio tag read by a dedicated reader from metres away, many tags at once, without line of sight.

Ready to account for every asset?

Tag, track and audit everything you own — from a handheld scanner to a boardroom report.

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