Guide
NFC vs QR code vs paper business cards: which should you use?
By Parichy · Published · 3 min read
How do they compare?
The differences that matter in practice:
| Paper card | Printed QR code | NFC card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it's shared | Handed over | Scanned with the phone camera | Phone held against the card |
| Works with | Anyone who can read it | Any phone with a camera | Phones with NFC; add a QR code for the rest |
| Update details after printing | No — reprint | Only if the code points to a page you control | Yes, if the chip stores a link to an editable page |
| Needs an app or a battery | No | No | No — the phone powers the chip |
| Can show more than contact details | No | Yes, through the link | Yes, through the link |
| Best for | Formal exchanges, a keepsake | Posters, packaging, print | Fast in-person sharing |
When does a paper card still make sense?
When the meeting is formal and a card is expected, or when you want something to leave behind. Its weakness is that everything on it is fixed: a new number, role or address means a new print run. If you keep paper cards, add a QR code so the person can reach a current page.
When is a QR code the right choice?
Anywhere the person can scan but not tap: a poster, a shop window, packaging, a slide at the end of a talk, an email signature. Two things decide whether it works: size and contrast. Print it large enough to scan from where people will stand, dark on light, with clear space around it — and check it on a phone before printing hundreds.
Where does NFC win?
In person. A tap is one gesture, with nothing to open or aim, and the page appears straight away. Keep the chip clear of metal and stacked cards, which can block the signal, and remember that behaviour differs between phone models — which is the reason to carry the QR code too.
Why use both?
Because they cover each other's gaps. Every Parichy Smart Profile has its own QR code, and the hardware is designed to carry it as a fallback next to the NFC chip. Both open the same profile, so whichever a person uses they see your current details — and when something changes you edit the profile once instead of reprinting anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is NFC faster than scanning a QR code?
Usually a tap is a little quicker, since there is no camera to open or aim. The bigger difference is what it opens: both should lead to the same up-to-date profile.
Can NFC go on a paper card?
Yes. NFC can be built into stickers and patches as well as plastic and metal. Parichy offers a paper sticker patch alongside its cards, keychains and standees.
Does a QR code expire?
A QR code is just a picture of a link. It keeps working for as long as the page it points to does.
Which is cheapest?
A printed QR code costs nothing beyond printing. An NFC card costs more than paper because of the chip, but it saves reprinting when your details change.
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