Which NFC chip do I need?

Need anNFC chip? But don't know exactly what to look for? Then read on. We'll tell you which NFC chip you need. That way you can avoid a bad purchase and make sure you don't pay too much.

Before we begin, it is important to know that there are three types of NFC chips, namely the NTAG213, NTAG215 and NTAG216. The chips are almost identical to each other. Below we will explain the difference between the chips.

NTAG213

The NTAG213 is the cheapest of the three and costs €9.49 per set (10 pieces). This chip has a usable capacity of 144 bytes.

NTAG215

These chips cost $15.95 per set (10 pieces). The NTAG215 has a usable capacity of 540 bytes.

NTAG216

The NTAG216 has the most data storage of the three. It is priced at €13.49 per set (10 units). This chip has a usable capacity of 888 bytes.

What can I do with the usable capacity?

Usable capacity is expressed in bytes. This is the memory of the chip. In short, the more usable capacity the tag has the more data can be put on the chip. Thus, much less data can be put on the NTAG213 than on the NTAG216.

How many bytes do I need?

Nice story with that usable capacity expressed in bytes, but how many bytes do I need? That depends entirely on what you want to program on the chip. A web address takes up an average of 19 bytes, a phone number 16 bytes, an e-mail with subject 84 bytes, a business card 153 bytes and a trigger (phone on silent) 76 bytes.

What we recommend

Before you buy NFC chips, know exactly what data you want to program on the tag. Is it about a simple URL? Then take the NTAG213. Do you want to be able to store more data? Then choose the NTAG215. Do you want to put a large file on your chip that requires a lot of usable capacity? Then choose the NTAG216.