Which NFC chip do I need?

Need an NFC chip? But not sure exactly what to look for? Then be sure to read on. We’ll tell you which NFC chip you need. That way, you’ll avoid making a bad purchase and ensure you don’t pay too much.

Before we begin, it’s important to know that there are three types of NFC chips: the NTAG213, NTAG215, and NTAG216. The chips are nearly identical. Below, we’ll explain the differences between them.

NTAG213

The NTAG213 is the least expensive 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 largest data storage capacity of the three. It costs €13.49 per set (10 pieces). This chip has a usable capacity of 888 bytes.

What can I do with the usable capacity?

The usable capacity is expressed in bytes. This is the chip’s memory. In short, the more usable capacity the tag has, the more data can be stored on the chip. Therefore, the NTAG213 can store much less data than the NTAG216.

How many bytes do I need?

It’s all well and good to express usable capacity in bytes, but how many bytes do I actually need? That depends entirely on what you want to program onto the chip. A web address takes up an average of 19 bytes, a phone number 16 bytes, an email with a subject line 84 bytes, a digital business card 153 bytes, and a trigger (set phone to silent) 76 bytes.

What we recommend

Before you buy NFC chips, know exactly what data you want to program onto the tag. Is it just a simple URL? Then go with 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.