In this guide
1Speed of Interaction
NFC: Under 1 second. The phone vibrates, the browser opens. QR: 5-8 seconds. Unlock phone, open camera, focus on code, wait for URL recognition, tap the link. In a busy restaurant or clinic, those extra seconds mean the difference between a review captured and a customer who walks out.
2Device Compatibility
NFC: Every iPhone since 2017 (iPhone 7+), every Android since 2015. That covers 95%+ of phones in Canada. QR: Works on all smartphones with a camera. 100% compatibility. Winner: QR for compatibility, NFC for speed. CAN-TAP includes both.
3Customer Experience
NFC feels premium and modern — it's the same technology as Apple Pay. QR codes feel utilitarian — associated with COVID-era menus. For businesses positioning themselves as high-quality, the NFC experience reinforces that brand perception.
4Durability and Maintenance
NFC tags have no moving parts and last 10+ years. They work through cases, stickers, and enclosures. QR codes printed on paper fade, get scratched, and become unscannable. QR codes on screens are better but require power. NFC wins on longevity.
5Cost Comparison
A QR code is essentially free to generate and print. An NFC tag costs $2-5 for the raw chip. A professionally designed, pre-programmed NFC review stand like CAN-TAP costs $129 one-time. Compare this to review management software subscriptions at $50-200/month — the NFC stand pays for itself in month one.
Key takeaways
- ✓NFC converts 3.2x better than QR-only setups
- ✓NFC: 1 second to review page. QR: 5-8 seconds.
- ✓95% of Canadian smartphones support NFC natively
- ✓CAN-TAP includes both NFC and QR for 100% compatibility
- ✓$129 one-time vs $600-2400/year for review software subscriptions