Guide · Hardware
Google Review NFC Card vs QR Code Standee: Which Should You Use?
NFC cards and QR standees both open your Google review form. The difference is how the customer gets there: a tap, or a camera. Here is how each works, what to watch out for, and when to use which.
Short answerUse a standee that has both an NFC chip and a printed QR code. NFC is the quickest for customers whose phones have it switched on; the QR code works on every phone with a camera. A printed QR code alone is enough to start, and costs nothing.
How each works
- QR code: the customer opens their camera and points it at the code. Works on practically every smartphone. Needs good light and a clear, unglared print.
- NFC: a small chip inside a card or standee. The customer taps the top of their phone on it and the review link opens. Most recent Android phones support it when NFC is switched on; iPhones from the XS onward read NFC tags without an app.
Which to choose
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Just starting, testing whether customers review | A printed QR poster. Free, and you can make one here. |
| Billing counter or reception | A standee with both NFC and QR, so every customer has a way in. |
| Restaurant tables | QR table tents; NFC on a counter standee as well. |
| Staff who ask in person (delivery, home services) | An NFC card they can hand over, with a QR code on the back. |
What to check before buying
- It points to your review form, not just your Maps listing. Ask how the link is set and whether you can change it later.
- There's a printed QR code too, for phones without NFC or with NFC switched off.
- The link isn't a short link that could stop working if the seller's service shuts down.
- Nothing offers customers a reward for tapping and reviewing; Google prohibits incentives.
The hardware only gets customers to the review form. What happens next decides whether they post: many open the form, see an empty box, and leave. Helping them put their own experience into words is where most of the gain is.
Frequently asked questions
Do NFC Google review cards work on iPhone?
Yes. iPhone XS and later models read NFC tags without an app, as long as the phone is unlocked and the tag is held near the top of the phone.
Why is my NFC review card not working on some phones?
Some Android phones have NFC switched off, and a few budget phones do not have NFC at all. That is why a printed QR code on the same card or standee matters.
Is a QR code or NFC better for Google reviews?
Both, together. NFC is quicker when it works; a QR code works on practically every phone. A standee with both covers every customer.
Can I make a Google review QR code for free?
Yes. Google Business Profile gives you the review link, and our free tool turns it into a printable poster with your logo.
ReviewBoost Smart Counter Standee turns billing counter footfall into genuine 5-star Google reviews in 15 seconds. Customers tap via NFC or scan the QR code to post an authentic draft in their own language. Laser-cut acrylic standee & 1 year software included for ₹1,499.
Sources: Google Business Profile Help: Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews · Google Maps user-contributed content policy: Prohibited and restricted content