NFC Tags in Pakistan: NTAG213 vs NTAG215, Prices and 10 Uses (2026)

Quick answer: An NFC tag is a small sticker with a chip and antenna that makes a phone do something when you tap it: open a website, show your Google review page, start a WhatsApp chat, join Wi-Fi or run a smart-home automation. It needs no battery and no app to read on most phones. At ZZ Marts, NTAG213 and NTAG215 NFC tags cost Rs 300 for a pack of 6 (Rs 50 per tag). Choose NTAG213 for links and everyday uses, and NTAG215 when you need more memory, such as a digital business card.

What is an NFC tag?

NFC (near field communication) is the same short-range radio your phone uses for tap-to-pay. An NFC tag is a tiny chip joined to a flat antenna. When a phone comes within a few centimetres, its NFC field powers the chip, and the phone reads the instruction stored on it. That is why tags never need charging and can last for years.

The tags at ZZ Marts use NXP NTAG chips, the most widely supported NFC tag chips. They work on 13.56 MHz under ISO/IEC 14443A (NFC Forum Type 2), which practically every NFC phone can read.

NTAG213 vs NTAG215: which should you buy?

	NTAG213	NTAG215
User memory	144 bytes	504 bytes
Longest web link	About 130 characters	About 480 characters
Best for	Website and social links, Google review links, WhatsApp chat links, Wi-Fi, phone automations	Digital business cards (vCards), long links, multiple records on one tag
Rewritable	Up to 100,000 times	Up to 100,000 times
Price at ZZ Marts	Rs 300 / pack of 6	Rs 300 / pack of 6

Rule of thumb: if the tag only opens one link, NTAG213 is enough. If you want to store a full contact card with name, phone, email, address and website, choose NTAG215. Memory and link-length figures are from wakdev, the makers of NFC Tools (NTAG213, NTAG215).

Wet inlay or white label?

• Wet inlay is the bare chip and antenna on an adhesive backing. Stick it behind a printed sign, inside a product box, under a menu card or into a phone case, where it stays hidden.
• White label is the same tag with a white printable face. Write or print on it, so people can see where to tap.

NFC tag sizes: which one fits?

A bigger antenna is easier for a phone to find, so use the largest tag that fits.

Tag	Size	Chip	Good for
NTAG213 Wet Inlay 15 mm	15 mm	NTAG213	Keychains, small products, tight spaces
NTAG213 Wet Inlay 21 × 11 mm	21 × 11 mm	NTAG213	Narrow spots: pens, spines, edges, labels
NTAG213 Wet Inlay 25 mm	25 mm	NTAG213	The all-rounder: signs, packaging, desks, doors
NTAG213 Wet Inlay 35 mm	35 mm	NTAG213	Table stands, posters and counters where people tap quickly
NTAG213 White Label 25 mm	25 mm	NTAG213	Visible stickers you print or write on
NTAG215 Wet Inlay 25 mm	25 mm	NTAG215	Business cards and phone cases with a vCard
NTAG215 White Label 25 mm	25 mm	NTAG215	Visible vCard or long-link stickers

Every tag in the table costs Rs 300 for a pack of 6.

10 ways to use NFC tags in Pakistan

1. Google review stand: one tap opens your shop's Google review page. Restaurants, salons and clinics put a tag on the counter or the bill folder.
2. WhatsApp chat: write a wa.me link with your business number, so a tap opens a WhatsApp chat with you.
3. Instagram or TikTok follow: a tag on packaging or the shop counter opens your profile.
4. Digital business card: an NTAG215 tag in a card or phone case shares your full contact details with one tap.
5. Restaurant menu: a tag on each table opens the online menu; customers who prefer QR codes can still scan a printed code next to it.
6. Guest Wi-Fi: visitors tap to join your Wi-Fi without reading out the password.
7. Product information: a tag inside the box opens the manual, warranty page or setup video.
8. Smart home routines: tap a tag by the door to turn off lights, or by the bed to switch on silent mode, using Shortcuts on iPhone or an automation app on Android.
9. Stock and asset tracking: each tag's unique ID can label equipment, tools or files in your own tracking app.
10. Payment details: a tag on the counter can open your bank or wallet payment page or show your account details, so customers do not have to type them.

How to write (program) an NFC tag in 4 steps

1. Install a free app such as NFC Tools on Android or iPhone. On Android, switch NFC on in Settings.
2. Choose what to write. Open Write, tap Add a record, and pick URL, contact, Wi-Fi network or text. Type your link or details.
3. Write it. Tap Write and hold the top of your iPhone, or the middle of the back of your Android phone, against the tag for a second.
4. Test it, then lock it if you want. Tap the tag to check it works. Use Lock tag only when you are sure, because locking is permanent.

Which phones can read NFC tags?

• Android: most mid-range and flagship Android phones have NFC. Switch it on under Settings, usually in Connections or Connected devices.
• iPhone XR, XS and newer: read NFC tags automatically when the screen is on, with no app (GoToTags).
• iPhone 7, 8 and X: read tags through the NFC Tag Reader in Control Center.
• Writing tags on any phone needs an app such as NFC Tools.

Tips so your NFC tags work every time

• Keep tags off bare metal. Metal blocks the signal. Put a few millimetres of plastic, wood or foam behind the tag (Serialio).
• Mark the spot. People do not know where to tap a hidden tag. Use a white label, or print a small NFC icon and "Tap here" on the surface.
• Keep links short. Short links read faster and fit NTAG213 easily.
• Lock public tags. Lock tags on counters and posters so no one can rewrite them with a different link.
• Add a QR code beside it for phones without NFC.

NFC tag vs QR code

	NFC tag	QR code
How it opens	Tap the phone on it	Open the camera, point it, then tap the link
Change the link later	Yes, rewrite the tag (unless locked)	Only with a paid dynamic QR service, or reprint
Works on every phone	Phones with NFC	Any phone with a camera
Can be hidden	Yes, behind a sticker, card or sign	No, it must be visible

For counters and tables, using both gives everyone a way in.

NFC tags vs RFID access cards

NFC tags and door access cards look similar, but they are made for different jobs. Most door locks, attendance machines and access control readers use 125 kHz RFID cards or MIFARE 13.56 MHz cards, and phones cannot read 125 kHz cards at all. Buy NTAG stickers for phone-based uses, and buy the card type your access system specifies for doors. See all RFID cards and access tags.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an NFC tag cost in Pakistan?
At ZZ Marts, NTAG213 and NTAG215 NFC tags cost Rs 300 for a pack of 6, which is Rs 50 per tag, in wet inlay sizes from 15 mm to 35 mm and in 25 mm printable white labels.

What is the difference between NTAG213 and NTAG215?
Memory. NTAG213 holds 144 bytes, enough for a web link of about 130 characters. NTAG215 holds 504 bytes, enough for about 480 characters or a digital business card (vCard). Both work with the same phones and cost the same at ZZ Marts.

Does my phone support NFC tags?
Most Android phones do, once NFC is switched on in Settings. iPhone XR, XS and newer read NFC tags without an app, and iPhone 7, 8 and X read them through the NFC reader in Control Center.

How do I write a link to an NFC tag?
Install a free app such as NFC Tools, choose Write, add a record such as a URL, tap Write and hold your phone on the tag for a second. Tap the tag again to test it.

Can an NFC tag be rewritten?
Yes. NTAG213 and NTAG215 can be rewritten up to 100,000 times. You can also lock a tag permanently so no one can change what it does, but a locked tag can never be rewritten.

Do NFC tags need batteries?
No. An NFC tag has no battery. It takes its power from the phone's NFC field when the phone is held within a few centimetres.

Can I use NFC tags for door access control?
Not as a replacement for access cards. Most door access systems use 125 kHz RFID or MIFARE cards and key fobs. NFC stickers are made for phones: links, contacts, Wi-Fi and automations.

Why does my NFC tag not work on metal?
Metal blocks the radio field the tag needs. Put a plastic, wood or foam spacer of a few millimetres between the tag and the metal surface.

Related: RFID cards and access tags · Access control systems · Access control system price in Pakistan