In short
NFC is faster: one tap and the profile is open, with no camera to aim. A QR code works on almost any phone with a camera. The best choice is a card with both: NFC for most people and a QR code on the back for phones without NFC.
Comparison
| NFC | QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| How it opens | One tap with the phone | Unlock, open the camera, aim |
| Which phones | iPhone XS and newer by themselves, iPhone 7–X via Control Center, most Android phones with NFC on | Almost any phone with a camera |
| In the dark | Works | Hard: the code must be visible |
| App | Not needed | Not needed, the built-in camera is enough |
| Impression | Surprises and sticks | Familiar |
When NFC is better
At a meeting, an event or a stand: wherever you hand over the card. A tap is quicker than a scan and starts a conversation on its own.
When a QR code is better
When the other person is far away or their phone has no NFC: a QR code on a slide, a poster, a shop window or the back of the card. Almost any phone camera reads it.
Why it’s good to have both
Nobody is left without your contact. Every Echo card has an NFC chip and a QR code on the back, and both lead to the same profile.