If you are planning to procure a large amount of RFID cards or NFC cards for business use, it helps to understand the key differences between the two technologies and how these cards function, and whether they would be able to meet your business needs.
In several applications such as access control, security, staff and employee cards, asset tracking, loyalty and membership cards, etc., the world is quickly adopting technologies like RFID and NFC for obvious reasons. These are not just PVC cards where one can print some necessary information and get the job done. These advanced cards work on UHF RFID and NFC technologies and come with a dedicated chip embedded in the card, which can store unique identification numbers, token ID, etc.
These chip-based cards help you automate and streamline several tasks, no matter which industry you belong to, whether it is retail, healthcare, event and entertainment, hospitality, or the commercial or manufacturing sector.
From attendance management to access control, identification and tracking, as well as payments, these cards can simplify daily operations in various ways.
UHF RFID & NFC technologies are similar in that they both enable radio-frequency communication, but where & how they are used, read range, security, and key functionalities in each category vary. Whether you're implementing an asset-tracking system, managing secure access, or creating a seamless payment experience, it's critical to understand the differences between UHF RFID and NFC smart card technologies for better decision-making.
In this blog, we’ll discuss what UHF RFID cards and NFC cards are, the difference between RFID and NFC technologies, and how a smart choice between the two can help you manage your operations seamlessly.
What is a UHF RFID Card?
UHF RFID cards are smart cards that use Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio waves, in most cases within the 860-960 MHz range, to interact with an RFID reader. UHF RFID cards can send and receive information wirelessly at much longer distances- often a couple of meters, and at times 10-12 meters, depending on environmental conditions and the power of the reader. UHF RFID cards are commonly used for applications promoting rapid identification in high volumes and hands-free identification, such as supply chain logistics, asset management, and even large-scale people management.
What is an NFC Card?
NFC cards (Near Field Communication) operate in the 13.56 MHz HF (High Frequency) band, and are meant for very short-range communications, approximately 4-5 centimetres. NFC cards are commonly deployed on applications with strenuous security protocols and where the NFC card must be injected in very close proximity to conduct the transaction, such as payment cards, NFC in transportation, access control, or library cards.
One distinctive feature of NFC cards is that they can be scanned using modern smartphones. Various smartphones from Apple, Google, and Samsung come with a built-in NFC scanner and can easily scan an NFC card, allow payments via NFC, share contact details, etc.
This is not possible if you decide to go with UHF RFID cards, as you’ll require a dedicated RFID handheld reader with a screen, which can cost around INR52000 (Chainway C72) to INR85000 (Zebra RFD40 with TC22 Mobile Computer) and more.
5 Key Differences between UHF RFID and NFC Cards
1.Read Range: UHF RFID cards can be read from distances of several meters, allowing for their use in inventory management, tracking moving vehicles (tolling), or any logistics use case. NFC cards can only be used at very close range, which is preferable for stored value use cases, such as secure transactions and access control.
2. Technology/Frequency: UHF cards use the 860-960 MHz (UHF frequency), whereas NFC uses 13.56 MHz (HF frequency or NFC frequency).
3. Reader Requirements: UHF RFID has a standalone reader (not flexible), while NFC cards can be used on most smartphones (with the built-in NFC reader functionality).
4. Uses: UHF RFID cards are suitable for warehouse automation, bulk tracking, vehicle management, and library management, while NFC cards are used for metro cards, tap payments, access to secure areas, and identification.
5. Security Consideration: UHF RFID cards are mainly designed for speed & range, not banking-grade security. Data is vulnerable to interception; if not secure, it is still sufficient for logistics, tolls, tracking, etc. On the other hand, NFC cards support encryption and secure elements, meaning they can be used for financial transactions. Many NFC cards are compatible with the ISO/IEC 14443 or EMVCo standard for payments.
Cost of UHF RFID Cards and NFC Cards in India
1.Cost of UHF RFID Cards
The Typical price for UHF RFID Cards in India ranges from INR 15 to INR 60. The cost of a UHF RFID card depends on the volume, the chip in the card, the card material, and the printing customization as required. Glossy metal UHF RFID cards are costly and can cost around INR200-INR500 per card.
2. Cost of NFC Cards
The cost of NFC cards is typically higher than that of a UHF RFID card, starting at ₹30 and going up to ₹150 a card, depending on the chip memory, additional security features, card material, and whether multiple applications are supported.
Where to Buy RFID and NFC Cards in India
UHF RFID and NFC cards can be purchased via card manufacturers, marketplace websites, e-commerce sites, or from your local access control solution provider across India.
In India, EnCstore.com is a popular spot where you can purchase all kinds of UHF RFID cards, labels, hard tags, as well as NFC cards, HF cards, MIFARE cards, Proximity cards, etc., at cost-effective prices. We also offer pan-India shipping on all barcode and RFID supplies.
Pros & Cons of UHF RFID Cards and NFC Cards
Pros of UHF RFID:
1.Long read range (meters away, hands-free)
2. Can identify multiple tags (bulk scanning)
3. Durable, works well in industrial environments
Cons of UHF RFID:
1. Smartphones do not support UHF RFID natively
2. Less secure than NFC
Pros of NFC:
1.Smartphones can support NFC (tap-and-go)
2. Higher level of security (encryption, two-way authentication)
3. Simple for users in payment/entry systems
Cons of NFC:
1.Very short-range operation (has to be tapped)
2. More expensive than UHF RFID cards
3. Not effective for bulk tracking or long-range tracking
Difference table of the UHF RFID card and the NFC card
|
Feature
|
UHF RFID Card
|
NFC Card
|
|
Frequency
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860-960 MHz (UHF)
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13.56 MHz (HF subset)
|
|
Read Range
|
Up to 12-20 meters
|
0-10 cm
|
|
Reader Compatibility
|
Dedicated UHF readers
|
Most smartphones, contactless terminals
|
|
Security
|
Moderate to high, but less than NFC
|
High, with encryption
|
|
Bulk Reading
|
Yes (many at once)
|
No (single card per read)
|
|
Typical Uses
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Logistics, asset tracking, warehousing
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Payments, access, tickets, IDs
|
|
Cost
|
Lower in bulk
|
Higher, offset by smartphone support
|
To summarize, choose a better RFID card or NFC card featuring a high-quality chip, and buy from a trusted and reliable RFID/NFC card supplier in India. EnCstore is a leading supplier of premium RFID, barcode, and NFC products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the major differences between UHF RFID cards and NFC cards?
UHF RFID cards operate in the 860–960 MHz range and are long-range (up to 12 meters) passive transponders used in bulk applications (inventory and asset identification and tracking). NFC cards operate in the 13.56 MHz band, offer a very short range (typically less than 10 cm), and are the form factor for almost all payment applications and access-control systems, and for typical common smartphone interactions.
Q2: Can I use a smartphone to read UHF RFID cards?
No, UHF RFID would require specialised UHF readers. Most smartphones are fitted with NFC readers.
Q3: Which is more secure, UHF RFID or NFC?
NFC typically has better security features because it was designed to perform authentication of proximity-based cryptographic communication, which greatly reduces the opportunity for interception. UHF RFID was designed for range and speed, which means it is susceptible to eavesdropping as it is a longer-range solution.
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