NTAG213 vs NTAG215 vs NTAG216: NFC Chip Types Explained

The difference between NTAG213, NTAG215 and NTAG216 is memory: NTAG213 has 144 bytes of user memory, NTAG215 has 504 bytes, and NTAG216 has 888 bytes. For a single web link, like an Instagram profile or a link in bio page, NTAG213 is plenty, and the bigger chips only matter when you store longer data such as a full contact card.

All three are made by NXP, all three work with the same phones, and all three behave the same way when tapped. This guide explains what the numbers mean in practice so you can pick the right chip without overpaying for memory you will never use.

NTAG213 vs NTAG215 vs NTAG216 at a glance

  • NTAG213: 144 bytes of user memory. Fits one URL of about 130 characters. The most common chip for links.
  • NTAG215: 504 bytes of user memory. Room for a much longer link, a short contact card, or a few small records.
  • NTAG216: 888 bytes of user memory. The most room of the three, useful for fuller contact cards or several records on one tag.

Everything else is shared across the family:

  • All are NFC Forum Type 2 tags, which means nearly every NFC phone can read them.
  • All are passive. There is no battery. The phone's field powers the chip during a tap.
  • All are rated for about 100,000 write cycles and about 10 years of data retention.
  • All support a permanent lock and an optional 32-bit password that protects against writing.
  • All work at 13.56 MHz with a range of a few centimeters.

If you want the background on how tags and phones talk to each other, read what NFC is and how it works first.

What 144, 504 and 888 bytes actually mean

A byte is roughly one character of text, but a tag also stores a little formatting information around your data, so the usable space is slightly less than the raw number. Links are also stored efficiently, since the "https://" part is shortened to a single code.

In practice:

  • A normal web link like a profile URL, a Linktree page, a booking page or a Google review short link fits easily on NTAG213.
  • A very long link with tracking codes on the end may go past the roughly 130 character limit of NTAG213. Shorten it, or use a bigger chip.
  • A contact card (vCard) with name, phone, email, company and address can get long fast. NTAG215 or NTAG216 gives you breathing room.
  • Several records on one tag, like a link plus a text note, add up and favor the bigger chips.

The trick most people miss: use a link instead

If you want to share a lot of information, you usually do not need a bigger chip. Put everything on a web page and store only the link on the tag. That keeps the tag small, lets you update the details any time without rewriting the tag, and works more consistently across phones.

This matters most for contact info. Android can save a contact record from a tag directly, but iPhone support for contact records on tags is limited and inconsistent. A link to a contact page or a downloadable .vcf file is the more reliable option on iPhone. Our guide on how to put a contact card on an NFC tag walks through both approaches.

Which NFC chip should you choose?

Choose NTAG213 if

  • You are storing one link: social profile, link in bio, website, review page, menu or booking page.
  • You want the most widely used, well tested option.
  • You plan to change the link occasionally. It is fully rewritable unless locked.

Choose NTAG215 if

  • Your link is very long and you cannot shorten it.
  • You want to store a short contact card directly on the tag for Android users.
  • You need a link plus another small record.

Choose NTAG216 if

  • You want a fuller contact card stored directly on the tag.
  • You are storing several records and want plenty of spare room.

For most people sharing a link in person, NTAG213 is the right call. More memory does not make a tag read faster or from farther away.

Does chip type affect read range or speed?

Not in any way you will notice. Read range depends far more on the size and shape of the antenna, what the tag is mounted on, and the phone and case doing the reading. Thick, metal or magnetic cases, wallet cases and pop sockets can block reads no matter which chip is inside.

Where you hold the phone also matters. On iPhone the antenna is near the top edge. On Android it varies, usually the middle or upper back.

Locking and passwords

An NTAG chip that is not locked and has no password can be rewritten by anyone who taps it with a writing app. For a tag on your own keys that is rarely a problem. For a tag stuck in a public place, it is worth protecting.

  • Lock: makes the tag read only forever. You can never change it again, so only lock a tag once the link is final.
  • Password: the 32-bit password feature lets you block writing while still allowing yourself to change it later. Some apps support setting this up.

For more on what someone can and cannot do with your tag, see are NFC tags safe.

How to check which chip you have

Install a free app such as NFC Tools by wakdev, choose Read, and tap the tag. The app shows the chip type, total and used memory, whether the tag is writable, and whether it is locked. Writing or changing a tag always needs an app like this, while opening a link stored on it needs no app.

What Spinek uses

Spinek, our NFC keychain spinner, uses an NTAG213 chip sealed inside the body during printing. We picked it because one link is what most people want to share, and NTAG213 handles that on nearly any NFC phone. It ships unlocked and tested, and you can rewrite it as often as you like with no account or subscription. See the Spinek NFC keychain or follow the setup guide to write your own link.

FAQ

Is NTAG213 enough for a URL?

Yes, for nearly every normal link. NTAG213 holds a URL of about 130 characters, which covers social profiles, link in bio pages and most websites. If your link is longer, shorten it or use NTAG215.

Are NTAG215 and NTAG216 compatible with iPhone?

Yes. All three chips are NFC Forum Type 2 tags, and iPhone XR, XS and newer read them in the background. Writing to any of them on iPhone needs iOS 13 or later and an app.

How many times can you rewrite an NTAG chip?

NTAG213, NTAG215 and NTAG216 are rated for about 100,000 write cycles, so normal use will not wear them out. Once a tag is locked, it can no longer be rewritten at all.

Does a bigger NFC chip have a longer range?

No. Range comes mostly from the antenna, the mounting surface and the phone. NFC is designed to work at a few centimeters regardless of chip memory.

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