QR codes, NFC tags, and barcodes all do the same core job: link a physical label to an item or location so a scan brings it up. They differ in how you read them, what they cost, and what hardware they need. Here is a plain-English comparison, and how to use all three together in additem.to.
For most items and locations, QR codes are the best default. They are free to print, you scan them from a distance with the iPhone Camera, and they open the item directly. Add NFC tags on the few places you reach for every day, where a tap is faster than aiming a camera. Reach for barcodes when you are matching labels you already use, or want to reuse the product barcodes printed on boxes. You do not have to choose one - additem.to supports all three, and they mix freely.
| QR code | NFC tag | Barcode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you read it | Point the camera | Tap your phone | Point the camera |
| Read distance | A few cm to about a metre | A touch (within a few cm) | A few cm to about a metre |
| Opens from outside the app (Camera app or a background tap) | Yes, codes the app made | Yes, with Tap to Open | No - scan in the app |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per label | Free to print | You buy the tags | Free to print |
| Reuse codes you already have | Yes (in-app scan) | Yes (in-app scan) | Yes (in-app scan) |
| Best for | Most items and locations | Daily-access shelves and bins | Reusing existing or product barcodes |
A QR code is a square pattern you print and stick on. In additem.to it encodes a link, so pointing the iPhone Camera at one opens the item or location directly - no need to open the app first. You can scan from a distance, the same code works printed large or small, and you print exactly as many as you need on standard label sheets.
Because the code only holds a random link, not your data, the lookup happens entirely on your phone. That means it works with no internet connection, and the label is meaningless to anyone who does not have access to your inventory.
Use QR codes when: you want the cheapest, most general-purpose label, you are happy to point a camera, and you want codes that also open from the Camera app.
An NFC tag is a small chip in a sticker or disc. Instead of aiming a camera, you hold the top of your iPhone against the tag and the item or location opens. With Tap to Open enabled, this works even when the app is closed. There is nothing to line up and no good light needed - it is the fastest way to reach a place you use constantly.
The trade-off is cost and range: each tag costs money, and you have to be within a few centimetres to read it. Tags are also more durable than a printed label and can be sealed against moisture, which suits workshops and outdoor storage. For which tags to buy and where to source them, see the NFC tags buying guide.
You can also reuse NFC tags you already have. The app reads a tag's built-in ID, so linking an existing tag does not rewrite it - handy if the tag came pre-programmed or is already stuck down.
Use NFC tags when: the spot is reached daily, a tap saves real time, or a printed label would not survive the conditions.
A barcode is the familiar striped label. additem.to generates standard EAN-13 barcodes in the range reserved for internal use, so they look like any retail barcode but can never clash with a real product code. They are free to print, like QR codes. Note that additem.to scans barcodes with the iPhone camera - there is no support for plugging in a separate handheld barcode scanner.
The big draw of barcodes is reuse. If you are moving from another system that printed barcode labels, you do not have to re-label anything: scan an existing barcode and link it to an item or location, and Quick Scan resolves it exactly like a code the app generated. You can even scan the barcode printed on a product's own box.
Use barcodes when: you are matching an existing labelling system, you want to reuse the barcodes already on your products, or you simply prefer the classic look on bins and shelves.
You do not have to re-label everything to move to additem.to. All three code types can be linked from labels you already have: link an existing QR sticker, read an existing NFC tag by its built-in ID, or scan a barcode you already use.
For a bulk move, you can also bring QR codes and barcodes in through a CSV import: include a QR code or barcode column in your spreadsheet and additem.to maps it automatically. NFC tags are not part of CSV import - those are linked by tapping the tag.
One important difference: codes you bring in this way, whether scanned or imported, only work through the in-app scanner. A reused QR code or NFC tag will not open from the iPhone Camera app or a background tap, because its content is not an additem.to link. Only codes the app generates carry that link and open from outside the app. So if opening straight from the Camera or a tap matters to you, generate fresh codes for those spots; if you just want a quick way to look things up inside the app, reusing what you have is perfectly fine.
In practice, most people mix them. An item can carry a QR code, a barcode, and an NFC tag at the same time, and Quick Scan resolves all three the same way. A common setup is QR or barcode labels on the bulk of your things, plus a handful of NFC tags on the locations you visit most. Whichever you scan, you land on the same item.
You can also add barcode-type custom fields to items - say a calibration ID or a supplier reference - and scan those to fill or find items too.
additem.to is a free iPhone app for home and small-business inventory. QR codes, barcodes, and NFC tags - including label printing - are all included on the free tier, no account needed.
Download on the App Store