NFC plate vs QR vs WhatsApp for asking for reviews: an honest comparison

There are three common ways to ask a customer for a Google review: an NFC plate they tap with their phone, a QR code they scan, or sending them the link via WhatsApp (or text message, or email). All three work and all three have drawbacks. This is an honest comparison, written by someone who sells NFC plates, but without hiding when another option is better.

Quick summary

• NFC plate: the fastest for customers in person. It costs money and some customers don't know they can just hold their phone close.
• QR: free or nearly free, any phone with a camera can read it. It takes more steps and fails in low light or when worn.
• WhatsApp: reaches customers who aren't in front of you. You need their number and their permission, and it's easy for them to ignore it.

NFC plate

How it works

A plate with an NFC chip that stores a link to your Google profile. The customer holds their phone close and the window to write the review opens directly. It works with iPhone from the 7 onwards and with most Android phones.

Pros

• A single gesture. No opening the camera, no focusing, no searching.
• At the moment of greatest satisfaction. When the customer is in front of you and happy.
• Looks good. A clean plate on the counter looks better than a laminated sheet of paper.
• Editable, measurable destination if the plate points to a link you control, as with Tocky: you change the destination from the dashboard and see how many taps it gets.

Cons

• It costs money (at Tocky, €8.90 for the card and €14.90 for the plate, no fees).
• Some older phones don't have NFC or have it turned off.
• Some customers don't know they can hold their phone close; it helps if the plate says so and staff explain it the first time.
• It only works in person.

QR code

How it works

A printed code that opens the review link when scanned with the camera.

Pros

• Universal. Almost any phone with a camera can read it.
• Cheap. You can print it on receipts, invoices, business cards or posters.
• Works at a distance, for example on a poster on the wall or in a leaflet.

Cons

• More steps: open the camera, focus, tap the notification. Every step makes someone give up.
• In low light, with reflections or with a worn QR code, it fails.
• If the QR code points directly to Google, you don't know how many people use it and, if you change the link, you have to reprint.
• QR codes are also used in scams, and some customers are wary of scanning just any code.

Sending the link via WhatsApp

How it works

You copy the review link from your Business Profile and send it to the customer via WhatsApp, text message or email after the service. If you don't know where to find it, here we explain how to get the review link.

Pros

• Free.
• Reaches people who aren't in front of you: home services, online orders, quotes.
• Customers can write it calmly at home.

Cons

• You need the customer's number and a legal basis for using it for that purpose. Marketing communications are subject to data protection law and e-commerce regulations.
• It arrives when the feeling has already passed, among dozens of messages; many people don't open it.
• It can easily come across as pushy if you send several reminders.
• It takes time: you have to send it one by one or set up an automation.

Comparison table

	NFC	QR	WhatsApp
Steps for the customer	1 (hold close)	3-4	2-3
Cost	From €8.90 one-off	Almost free	Free
Needs customer data	No	No	Yes
Works remotely	No	Partly	Yes
Measurable	Yes, with dashboard	Only with an intermediate link	Difficult

So, which one should I choose?

If you serve customers in person (bar, hair salon, shop, clinic)

NFC + QR together. The plate for most customers and the QR code for phones without NFC, both pointing to the same link so you see everything in the same dashboard.

If you work at customers' homes or without a counter

An NFC card in your wallet to ask when you finish the job and, for those who don't have time right then, the link via WhatsApp if you already have their number from the service and they've given you permission.

If you mainly sell online

Email or WhatsApp after delivery, with the appropriate consent. Here a plate adds little.

What doesn't change with any method

No matter how you ask: Google doesn't allow incentives in exchange for reviews, or asking only satisfied customers. Ask everyone equally and let each person give whatever rating they want. And reply to the reviews that come in; the Tocky dashboard alerts you to every new review.

Try it with no commitment

If you serve customers in person, start with an acrylic plate at the till or a round adhesive plate. You have 30 days to return and a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can see for yourself whether it suits your business. Free shipping from €29. See all products.

Frequently asked questions

Does NFC work on iPhone?

Yes, from the iPhone 7 onwards. Hold the top of the phone close to the plate.

Can I use the same link on the plate, the QR code and WhatsApp?

Yes. With Tocky, the plate and the QR code can point to your link, and you can share that same link via WhatsApp.

Is there a monthly fee for the plate?

No. The dashboard with tap counter, review alerts and monthly report is included. Tocky Plus is optional and a one-off payment, with no automatic renewal.

What happens if I change my Google profile?

You change the destination in the dashboard and the plate keeps working, without reprogramming it.