NFC Tag Types Explained: NTAG213 vs NTAG215 vs NTAG216 vs MIFARE

> Key Takeaway: NTAG213 is best for simple URLs and marketing, NTAG215 is the go-to for Amiibo and general-purpose use, and NTAG216 offers the most storage for vCards and complex data. All are fully supported by NFC Clone.

Understanding NFC Tag Types

Choosing the right NFC tag can be confusing with so many options available. In this guide, we'll compare the most popular NFC tag types and help you decide which one is best for your needs. If you want to know where to buy these tags, check out our best NFC tags to buy in 2026 guide.

NTAG Series (by NXP Semiconductors)

The NTAG series is the most popular family of NFC tags for consumer use. All NTAG tags are NFC Forum Type 2 compliant.

NTAG213

• Memory: 144 bytes (usable)
• Best for: URLs, simple text, contact info
• Price: Cheapest option (~$0.15-0.30 each)
• Use cases: Business cards, marketing tags, simple automation

NTAG213 is the go-to choice when you need basic NFC functionality. It can store a URL of about 130 characters, which is enough for most use cases.

NTAG215

• Memory: 504 bytes (usable)
• Best for: Amiibo, medium data storage
• Price: ~$0.20-0.40 each
• Use cases: Gaming (Amiibo), smart home triggers, product tags

NTAG215 is famous for being the tag used in Nintendo Amiibo figures. If you want to create custom Amiibo or need more storage than NTAG213, this is your tag.

NTAG216

• Memory: 888 bytes (usable)
• Best for: vCards, longer text, multiple records
• Price: ~$0.30-0.50 each
• Use cases: Full contact cards, WiFi credentials, multi-record tags

NTAG216 offers the most storage in the NTAG family. Use it when you need to store complete vCard contact information or multiple NDEF records.

MIFARE Family

MIFARE Ultralight

• Memory: 64 bytes
• Best for: Transit systems, event tickets
• Standard: ISO 14443A
• Use cases: Public transport, event management

MIFARE Ultralight C

• Memory: 192 bytes
• Best for: Secure applications
• Standard: ISO 14443A with 3DES encryption
• Use cases: Access control, secure ticketing

MIFARE Classic

• Memory: 1K or 4K
• Security: Proprietary encryption (known vulnerabilities)
• Note: Not fully NDEF compatible, requires special handling

Comparison Table

Which Tag Should You Choose?

For simple URL/marketing tags: NTAG213 — cheapest and sufficient for URLs. For Amiibo or general purpose: NTAG215 — perfect balance of storage and price. For contact cards or complex data: NTAG216 — maximum storage in the NTAG family. For cloning and backup: Use NFC Clone to read any of these tags and create backup copies. The app supports all NTAG and MIFARE Ultralight tags.

Not sure about NFC in general? Start with our What is NFC? beginner's guide for a full introduction to the technology.

How to Clone Different Tag Types

When cloning NFC tags, remember:

• Clone to the same tag type for best results
• Target tag must have equal or larger memory than the source
• NDEF data only — UIDs cannot be cloned due to hardware restrictions
• MIFARE Classic may have encrypted sectors that can't be read

Download NFC Clone to start cloning your NFC tags today — it supports all the tag types mentioned above.