ID Cards: The top four ID card technologies

In today's world, identification is essential for security purposes. ID cards have become a crucial part of our lives, and their importance cannot be overstated. Whether it’s in schools, universities or businesses, ID cards can be used for a variety of purposes, including as identification, to provide or regulate access, as a loyalty system, to track attendance, as payment cards, or as event passes.

As technology advances, so do the ways in which we can identify ourselves. There are a number of ID card types available that boast a range of benefits, so you’ll be able to find one that best suits your needs. Here are the top 4 ID card technologies, including PVC cards (non-technology), proximity cards, smart cards and magnetic stripe cards.

PVC Cards (Non-Technology)

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) cards are the most commonly used ID cards. These cards are made of a durable plastic material and can be easily printed on using a standard ID card printer. PVC cards do not contain any technological features such as chips or antennas, so they are mostly used as a basic form of identification.

PVC cards are widely utilized in schools, universities, and organizations as they are inexpensive, easy to produce and offer a basic level of security. They are a good option if you only need visual identification, and usually come in ‘credit card’ size, or CR80. You can also opt for CR79 or CR100 sizes. 

Proximity Cards

Proximity cards, also known as Prox cards, are a type of contactless ID card. Proximity cards have an embedded chip and use radio waves to communicate with a reader. These cards have a limited memory capacity, meaning they can only store a card and facility number. This information can then be communicated to a reader that verifies the information with a remote server. At a basic level, if the data on the card matches up with that on the server, the user will be allowed access to the area they wish to gain entry.

Proximity cards are used for access control applications, where security is a concern, but other applications are not required, and are typically used in office buildings and commercial environments. These cards offer lower security than their smart card counterparts and are limited to use in access control applications. 

If you're looking for a cost-effective ID card solution, for access control purposes, proximity cards are the way to go. 

Smart Cards

Smart cards, also known as chip cards, are similar to proximity cards, as they also have a chip embedded in them and communicate using radio waves. However, they offer several advantages over them, with a higher level of security, larger memory sizes and increased functionality. Unlike proximity cards, the higher memory capacity of smart cards allows for more data storage and multiple applications for uses such as access control, secure print, cashless vending, computer logon and more. Smart cards can even allow companies to implement multiple applications while issuing the user a single card. Mutual authentication between the card and reader and support for multiple credential and data types makes them more secure than proximity cards. This leaves them less vulnerable to cloning and means they are better suited to higher security applications.

The range of smart cards varies widely with a large range of different technologies and types on the market – memory-based cards, microprocessor cards and hybrid cards all fall under the umbrella of smart cards. Each of these card types has its own benefits and the type of smart card you will need depends on the intended use. 

Overall, smart cards offer a larger memory capacity, higher level of security and support for more applications,  meaning they are frequently used where security is crucial, or support for applications in addition to access control is required. Smart cards are typically used in government, education and corporate environments.

Magnetic Stripe Cards

Magnetic stripe cards are ID cards that have magnetic stripes on the back, which contain information that can be read by the corresponding magnetic stripe reader. Magnetic stripes are commonly used in credit cards, access control cards and loyalty cards, but they may also be found in library cards or employee ID cards.

The main advantage of magnetic stripe cards is their low cost. However, they offer a lower level of security than the other ID card technologies, as the information on the stripe can be easily copied or duplicated. Nowadays, these cards are typically used in legacy applications due to their low memory size, weak security and limited functionality. If you’re looking for a new ID card system then we’d recommend taking a look at smart cards or proximity cards instead.

Which card is right for you?

In conclusion, ID cards are an essential part of our lives, and as technology advances, the ways in which we identify ourselves will continue to evolve. PVC cards, proximity cards, smart cards and magnetic stripe cards are the top four ID card technologies in use today, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. 

Choosing the right ID card technology for you depends on the specific needs and requirements of your organization. If you are still unsure of which option is best for your organization, then be sure to get in touch with us here at ID Cards Direct. We are always happy to help, so call us today to speak to a member of our team.