How to Pick the Best iPhone Case with Card Holder/Wallet

Picking the right phone case can make or break your entire iPhone experience, so it is important to make the right choice. The best iPhone cases with storage for cards combine a stylish look and comfortable grip with protection and security. I'll go over all the factors you need to consider to purchase the perfect iPhone wallet case that suits all your needs.

10 Questions to Ask Before You Buy an iPhone Wallet Case

Never forget or lose your wallet or most important cards again by keeping them secured right alongside your iPhone! Combining your iPhone and wallet is a fantastic minimalist way to travel light and keep all your valuables in one place. With thousands of iPhone wallets or card holders to pick from, it can be tough to pick the best one. After personally testing countless iPhone wallet cases over the years, I have compiled the ten questions you'll need to answer to make the best decision.

1. How many cards or items do you want to store in your iPhone wallet case?

Just like regular wallets, wallet phone cases come in varying sizes. Sleeker cases will only hold a couple of cards, some only have room for one, while roomier options can replace your whole wallet. The downside is they can be bulky and awkward to hold while you're using your phone. Both types of wallets will sometimes come with a stand so that you can prop your phone up to watch videos on it without holding it up - if you go for a larger case, you'll want some bonus perks to make it worth the size.

I have gone to both extremes and have ended up with a smaller case that can hold two cards and a bill or two. While it doesn't completely replace a wallet, it lets me keep my ID and credit card on me at all times. When I used a bulkier case, I ended up only using it when I left my home and had a minimalist at-home case, but I did forget to switch them out more than once. For more iPhone tips, don't forget to check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

2. Do you need/want your iPhone display protected with a cover?

There are two main types of iPhone wallet cases: with a cover and without. One benefit of a combination iPhone cover and card holder is that your display has some extra protection while the wallet is closed. On the other hand, you need to open up the wallet to see your phone screen, so you can't take advantage of features like Lock Screen widgets, Live Updates, and the Always On Display, which allows you to see updates by glancing at your iPhone. 

I have always found these types of cases harder to hold, even if the cover can neatly fold behind your phone. Another experience I have had is that if these cases are filled to capacity, they become harder to keep closed. Plus, I've run into people who had their Social Security card in a clear pocket of their wallet case, unknowingly showing it to the world while they were distractedly scrolling on their phones. I am not a huge fan of iPhone cover wallets, instead I use protective stickers to keep my display safe - there are ones that double as privacy screens that prevent others from seeing what's on your screen.

3. Can you access all the buttons and use all iPhone features when the case is on?

Some iPhones have more buttons than others—the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have volume up and down buttons, an Action button, a Side button, and the Camera Control button. The Camera Control button can be pressed, but it is also touch-sensitive, so it can be tapped/light-pressed or swiped. Some cases make buttons harder or even impossible to press, and the Camera Control button requires a cut-out so you can swipe it, which can be difficult if the case is too thick. Sometimes, a thick case can also obscure your camera lenses, especially the wide-angle 0.5x lens - a folding case can also be annoying while taking pictures.

Most cases will also prevent you from using the Back Tap feature, which lets you open the Camera app or Flashlight by double- or triple-tapping the back of your phone. As someone who doesn't trust herself not using a phone case, I never used this feature and don't miss it. However, I do like using the Camera Control button, and I had to test several cases before I found one that didn't interfere with it.

4. Will you need two hands to use your phone inside this case?

Another thing to consider is how you like to use your phone. If you're a multitasker, you'll probably want a case that isn't too big and heavy to hold in one hand. Another option is to get a case that either has a built-in ring or pop-out holder or has a flat and smooth back, allowing you to add one. If your go-to ring holder is MagSafe, then your case will have to be compatible as well; otherwise, you'll need an extra accessory that sticks on a metal loop to your case - these will sometimes fall off, especially if your case is textured.

5. Are your cards safe from getting scanned without your knowledge?

If your cards are RFID-compatible, they can be scanned or read by a no-contact reader, and you might not even notice it! For this reason, some iPhone wallet cases come with RFID protection. But do you really need this feature? You can tell if your card is RFID-compatible by checking for a sideways Wi-Fi symbol on it, or the card will be labeled with the text "Contactless" or "PayWave."

RFID technology is super common these days, so it is likely to be found in your debit and credit cards, government IDs, library cards, hotel room keycards, etc. If you don't want people to be able to scan your data without you even realizing it, you need to make sure that your iPhone wallet case is protected. 

If you decide to purchase a case that doesn't have built-in RFID protection, you can still keep your cards safe by buying verified RFID-blocking sleeves. They are super thin and made of paper and lined with metal that prevents anyone from scanning your card until you take the sleeve off. Because these sleeves are so thin, your card should still be able to fit with the sleeve on. But it is a lot easier to get a case that's already protected, although they will sometimes come at a steeper price.

6. Do you need to be able to use the MagSafe charger with the case on?

If MagSafe is your preferred style of charging, then selecting the right wallet case can be difficult. It isn't common for iPhone wallet cases to be MagSafe charging compatible unless the cards are stored inside the front cover rather than behind your phone. If you don't mind removing your iPhone from your case to charge it, then this isn't a huge concern. I find it incredibly inconvenient to have to remove my phone from my case, but I also prefer charging the old-fashioned way.

7. Should the card/wallet portion of your iPhone case be removable from the protective part?

Some of my favorite cell phone wallet cases have a removable wallet portion from the case body. That way, you can de-bulk your iPhone without worrying about damaging it. Unfortunately, most of these types of cases rely on MagSafe, which is convenient but not the safest. I used a magnetic cell phone wallet for a few months, and while I didn't lose it, I constantly worried about losing it. Even if it fell off a standard-height table, the magnetic wallet part would fall off, and it just didn't feel secure enough to use in the long run. I would prefer to avoid the hassle of a removable iPhone case with wallet, but I would give one another chance if it didn't rely on magnets.

8. Are you concerned about water damage?

Newer iPhone models are as water-resistant as phones get, and while you shouldn't go swimming with a bare iPhone, it might keep working even if you take the risk. However, if you want to keep a phone inside a wallet case dry, you might have to use a waterproof phone bag that can either fit a phone inside a large case that contains your cards and cash or a waterproof bag that has various compartments to store everything in. 

It definitely makes sense to bring all of your valuables with you when you go swimming, but many water-proof cases aren't ideal for daily use. That's why having an extra waterproof bag is the way to go; just make sure it either fits your iPhone wallet case or has an extra compartment for your wallet's contents so you can still use your phone underwater to take unobscured photos and videos. So far, I haven't found a proper waterproof case that fits more than one card or a small wad of cash, but we may have an option like this in the future.

9. Is the case appropriate for all occasions, including work, gym, and social events?

iPhone cases and wallets are both accessories, and they do come in all sorts of styles. Think about all the places you'll be taking your iPhone case with wallet to, and make sure it is appropriate for work and looks good with your more formal outfits, too. Of course, you could have several options for different occasions, but I find it best to get a one-style-fits-all phone case. If you get a new phone yearly thanks to the iPhone Upgrade Program, it just doesn't make financial sense to have too many cases that will only fit your current model.

10. Do you need extra safety measures like a lanyard or tether tab?

I like to use a lanyard or tether tab to keep my phone safe but easy to access while I'm hiking or traveling. Some iPhone cases have cut-outs to fit a lanyard, while others have little handles built-in to clip a lanyard on. My favorite and least bulky option is a little card with a ring that lets me add a lanyard or tether to almost any case. These are slipped inside your case with the loop sticking out of the same hole that lets you access your charging port without removing the case. Unfortunately for me, I have one of the very few cases that this wouldn't work with because the bottom of my case opens up to a 'hidden' card compartment, so a lanyard would force it open and could even make me lose my cards. 

Another option for unique cases like mine is a stretchy silicone lanyard attachment that can be attached to almost any phone. The only downside is that it can cover up the cameras and the corners of your phone's display, which can be enough of a nuisance to make it more trouble than it's worth. I have, however, kept one around as a backup option since it has fit every single smartphone I've ever had.

The bottom line is that everyone has different needs when it comes to a cardholder phone case, and the best iPhone wallet case for one person might not work for another. I hope my list has helped you figure out what type of case would suit you best. Of course, it is also important to make sure you buy the correct case for your iPhone model, which you can check under About in your Settings.