Stick-On Phone Wallets

A card pocket that stays on the phone

A stick-on phone wallet is a flat pocket that fixes to the back of a phone or, more often, its case. You slide a card or two in from the top, and the pocket holds them with a snug fit or a stretchy front. It is the thinnest way to carry cards on a phone, and because it is fixed, it cannot be knocked off in a pocket or a bag. It suits anyone who wants a bank card or a travel pass on the phone all the time.

The kinds here

• Silicone pockets with adhesive are soft and slim, and add a little grip to a slippery phone. The one here today uses 3M adhesive, which its maker says can be peeled off and put back.
• Elastic fabric pockets stretch round a card and a folded note, and stay flat when empty.
• Suction-cup holders use rows of small suction cups instead of glue, so they leave nothing behind. The same cups will hold the phone to a mirror or a window for a video call or a photo. They grip best on smooth, flat surfaces.

On the phone or on the case

Most people stick the holder to the case. A case is cheap to replace if the adhesive leaves a mark, and peeling something off a case worries nobody. If the phone has no case, choose a clean, flat area away from the camera bump.

Fitting takes a minute. Wipe the back of the case with a soft cloth and let it dry, line the pocket up before it touches, press firmly from the middle outwards, and leave it a while before loading it with cards. Hard plastic, TPU and leather-look cases hold adhesive well. Soft silicone cases are the hardest surface for most glues, so check the product page if yours is one.

Questions people ask about stick-on phone wallets

Can I charge wirelessly with a stick-on wallet?

The cards sit just where a wireless charger needs to reach. Apple says not to put credit cards, security badges, passports or key fobs between the iPhone and its MagSafe charger, because it might damage magnetic strips or RFID chips, and Samsung says cards and holders in the way may block charging or cause overheating. So take the cards out to charge, or charge with a cable. If you charge wirelessly every night, a magnetic phone wallet that comes off in a second may suit you better.

Will it come off cleanly?

Most peel off a hard case with a little patience, sometimes leaving adhesive that a soft cloth will lift. Suction-cup holders leave nothing.

How many cards should I carry in one?

Each product page says how many it takes. Keep to that, and carry only one contactless card, so the reader at a ticket gate or till does not see two at once.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Magnetic phone wallets
• Leather card sleeves
• Card holder cases
• Wallet and flip cases
• Phone grips and sockets
• Guide: Phone wallets and card holders