The Best Smart Wallets to Protect Your Cash in 2021

Wallets are getting smarter these days. If you’re still carrying a wallet, in addition to your smartphone and smartwatch, there are better ways to protect your credit cards and cash than a simple billfold. Smart wallets offer a convenient way to store and transport your money, to protect against loss or theft. They also feature RFID blocking, device tracking, and modern design. Below are a few of our favorites.

We have compiled a list of our favorite magnetic key holders for you to peruse so that you can combine this utilitarian accessory with your smart wallet to take convenience and security to the next level. Want to make your wallet even smarter? Check out the Dubleup, a power bank that fits right in your wallet.

Secrid Mini Wallet Genuine Leather RFID Safe Card Case

A slim design, premium leather construction, RFID blocking compartment, and an inventive card sliding mechanism come together to make the Secrid Mini Wallet one of the most attractive smart wallets on the market. The Dutch brand offers the Mini Wallet in over 80 color and material combinations in both genuine leather and vegan wallet variations.

The Mini Wallet is certainly a true minimalist wallet, comfortably housing between four and six credit or debit cards (depending upon if the cards have raised lettering) in the secure compartment and another four in the accompanying pockets. Opening the wallet completely reveals a tab that holds bills, although only around five to eight. Some may find this restrictive, but the Mini Wallet is fairly generous compared to many minimalist wallets.

What really sets Secrid wallets apart from the competition is its patented slide mechanism that allows you to splay out all the cards in the protected compartment in one pull of the handle at the bottom. Besides being incredibly practical and making fetching cards a breeze, it’s also an attention-grabbing feature that sparks a lot of conversation.

Travando Austin Mens Slim Wallet with Money Clip

The Travando Men’s Slim Wallet offers an attractive blend of minimalist wallet features at an approachable price point. This RFID blocking vegan wallet checks a lot of the boxes that matter for wallet shoppers, including an integrated money clip, room for 11 credit or debit cards, an easy-access front pocket, and a clear window to display your ID inside. Its independently tested RFID blocking design protects against the 13.56Mhz band used by RFID scanners, making it secure without sacrificing on design.

The Travando Austin is available in over nine color combinations (the most popular of which is the carbon fiber variation) and comes in a gift box that makes it a solid choice if you’re shopping for a present.

Flipside 4 RFID Blocking Wallet

This polycarbonate and aluminum wallet features a unique design that automatically locks itself shut when closed and flips open easily at the touch of a button. The crush-resistant design is great for those who don’t want to compromise the integrity of the contents of their wallet. The Flipside 4 holds eight credit or debit cards comfortably and up to 10 bills, and the interior is designed for quick access to either.

The RFID blocking card slots help protect you from theft, and the wallet itself is available in six colors. At 3/4-inches thick, the Flipside wallet isn’t the slimmest wallet we looked at, but its rigid shell also means that it won’t stretch and over time like many traditional bifold designs.

Nomad Slim Wallet

Nomad partnered with Tile to create an incredibly slim and compact wallet you can track if it gets misplaced. The Tile Slim tracker is hidden inside a stealth pocket behind a false liner (though still accessible if needed), making it undetectable even if stolen. To set up your tile, simply download the Tile app and press the Tile Slim once to pair, and you’re ready to start tracking the wallet.

This minimalist wallet is made of high-quality leather that is specifically designed to develop an attractive patina over the first 100 days of use. The Nomad Slim Wallet is one of the barest wallets in our roundup, fitting just seven cards comfortably in addition to cash. A Tile-less version of the wallet also is available for $20 less.

Vaultskin Chelsea Slim Minimalist Leather Wallet

The Vaultskin Chelsea Slim Minimalist Leather Wallet offers an elegant design and comfortable handling for no-nonsense asset protection. The slim wallet is ideal for carrying business cards, credit and debit cards, driver’s license, or other ID. It’s constructed with soft, durable top grain Italian leather for a sophisticated feel and look. The 13.56MHz RFID protector prevents electronic pickpocketing as your credit cards are protected from RFID theft. The three pockets hold up to 10 cards in the front, inner RFID protected pocket, and back pocket. A thin smart strap, which automatically retracts back into position when released, allows quick access to your cards.

Himi Wallet

With its imported, smooth textured leather exterior, the Himi bi-fold wallet is a high-end product that’s soft and comfortable to handle. Its compact design features two windows for ID and other cards, allowing quick access when traveling, at the store, or at the office. A total of 10 card slots lets you carry all your daily cards plus cash. Advanced RFID tech is constructed with a metal composite that blocks 13.56MHz or higher RFID signals to protect your private information from rogue scans.

The Himi Wallet is a bit roomier than a lot of the minimal wallets on our list, and it’s better suited for those that want to carry a few more cards and cash than a minimal wallet can accommodate. Despite the features and functionality, however, the Himi Wallet was actually one of the more affordable wallets we came across.

Buffway Slim Minimalist Leather Wallet

A slim wallet is always a fitting choice when you’re on the go. The Buffway Slim Minimalist Wallet fits snug in your pocket, purse, or backpack. A sleek and professional design combined with luxurious and high-quality leather makes these RFID wallets a hit across gender lines. Created with genuine leather, the wallet sleeve marries style, functionality, and durability.

The compact, discreet Buffway Slim Minimalist Wallet also features an RFID front pocket that includes eight slots to carry your driver’s license, credit or debit cards, and membership cards. A feature that is sure to benefit those commuting or traveling for business. The RFID blocking technology is a safety feature that blocks electronic signals to keep your identity protected wherever you go.

Besides being incredibly affordable, the Buffway Slim Minimalist Wallet also features one of the simplest designs we’ve seen, making it a great option for those who aren’t fans of overcomplicated wallet designs. The bare design of the Buffway makes it impossible to stuff too many items in your wallet, so you’ll be forced to maintain a minimal wallet.

Schnail Atlas Slim Minimalist Leather Wallet

With its high-end, full-grain leather and refined craftsmanship, the Schnail Atlas Slim Minimalist Leather Wallet offers a sophisticated unisex look. The ultra-slim wallet has space to carry 12 cards and cash, as well as coins and keys. The wallet comes with a pull-tab that makes getting to your items easy. Just grab and pull, select the card you want to use and that’s it. The invisible pocket allows you to securely carry both coins and cards. You can attach your keychain or lanyard to the built-in loop for even more added convenience. The intelligent design of this wallet protects and conceals all your valuable belongings in one manageable, portable, and easy to access accessory.

Frequently asked questions

How can you pick the best wallet for your overall needs?

Do you like to have your ID easily visible in a clear window? Do you carry a lot of cash? Are you more of a minimalist or do you like being able to carry everything comfortably? These are some of the most important questions to ask yourself when shopping for a wallet and answering them will naturally narrow down your choices.

A good exercise you can do right now is to take out the entire contents of your wallet and lay it out on a table. How many of these items are essential to physically have? Some banks have moved to support cardless NFC ATM access, meaning you no longer need to carry a debit card to get in the door, access the ATM, and withdraw cash. Some credit cards you may use for recurring or online purchases but don’t need to have on your person at all times. How many of your cards can you move to your digital wallet on your phone and never miss them? Figuring these things out will let you significantly slim down your wallet and potentially choose a slimmer option.

Another consideration might be your work ID. Perhaps you don’t want every card slot in your wallet to be RFID blocking, so you can keep your work badge in your wallet and still unlock the doors in your building, for example.

When and where can you find the best deals on smart wallets?

As a good number of smart wallets are grouped with technology and electronics related purchases, sales events like Cyber Monday can be a good time to score a deal on a smart wallet. Beyond typical sales events, you can use an Amazon price tracking extension like Keepa if you want to set price thresholds and get notifications when those prices are hit. Keepa also lets you see the price history of an item on Amazon, so you know if the deal your getting is really a deal, or if you should hold out for another price drop.

What else should you be aware of when selecting a smart wallet?

Make sure to read the specific details about the RFID blocking capabilities of smart wallets, because many only have blocking capabilities for a specific number of card slots on a given wallet. How many cards do you have where RFID blocking is important? Make sure to take stock of your credit and debit cards before you make your purchase.

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