Zwift Click alternatives for virtual shifting
By mattapps · Published 12 October 2026 · Last checked 12 October 2026
The cheapest alternative is free: the game's own keyboard keys, such as I and K in MyWhoosh. For buttons within reach while you ride, the main options are the MyWhoosh Link app, a phone keyboard app, or a controller bridged by BikeControl. A Zwift Click is built for Zwift and not officially supported by MyWhoosh or Biketerra.
What are the options, and what do they cost?
There are six realistic ways to shift in MyWhoosh or Biketerra, and only some of them involve buying hardware. We make GearPad, so weigh this accordingly. We have tried to be fair to everything in the table.
| Option | What you need | Cost | Works with MyWhoosh / Biketerra | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game keyboard keys | A keyboard near the bike | Free | MyWhoosh: yes, I and K. Biketerra: reported, W and S | A keyboard is awkward to reach while you are riding |
| MyWhoosh Link app | A phone with the MyWhoosh Link app | Check MyWhoosh for current terms | MyWhoosh only | Does nothing for Biketerra |
| Zwift Click | The Click hardware | One-time purchase, roughly US$39 to US$50 depending on version (check the vendor) | Not officially supported by either game | Built for Zwift; needs a bridge app to reach your game |
| BikeControl + a hardware controller | BikeControl on your device, plus a controller it can read | App price plus the controller (check bikecontrol.app) | Both, as reported by the project | You still need a controller device |
| Cheap Bluetooth remote or keyboard | A generic remote or small keyboard, plus a way to map its buttons | Low one-time cost; models vary | Depends on the model and on how its keys are mapped | We cannot vouch for specific models |
| Phone app (GearPad) | An Android phone | Free game layouts; optional one-time Pro unlock | Yes, both, with built-in layouts | Android only, and keystrokes only |
Prices change, so treat every figure here as a snapshot and check the vendor's own page before you buy.
Is the free option good enough?
For many riders, yes. MyWhoosh documents keyboard shifting, and Biketerra is reported to support it too, so a spare keyboard on a stool next to the bike costs nothing.
In MyWhoosh, I shifts up and K shifts down, according to MyWhoosh's own page about its virtual shifting, MyShift. For Biketerra, GearPad's layout uses W for gear up and S for gear down; confirm those in Biketerra's controls settings.
The catch is comfort. Hunting for a letter key in the middle of a hard effort is annoying, and a laptop keyboard is often out of reach. If that is fine for you, stop here and keep your money.
What does the MyWhoosh Link app add?
MyWhoosh Link is MyWhoosh's companion app for iOS and Android, and it includes MyShift controls, so you can shift from your phone with no extra hardware.
It also covers events, chat, a live ride dashboard and stats. Its limit is scope: it belongs to MyWhoosh, so it will not help in Biketerra. How it talks to the game is not publicly documented, so we cannot say more about how it behaves.
Is a Zwift Click worth buying for MyWhoosh or Biketerra?
Only if you also ride Zwift, or you are happy to add a second app. At the time of writing, the original standalone Click launched at about US$39 in 2023, and the newer Click v2 is sold as a Cog + Click kit at around 49.99 in USD, EUR and GBP. Check the current price.
The Click is a Bluetooth controller built for Zwift. MyWhoosh and Biketerra do not officially support it, so it needs a bridge app in between. For a rider who never opens Zwift, that means paying for the Click and for the bridge.
How does BikeControl fit in?
BikeControl is an app, not a controller. It reads a hardware controller and sends keyboard or touch input to your trainer app, which makes it the bridge that lets a Zwift Click work outside Zwift.
It is open source, formerly called SwiftControl, and is reported to support MyWhoosh and Biketerra among others. Besides the Zwift Click it reads controllers such as Shimano Di2, SRAM AXS, gamepads and cheap Bluetooth remotes. If you already own one of those, it is a strong choice.
Platforms, pricing tiers and how it differs from a phone-only setup are in GearPad vs BikeControl.
Can a cheap Bluetooth remote work?
It can, but results depend on the remote. Small Bluetooth remotes and keyboards are inexpensive, and BikeControl lists cheap remotes among the controllers it can read.
We will not recommend specific models, because we have not tested any. Buy from a seller with an easy return policy, and check that the buttons can be mapped to your game's shift keys before you rely on it.
Can your phone be the controller?
On Android, yes. GearPad turns a phone running Android 9 or newer into a Bluetooth keyboard for a Mac or Windows computer, with nothing to install on the computer.
The MyWhoosh and Biketerra layouts are built in and free forever, on each game's default keys. Pro is a one-time unlock on Google Play for editing layouts and making new ones for other apps.
The limits are real. It is Android only, and some phone makers disable the Bluetooth feature it relies on, which the app tells you on first launch. It sends keystrokes and nothing else, so it cannot replace a smart trainer or do ERG, and shifting still depends on the game's settings and your trainer connection. Walkthroughs: shifting gears in MyWhoosh with an Android phone and shifting in Biketerra without a Zwift Click.
Which should you pick?
- You want to spend nothing: use the game's keyboard keys and a keyboard within reach.
- You only ride MyWhoosh and have a phone: try the MyWhoosh Link app first.
- You ride both games and have an Android phone: a phone app such as GearPad gives you buttons for both with no extra hardware.
- You already own a Zwift Click, Di2 or a gamepad: add BikeControl and reuse what you have.
- You like physical buttons and want to tinker: try a cheap Bluetooth remote, and keep the receipt.
- You also ride Zwift: a Zwift Click makes sense, with a bridge app for the other games.
Quick answers
Which options are one-time purchases?
Game keys cost nothing. At the time of writing, a Zwift Click is a one-time hardware purchase, GearPad Pro is a one-time unlock on top of free game layouts, and BikeControl is reported to have a one-time base price plus an optional monthly Pro tier. Check each vendor's page.
Is a numpad a reasonable controller?
Only if your game's shift keys are on it. A plain numpad sends numbers and a few symbols, while MyWhoosh shifts on I and K, so it will not shift there without extra mapping.
Can I mix options, for example keys and a phone?
Yes. A keyboard and a phone keyboard app both send key presses to the active game window, so you can keep the keyboard as a backup.
