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These days, between navigation apps, music streaming services, and social workout platforms like Zwift and Strava, many cyclists rely on access to their phones while seated in the saddle. For these riders, the smartphone functions like the dashboard display of a car — information, connectivity, and controls that all exist in a single convenient location.
Modern smartphones aren’t cheap, however, so if you are going to choose to keep your phone attached to your bike while you ride at high speeds or through rough terrain, you’ll want to know that it will stay firmly attached. That’s where bike phone mounts come in handy. These devices are designed to keep your smartphone securely attached to your handlebars while you ride, with your display plainly visible.
Our testers put each model in this guide through its paces on road, gravel, and mountain bike rides, daily commutes, and errand runs. We switched them between bikes and ride types frequently while evaluating every aspect of their design, functionality, and performance in the real world.
In this guide, we’ve compiled our favorite bike phone mounts available in 2024 and included various styles with different strengths and weaknesses. Head down to our buyer’s guide and our price & value section for the full scoop on the different types of mounts on our list, and check out our comparison chart for side-by-side pricing and compatibility comparisons.
Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on September 19, 2024, with the addition of the incredibly versatile Peak Design Universal Bar Mount and more information in our Price & Value section, which may be helpful when making a purchase decision.
The Peak Design Out Front Phone Mount ($70) is a very nice bike phone mount. Peak Design is known for, well, peak design — and that shows with the Out Front Mount. When you factor in the price of the mount, plus an additional $50 for the Everyday Case (or $30 for a Universal Adapter), it is far and away the most expensive on the list, but as the saying goes — buy nice or buy twice.
Bikepackers and gravel riders, in particular, seem to gravitate toward this mount as it offers superior security and ease of use. The bar clamp will fit a variety of bar diameters and styles, so you can use it on whichever bike you prefer. This mount does require a tool to turn the mounting screw (though a thumb screw is included), and users also have the option of running their phones in the landscape orientation with minimal fuss.
The MagSafe case clicks securely into the mount and requires users to physically disengage the mechanical connection between the phone and the mount. This is particularly reassuring when considering theft or particularly jarring hits. Despite this, the mount was still extremely easy to use one-handed, unlike other mounts on this list.
We were confident in this mount’s ability to keep his phone on his bike. As with other mounts on this list, we were skeptical about taking our phone out on a rowdy trail ride. But, of all the mounts on the list, the Out Front mount proved to be the most confidence-inspiring for rough rides. The mount offers solid vibration dampening while the case sports 6-foot drop protection — which is more than adequate to protect your phone if you do something silly like drop your bike.
It’s important to note that Peak Design makes cases for most popular phones — iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Pixel are covered, but others may be out of luck. They sell a stick-on adapter for non-supported phones, but we think having a dedicated case is the way to go. It seems that the trend with mounts these days is buying completely into whatever ecosystem you are interested in, and the same is true with Peak Design. Unlike other companies, though, PD has a ton of different options available once you have the case and mount.
The Out Front Mount scored very high in the simplicity and functionality categories and offers superior design, protection, and peace of mind with its case and mount system. If you are looking for the best of the best, don’t mind dropping a little extra change on a solid mount, and want more options than just a bike mount, the Peak Design Out Front Mount and Ecosystem is the one to choose.
The Nite Ize Wraptor ($23) provides a good combination of functionality and affordability. Its universal design fits a huge variety of bars and stems, and its tool-free setup makes swapping between bikes a breeze. The Wraptor is a rubber mount that stretches to accommodate a ton of different phone types by wrapping around the corners of your phone.
Additionally, the Wraptor offers 360 degrees of rotation so that you can orient it according to your preferences. In the simplicity and functionality categories, the NiteIze Wraptor scores high because it offers a no-nonsense setup and works very well with little to no fuss.
As far as phone security is concerned, the Wraptor is a great choice for commuting around town and road rides with your friends. It also did well when we took it out onto some washboard gravel roads. Our tester was dubious of its capabilities for mountain bike rides. While the Wraptor is likely more than capable of mellow singletrack cruising, it does lack a certain amount of confidence when things start to get rowdy.
Your mileage may vary, but we’d draw the line at easy cross-country and think twice as the difficulties (rocks and technicality) start to ratchet up. It probably goes without saying at this point, but the Wraptor is not a great choice for the enduro and downhill crowd.
We do have some questions about the long-term durability of the Wraptor — rubber loses its elasticity over time, and we’re curious how this will affect the mount’s security in the coming months and years. Vibration can also do all kinds of weird stuff to your gear, and if you fancy yourself a gravel rider or like to rip off the pavement while you commute around town, you might find things starting to loosen up, namely the single bolt that holds the articulating piece of the mount together.
During our testing, none of these issues arose, but we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t think about the long term. At the end of the day, however, the Nite Ize Wraptor presents a highly functional, affordable, and truly universal phone handlebar mount that works for a wide range of riders and applications.
The Quadlock Outfront Bike Mount ($60) is a well-designed unit with some well-thought-out features that allow users in various situations and configurations to mount their phones securely to their handlebars. Out of the box, the Quadlock comes with a variety of adaptors for different handlebar diameters from cruisers to commuters to oversized bars on your gravel or mountain bike.
The mount itself snaps into position, creating a very secure mount once your phone is situated, but it can be a bit of a bear to orient the tabs to fit and lock correctly. Removing your phone is super easy — just depress the tab and twist it off. We mounted the Quadlock on a townie. It held our phone securely over potholes, culverts, and gutters and offered peace of mind that the phone wasn’t about to fly off on even the roughest hits.
You’ll probably want the compatible Quadlock Case ($40) for the Quadlock mount, but you can also purchase the Universal Adapter ($15) separately, which is what we ended up going with for this test. The sticky adhesive on the universal adaptor is nice but not as robust as a full case would otherwise be. Regardless, we had little issue with the setup. We will say — and this is true for other mounts on this list — that it feels like we’re getting pigeonholed by this system. The design is clearly meant to be used with the Quadlock ecosystem.
Unlike the impressively user-friendly Peak Design mounts, attaching your phone to the Quadlock mount is a bit of a pain and requires learning how to orient things correctly in just the right way. Our tester was never able to mount the phone one-handed, which lost the Quadlock some points in the usability category.
That said, once your phone is on there, it’s ready to rock and roll. We had zero worries about losing a phone with this mount. And as we mentioned earlier, removing your phone is super simple and actually kind of fun, so there’s that. There is good design in this area, at least.
At $40 + $15 for the universal mount (or around $50 for the case), this thing is fairly spendy compared to other, simpler units but comparable to others on the list. We like simplicity and functionality at GearJunkie, and the Outfront mount from Quadlock only fully checks one of those boxes. A little more refinement to make snapping your phone onto the mount easier will go a long way toward improving the overall useability, but the Quadlock Outfront is still a good, secure mount.
For those looking for a product that combines storage with a secure place to mount a smartphone, the ROCKBROS Bike Phone Front Frame Bag ($30) is one of the best options available. For long rides, many cyclists need a place to store essential items like water, energy gels, a pump, a patch kit, or car keys. This bag and mount combination consolidates all of your belongings in one place — and you don’t even have to stop riding to access it.
Any smartphone under 6.5 inches high should be compatible with the ROCKBROS bag. Two soft rubber zipper pulls allow quick entry to the bag’s main compartment. On top of the bag, a TPU film sleeve holds your phone in place and still allows touchscreen access. A handy visor protects the phone from the sun, dirt, and airborne debris while you cruise along at high speeds.
Three Velcro straps that are compatible with most bike frames hold the bag and mount in place. Additional features include reflective piping for increased nighttime safety and ultralight “carbon fiber” material.
For cyclists who are concerned about wind drag, this bag is somewhat bulky and won’t help you shave any time off of your PR. Also, the phone sleeve makes it difficult to access your phone’s side buttons. When the bag is tightened using the straps, it mostly stays in place where it should. However, we found it can occasionally shift side to side, where it may bump into your legs while you are pedaling. This is more of an issue on rough terrain, as we found it to be quite stable on smoother surfaces.
If you’re on a budget and don’t need space for extra gear, the Nite Ize Wraptor is not only more streamlined but also positions your phone in a location that makes it more easily visible while riding. We generally recommend going with one of those unless, of course, you need a little extra cargo space on your bike.
Despite a few minor drawbacks, this bag and phone mount combo from ROCKBROS is an excellent choice when you need a little more cargo space. For $30, it’s an affordable way to avoid carrying things in your pockets or wearing a backpack.
When you combine the Peak Design Universal Bar Mount ($50) with the Peak Design Everyday Case ($40-50), you’ve got one of the most user-friendly and versatile bike phone mounts you can buy. The bar mount is truly about as “universal” as they come, with a silicone band that can stretch around almost any handlebar size and shape — and other tubes, too.
Peak Design’s SlimLink mount uses magnets and small clips to line up and secure your phone, and release is as simple as it gets. The caveat is that you need to purchase both the mount and a compatible case, and that makes it one of the most expensive options on our list.
The Universal Bar Mount is all about versatility. The thick silicone band stretches easily around different handlebar tube sizes but can also fit around oddly shaped tubes like stems and aero-shaped bars. We mounted it on a square-ish stem on a gravel bike just as easily as going around the bar.
It can also be mounted to just about any tube-shaped object that it will fit around, so its usefulness isn’t limited to just bike handlebars. The band has quite a bit of stretch and numerous holes, and we found it’s best to get it as tight as you can for stability. The loose end of the band folds back on itself with a small clip to keep it nice and tidy.
The SlimLink mount itself has a machined and anodized body that houses the magnets and clip system. The magnets are fairly strong and they pull the back of the Everyday Case into position over and down onto the clips to engage them for a secure mechanical connection. The mount is covered with a silicone pad, which keeps everything silent, even when riding over bumpy terrain.
To release the phone, simply squeeze the buttons on the side of the mount and pull it off — it’s a one-handed operation. The phone can be mounted in both vertical and horizontal orientations, depending on your needs.
Given that you have to use a Peak Design Everyday Case or adapter to mount your phone to the Universal Bar Mount, it’s a good thing they are attractive. Not only does it contain the SlimLink mount, but the slim case provides 6-foot drop protection and is MagSafe-compatible for use with various accessories and chargers.
The cases come in either Versa Shell nylon canvas or Clarino vegan leather shells in several color options. They currently offer cases for most iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, and Pixel phones. Other phones can add the Universal Adapter to other cases.
One of the best things about the Universal Bar Mount is how easy it is to switch between bikes. It’s fantastic if you’re frequently alternating which bike you ride. Unlike many other models, it’s astoundingly easy to attach and remove your phone from the mount, and it is impressively secure. Peak Design’s ecosystem of compatible mounts and accessories is also well-developed, so you can use the Everyday Case for much more than just a bike mount.
The downside to the Universal Bar Mount is that it bounces slightly and can slip around a bit more over rough surfaces than mounts that clamp the handlebar. Smooth roads and the occasional bumpy section are no issue, but consistently bumpy gravel or rocky singletrack caused ours to move around a bit, no matter how tight we pulled the silicone band. Even then, the case-mount connection always stayed secure. Still, if you’re spending time off-road, we’d suggest going with the more secure Peak Design Out Front Phone Mount mentioned above.
That said, for riding on generally smooth surfaces on any — or all — of the bikes you own, the Peak Design Universal Bar Mount and Everyday Case are a no-brainer if you can stomach the $100 price tag. Just be warned, you’ll likely end up spending even more than that on other Peak Design products if you do.
Looking for a super solid phone mount that won’t break the bank? (Or your phone?) Check out the Topeak Omni Ridecase DX ($65) — an excellent universal phone mount for riders who value quality, security, and functionality. Made from aluminum, poly-carbonate, and rubber, this high-quality universal design offers peace of mind for your phone’s security whether you’re out for a quick grocery trip or pedaling across the country.
Out of the box, we were impressed with the design of the Ridecase. Usually, we value tool-free, easy setup, but in this case, we were more than happy to break out the bike tool to install this mount. The Ridecase comes with two different mounting options — one for your handlebars and one which directly replaces your top cap and screws into the star nut in your fork’s steerer tube.
We opted for the latter, which was a super simple process and took just a few minutes. Aside from offering supreme security, we also thought this central mounting option helped to streamline the cockpit on our bike and kept things accessible yet tidy.
The aluminum mount adjusts vertically, rotating around the stem bolt to adjust the tilt of your screen. To fix it in position, you’ll need to tighten the top cap screw fully, and once set, you’ll need a tool to make adjustments. The plastic clip that mates the phone case to the mount is sturdy and features a locking tab to prevent your phone from bouncing off. Users will also be able to use their phone in either portrait or landscape orientations, a helpful feature depending on how you use your phone on your bike.
Getting the universal rubber case onto your phone can be tricky, but the tradeoff here is excellent security. Once adjusted accordingly, your phone is going nowhere. The downside to this system is that the rubber strap extends slightly over the bottom and top of the screen, which makes accessing dropdown and scroll-up menu items difficult.
If you are only using the navigation on your phone, this may or may not be an issue for you, but if you need to swap between apps frequently, you may want to look into the specific Topeak Ridecase for your phone, which eliminates this issue.
The Omni Ridecase is far and away a better option than the other universal rubber mount on the list, the Nite Ize Wraptor, but at double the price. The mount is excellent and offers good security in an innovative package. The universal phone case is, on the whole, pretty good but doesn’t quite nail it in the usability category because of the screen crowding issue. Still, we’re confident that users will be satisfied with the quality and security of the ToPeak Omni Ridecase DX system.
SP Connect has built a solid mount with its Universal Clamp Bundle ($30), but there are a few design choices that left us wondering if there isn’t room for refinement. One of the first things we noticed when mounting up this clamp was the glorified zip tie that comes in the box. SP includes this to make it easy for users to clamp this mount to almost any handlebar or stem, but we are highly skeptical about its long-term durability.
We appreciate the tool-free mounting, but this is also where things get weird with the design. Included in the packaging is a small hex wrench. Why? Because to change the orientation of the mount, you need to loosen, adjust, and tighten up two small bolts.
This is further compounded by the clamping mechanism, which is a tool-free dial that chinches the clamp down on either side of your phone. SP has created a 50% tool-free system, which, to its credit, works quite well, but we just can’t quite wrap our heads around the execution here.
The Universal Phone Clamp does work well, though, and its easy on-easy off mounting is much better than other mounts on this list — like the Quadlock. The clamp itself offers excellent security, but it is large and bulky, and our tester didn’t like leaving the clamp on his phone due to the added bulk.
An additional consideration is the orientation of the clamp — we found it difficult to center our phone without hitting the power or volume buttons, and if you have a phone with the squeeze feature, you’ll likely need to disable that feature to use this mount.
We put the SP Bike Bundle on his townie and had little to no issues riding around town at a decent clip and smashing through potholes, culverts, and rough roads. For that application, the SP Connect Universal Clamp offers good value and good functionality at $30, but the entire platform still feels a little unrefined.
The cinch mount doesn’t inspire confidence, the hex bolt adjustment is mildly perplexing, and the added bulk of the universal clamp offers less-than-ideal ergonomics. Make no mistake, this is a good mount, but those of you interested in it might be better served waiting for an updated and more refined version to be released, or check out the budget-friendly Nite Ize Wraptor for a more user-friendly option.
The Roam Universal Premium Bike Phone Mount ($20) is both lightweight and fairly robust. Its value comes not only from its very reasonable price, but also from its impressive versatility. The adjustable clamp should fit snugly on handlebars with a 0.9- to 1.25-inch diameter.
Labeled as “universal for all phones,” this mount can accommodate any smartphone up to 3.5 inches wide. Some smartphone models that are known to fit this mount include the iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, HTC 11, and many more.
Using two points of contact, this mount clamps onto your device using hard plastic side grips with a silicone net that secures all corners of your device tightly to the mount.
Although this mount isn’t the most durable on this list, we found the hard plastic and silicone net combo holds up well to the demands of road cycling and commuting. For mountain bikers spending time on the bumpiest and dirtiest trails, we recommend a slightly hardier mount like the Peak Design Out Front that can sustain a greater level of abuse.
The display angle of this mount can be easily adjusted. The 360-degree rotation allows you to easily switch your phone from landscape to portrait mode mid-ride. For $20, the Roam Universal is a good value option to keep your smartphone still and well-supported for rides on smoother surfaces.
This mount, unlike most smartphone mounts available, is made of 6061 aluminum alloy. Its all-metal construction gives it an obvious advantage over similar products made from silicone and plastic. The GUB mount ($20) is straight-up durable.
Because this mount’s width is easily adjustable, it’s compatible with nearly all contemporary smartphones up to 7 inches in length, including iPhone and Android models. It attaches to your handlebars at a single point, which can be tightened quickly with an Allen key. This mount fits handlebars of varying diameters, but it may not fit well on handlebars of custom size or unusual shape.
Like other mounts on this list, the GUB mount allows for 360-degree rotation and an easily adjustable display angle. Thanks to its all-metal construction, the GUB is likely to last longer than other options, especially in locations where silicone and rubber mounts become dry and brittle in the hot sun. Metal certainly has some benefits, and although this mount is a little heavier than most, the majority of riders won’t notice.
The biggest knock on the GUB mount is that it’s a bit fiddlier to get a phone mounted compared to options like the Peak Design models, for example. That tradeoff also saves you roughly $80, and the GUB is undoubtedly a great value assuming you don’t mind taking a little more time to get set up before you ride.
Thanks to the construction and materials of this mount from Rokform, it will likely be the only one you ever need to buy. Made from CNC-machined, aircraft-grade aluminum, the Universal Bike Phone Mount ($60) is easy to install and highly secure.
For riders concerned with wind resistance and weight, this mount is super low profile. A twist-lock and backup magnet easily and securely attach your phone to the mount (via a separate Rokform phone case). Even while riding through gravel and roughage, we were never worried about a potential phone projectile.
Though this mount does require users to purchase a compatible Rokform phone case ($40-70, depending on the phone model), we still think it’s a solid value. Similar to the Peak Design models, once you’ve got the case, Rokform offers a number of other mounts and accessories for use off the bike. And, although you’re looking at over $100 for the mount and case combo, once your phone is locked in, you won’t have to worry about losing it to the road or trail.
The main reason we like the Peak Design mounts more is that the Rokform cases are a bit chunkier due to the twist-lock bracket on the back. The Peak Design system is a bit more streamlined and less obtrusive in your pocket.
Here at GearJunkie, there are a few things that remain constant through all of our gear evaluations — we’re looking for the very best gear we can find while still keeping an eye out for the best value we can get. Our staff includes professional gear reviewers, former racers, recreational cyclists, bike commuters, and everyone in between — people who care about fit, finish, and function.
Our testers spend their time carefully evaluating new products so that you don’t have to, which translates to more time in the saddle for you. We strive to create thorough, comprehensive, and helpful reviews to help you find the best gear for your individual needs.
This guide was originally curated, tested, and written by Paul Mandell. Paul has 2 decades of experience in the saddle as an itinerant racer and recreational rider. He completed his graduate studies in exercise science and studied the critical power model for cycling, meaning that he’s no stranger to testing, training, and racing bikes.
Lately, Paul has been enjoying a return to the “Gotta get up to get down” mentality while in the saddle and getting back to his roots by ripping around the roads and trails near his home in Bishop, Calif., on a steel hardtail, sporting a big, toothy grin and a twinkle in his eye. Paul has also contributed to numerous other guides, including bike lights, protective bike locks, workout headphones, and many more.
GearJunkie editor Jeremy Benson also contributed to the testing efforts of our bike phone mounts. He has been cycling for over three decades and has spent the past 8 years professionally testing and reviewing bikes and bike-related gear. As an avid mountain and gravel rider and racer, Benson spends lots of time on the bike while training, riding for fun, commuting, and testing out the latest gear.
His performance-oriented mindset and years of experience scrutinizing the products he tests have made him adept at analyzing, comparing, and sussing out the subtle differences that separate the best from the rest. In addition to phone mounts, Benson has contributed his expertise to reviews ranging from hitch bike racks and electric cargo bikes to mountain bike shoes.
We started this review by thoroughly researching offerings in the world of handlebar phone mounts and ordering a selection from the standout performances. Then, we established a few criteria to help us evaluate the mounts we selected:
Testing took place in both Bishop, Calif, and Reno, Nev., where Benson and Mandell attached these bike phone mounts to a variety of different bikes and hit the roads, gravel, and trails. From daily commutes around town to road and gravel rides and singletrack exploration, we used each model just as any consumer would. We evaluated each model based on the criteria above to determine our favorites and those that excel in specific ways compared to the rest.
As you search for the perfect bike phone mount, consider your specific needs as a cyclist and choose the product that best meets them. It may be a good idea to go for a few rides and think carefully about how you plan to use your bike phone mount.
Do you often ride on rough terrain? Do you often ride in wet or muddy conditions? And do you want to be able to change the angle of your phone’s display as you ride? Asking yourself these kinds of questions allows you to narrow your options and choose a mount that can elevate your experience as a rider.
Every bike mount is slightly different, and there are lots of variations to consider. Some of the key characteristics that differentiate one mount from the next include handlebar diameter, mounting method, smartphone compatibility, durability, design, ease of phone detachment, water resistance, and rough terrain capability.
Before you purchase, it’s wise to measure the diameter of your handlebars. Choose the specific part of the bar where you plan to install your mount and compare your measurement with the specs of the mount you’re considering.
Most road, gravel, commuter, and mountain bikes have handlebars with diameters between 0.9 inches and 1.25 inches. The majority of bike phone mounts are designed to fit the range of handlebar diameters and round bars. If you have an oddly shaped handlebar, like an aero handlebar, you’ll want to double-check that the mount you purchase will be compatible.
Different bike phone mounts utilize different mounting methods. Some, like the Nite Ize Wraptor or the Peak Design Universal Bar Mount, attach to your handlebars with a rubber strap that works just like a belt. These straps stretch around the bar and usually have several holes in the strap that offer several options for various handlebar diameters.
This style of attachment makes it quick and easy to install and remove the mount, so you can take it off quickly if you’re not using it or switch it between bikes in just a few seconds. The drawback of this style is that they can sometimes move around a bit over rough, bumpy terrain
Other mounts, like offerings from Roam, attach to the handlebar with a round clamp and are tightened with an Allen key. In general, bike phone mounts that attach in this way, like the Peak Design Out Front or the Quadlock Outfront, will be the most stable and secure. That said, they require a tool and take a little more time to install and remove.
When selecting the best mount for you, consider the surfaces that you’ll be riding on. If you generally just ride on smooth pavement, then pretty much any mount will do. If you ride often on bumpy terrain, you’ll likely be better off with a mount that clamps more securely on the handlebar.
Measure your smartphone before purchasing a mount. Make sure that the mount you’re considering is compatible with the make, model, and size of your phone. Most modern phones are less than 7 inches high and less than 3.5 inches wide. Many phone mounts have a “universal” fit and hold phones with clamping arms and/or rubber straps.
Some mounting systems, like the Rokform Universal mount, require the use of a compatible case, or they can be used with any phone as long as the phone is fitted with the proper adaptor. The same goes for the Peak Design and Quadlock mounts — you’ll need to factor the price of a compatible case or adapter into the equation and purchase them separately. This can make some of these phone mounts quite a bit more expensive, but you’re also typically getting a higher-quality product.
For bike phone mounts that require a compatible case or adapter, the brands often also offer an ecosystem of other mounts and accessories. Peak Design, for example, makes a variety of car and motorcycle mounts and accessories like tripods, charging stations, and mobile wallets that all work with the same case. It’s worth exploring all of the options before deciding which brand to buy.
Depending on the mount you purchase, it can be exceptionally easy or slightly more difficult to attach or detach your phone to or from the mount. Mounts that utilize a compatible case or an adapter system typically offer a quicker and more user-friendly way to pop your phone in and out of your mount if you want to stop and take a quick photo during your ride.
Peak Design’s Out Front and Universal Bar Mounts have far and away the most user-friendly system that we’ve used. That said, you have to purchase a case that fits your phone or an adapter, which adds to the overall cost of the mount. Rokform and Quadlock also use similar systems, although they aren’t quite as easy to use.
Some phone mounts use silicone bands that stretch around the corners of the phone to hold them in place. These typically have a “universal” fit and don’t require any special cases or adapters. That said, it is a bit more time-consuming to get your phone into them, sometimes the bands cover part of your screen, and they aren’t quite as stable as the options mentioned above.
If you spend a lot of time riding on rough trails and through wet and windy weather, you’ll want to purchase a mount that is built with durability in mind. Plastic and silicone may not be as durable as similarly priced mounts that are made of metal, like the GUB Bike Phone Mount, for example.
It’s also important to consider that stretchy silicone bands will lose some of their elasticity over time and repeated stretching. Still, you should expect to get several years of use out of most bike phone mounts, assuming you take reasonable care of them and don’t crash on them often (or ever, hopefully).
The components of most bike phone mounts are going to be water-resistant, but you may want to consider the addition of a waterproof case if you plan to spend a lot of time riding through wet, rainy, or muddy conditions. If this is the option you choose, look for a mount that will still be compatible with your phone while the case is on.
Typically, the mounts that hold the phone with silicone bands will be the most likely option, as they can stretch around a bulkier case. You can also likely add an adapter to a waterproof case for the mounts that require it.
If you’re riding mostly on smooth surfaces, any of the mounts listed above will be able to handle the task of securing your phone and keeping it steady. If you’ll be primarily riding off-road with your phone bike mount, be sure to purchase a product that will hold up to the kind of vibration your riding style regularly creates. This relates to the mount attaching to your bike, as well as the phone attaching to the mount.
The models that clamp on the handlebar, like Peak Design Out Front and the Quadlock Outfront, are more stable on the handlebar than those that attach with rubber or Velcro straps. Additionally, the phone attachment systems for both mounts combine mechanical and magnetic attachment, which offers great stability and security while riding hard on rough terrain. The Rokform Universal attached the phone similarly, although it doesn’t clamp the handlebar quite as securely.
There’s a fairly large range of prices for bike phone mounts, with the models we tested costing between $20 and $70. And, for the more expensive mounts, that doesn’t even factor in the additional cost of purchasing a compatible phone case or adapter, which can increase the total price by anywhere from $15 to $70. Since they all perform roughly the same task, it’s fair to wonder what the differences are.
At the lower end of the price range, around $30 and under, we find products that get the job done but are less refined and elegant than their more expensive counterparts. Generally speaking, they are made from lower-quality materials, and they aren’t quite as stable or durable. That said, if typically ride smooth surfaces and don’t demand a lot from your bike phone mount, then most of them will perform dutifully and give you little to complain about.
A good example is the Nite Ize Wraptor ($23). This mount fits just about any handlebar and phone with rubber bands that secure both. It is relatively straightforward to use, can be turned to orient your phone in various positions, and works well for riding on smooth surfaces. It’s not the most attractive, and it isn’t the best option for riding on rough surfaces, but if that doesn’t bother you, we think this is the best deal going.
Similarly, the Rockbros Phone-Frame Bag ($30) is an affordable way to hold both your phone and some other gear on your bike. Again, it isn’t the most attractive option, but if you need a little cargo space and a place to put your phone, it’s got you covered.
As we climb up the price ladder, we start to see higher-quality materials and attachment methods. The Topeak Omni Ridecase DX ($65) is a good example. This mount actually comes with two attachment options — a strap for the handlebar as well as a top cap that can be threaded directly to the top of your steerer tube. We preferred the latter for its excellent stability.
Additionally, it has a wide range of fit, and holds your phone very securely with its “ultra-elastic silicone grippers.” We didn’t love that those grippers covered part of the screen, but we were certainly never worried about losing our phone. Best of all, you don’t have to purchase a separate case or adapter for it to work. Just pop your phone in and go.
The high-end of the bike phone price range is a bit muddled due to the fact that many of the mounts we tested require the use of a compatible phone case or adapter. While the price of the mount itself may be in the $50-70 range, you’ll need to spend an additional $15-70 to securely attach your phone to the mount. That said, these also happen to be the most user-friendly and secure, so if you’ve got the money to spend, you’ll also find the best performance.
The Peak Design models, both the Out Front ($70) and the Universal Bar Mount ($50), are two of our favorite options. Both require the purchase of the Everyday Case ($40 to $50 depending on the phone model) or the Universal Adapter ($30), but thankfully, the cases are quite attractive — and they work with Peak Design’s ecosystem of other mounts and accessories.
Not only are they impressively easy to use, but the magnetic and mechanical connection between the mount and the case is very secure. The Universal Bar Mount is great if you switch between bikes often and ride mostly smooth surfaces, while the Out Front is more stable for riding off-road.
Similarly, the Quadlock Outfront ($60) is one of the most stable and secure bike phone mounts you can find. Again, you need to get a compatible case ($40-ish) or adapter ($15), but the security of the system is undeniable. It’s a little fiddlier to attach the phone to the mount than the Peak Design system, but you won’t need to worry about your phone going anywhere.
A bike phone mount allows a cyclist to view and engage with their smartphone’s display while actively riding. These mounts typically attach to your handlebars and allow your smartphone to function as a mini-dashboard display.
Not every cyclist prefers to have access to their smartphone while riding. For those who do though, a bike phone mount is a great solution. For mid-ride control of music streaming, navigation, and progress-tracking apps, the smartphone bike mount is the way to go.
Different mounts are better for different riders depending on their features. We recommend all of the bike phone mounts on this list, but our favorite is the Peak Design Out Front. Yes, it is more expensive, but it is incredibly easy to use, secure, and stable for any type of riding.
Riders today can fine-tune their performance in almost every way imaginable with the incredible features and convenience offered by the best bike computers on the market.
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Austin Beck-Doss is a Staff Writer at GearJunkie. Austin has been writing about climbing, hiking, and snowsports for 6+ years. Prior to that, Austin worked as a rock climbing and wilderness guide.
Paul Mandell is a climber, cyclist, skier, and well-rounded mountain athlete. He hails from Bishop California, where he helps the remarkably fit townsfolk get even fitter through his strength coaching program. Paul is a big, hard-charging fella who routinely destroys his gear, so his assessments are solid, especially when evaluating aspects like durability and build quality. When he’s not running around in the mountains, Paul can be found tinkering with his bike and feeding feral cats.
Jeremy Benson is a Managing Editor at GearJunkie. He has been professionally testing and reviewing mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and all of the accessories that go along with them for 8+ years. Prior to GearJunkie, he worked for other outlets like Bikerumor and OutdoorGearLab, as a freelance writer, and was sponsored ski athlete for 15 years. Benson is also the author of two guidebooks, Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: California, and Mountain Bike Tahoe, both published by Mountaineers Books. Based in Truckee, CA, he can usually be found in the woods riding mountain or gravel bikes or climbing mountains with skis when there’s snow on the ground.
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