Amy Roberts, the original author of this guide, researched, tested, and wrote about fitness gear for Wirecutter. Senior editor Christine Ryan, who did additional testing for a 2022 update, has overseen Wirecutter’s cycling-gear coverage for eight years. Staff writer Trey French conducted even more testing in 2025.

For this guide, we did the following:

• We searched for best sellers on Amazon, as well as on several cycling-specific online stores, to see what people buy (and how happy they are with their purchases) and what retailers choose to sell.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, we review and test products with complete editorial independence. We’re never made aware of any business implications of our editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

A smartphone bike mount may be a worthwhile investment for bike commuters or recreational riders who want to use their phone for directions, whether on their own bikes or on ride-share bikes. It’s also of use to someone who wants to record their rides for fitness purposes but doesn’t need the bells and whistles of a dedicated cycling computer.

Bicycle smartphone mounts come in a wide range of designs. We looked at three of the most common types of mounts, the first of which consists of two parts: a phone case or a stick-on adapter (to put on your own case) and a compatible base that attaches to the bike. The second uses silicone bands or plastic brackets to hold a phone. The third fully envelops a phone — you view its screen through a clear plastic cover.

From our initial list of 29 mounts, we nixed several because of iffy reviews or stock issues. We then called in or bought 22 mounts for testing, including both the phone-specific and universal versions of the two-part systems.

For the bikes, Amy used a 31.8 mm diameter handlebar or stem of a road bike plus much skinnier (22.2 mm) mountain bike handlebars. She tested on gravelly old asphalt, rutted dirt, washboard gravel, newly poured concrete, and very recently repaved asphalt.

She used an iPhone 8 Plus — to represent an extra-large model and one for which the mount companies make a specific case — and a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, which served as our average-size smartphone and the one on which we’d test the adapters. She eliminated a few mounts right off the bat if the phones didn’t fit well in the cases or mounts, if they seemed particularly insecure in the mounts, or if some part of the mount impeded the usability of the phone screen or buttons.

In her testing, she considered:

Installation and use: She noted any tools it required and how easy (or not) it was to install and remove the mount on a bike. Also, she noted how easy or difficult it was to put the phone on the mount itself.

Viewing angle: She considered the convenience and aesthetics of the mount location on the bike, the phone’s viewing angle while riding, and if the latter could be (easily) adjusted. She also tested whether the phones could be mounted in either portrait or landscape view and how easy it was to switch between those views.

Motion dampening and phone security: Amy observed how much (if any) rattling, shaking, vibration, or other movement the phones demonstrated over the different surfaces and if any part of the mount came loose.

In 2022, Christine tested six more mounts, some newly available and some suggested by readers, against our existing picks using a 2020 iPhone SE and a Pixel 3a. She installed the mounts on the drop handlebars (31.8 mm) of her cyclocross bike and on the flat handlebars (22.2 mm) of her mountain bike, and she rode 7-mile loops through San Francisco on smooth pavement, not-so-smooth pavement, and some rocky trails.

In 2025, Trey tested our picks on a gravel bike with (31.8 mm) drop handlebars using an iPhone 15. He rode a 10-mile out-and-back of old pavement, washboard gravel, and a little single-track trail.

Top pick

The best bike phone mount case for iPhone

Quad Lock Case for iPhone Devices

These phone-specific cases, in sizes fitting all recent models of the iPhone (back to and including the 5/5S/SE series), lock into Quad Lock’s clamp-on mount.

$35 from Quad Lock

Buy from Amazon
(varies by phone)

The best bike phone mount case for Samsung Galaxy

Quad Lock Case for Galaxy Devices

These phone-specific cases, in sizes fitting all recent models of the Samsung Galaxy (back to and including the S8), lock into Quad Lock’s clamp-on mount.

$35 from Quad Lock

Buy from Amazon
(varies by phone)

We recommend the combination of a Quad Lock case (available for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel) or Universal Adaptor used with the company’s Out Front Mount if you’re a rider who intends for a smartphone to be your frequent copilot.

Top pick

The best bike phone mount case for Google Pixel

Quad Lock Case for Pixel Devices

These phone-specific cases, in sizes fitting all recent models of the Google Pixel (back to and including the 3 series), lock into Quad Lock’s clamp-on mount.

$35 from Quad Lock

Buy from Amazon
(varies by phone)

If you already have a phone case you love, or if Quad Lock doesn’t make a case for your phone, you can install Quad Lock’s Universal Adaptor, which will let you attach your phone to the Out Front Mount.

Top pick

The best bike phone mount adapter

Quad Lock Universal Adaptor

This adapter, which adheres to the back of compatible phones and cases, locks into Quad Lock’s clamp-on mount.

$15 from Amazon

$15 from Sun & Ski Sports

The best bike phone mount base

Quad Lock Out Front Mount

This clamp-on mount fits any handlebar size; once you’ve locked your phone into it (using a Quad Lock case or the Universal Adaptor), the phone stays safely and securely in place.

$43 from Amazon

$40 from Sun & Ski Sports

The system is secure. The sockets for both the phone case and universal adapter twist and lock firmly onto the bike’s mount bracket and won’t let go unless you release the safety lever, which you can do with one hand.

The case didn’t interfere with our phone’s functions. We found it easy to put the iPhone 8 Plus case on our test phone. It fit well, didn’t interfere with the side buttons or wireless charging, and had a lip that was high enough to protect the phone if it were to fall facedown on a flat surface. The socket on the back, while noticeable, was one of the least bothersome of any case we tested.

The system will work with a wide range of phones. Quad Lock makes cases for most iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Pixel models; people who own other phones can use the Universal Adaptor, which sticks firmly to a phone or case with a high-bond adhesive. The company suggests affixing the adapter directly to either your phone, if the phone is made of “suitable” material (very few are), or to a case made of a material on the approved list. However, even on Amy’s unapproved TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) case, the adapter remained sturdily attached.

The mount installs easily on various bar sizes. The Quad Lock Out Front Mount, which is made of glass-filled nylon, clamps onto 31.8 mm handlebars with a single Allen bolt; it comes with a hex wrench as well as the plastic shims to fit 22 mm and 25.4 mm bars. Quad Lock sells a pricier Out Front Mount Pro, which we also tested; it’s made of aluminum and designed to be more aerodynamic. The standard model feels plenty sturdy, though, and we believe that few recreational riders would want to spend the extra cash for improved aerodynamics. Plus, the Allen bolt on the Pro screws in from the bottom, making it harder to attach than the standard mount. (Quad Lock sells bike kits that include either a phone case or the Universal Adaptor with the company’s Handlebar/Stem Mount; we tested that mount too, but the Out Front Mount was more adjustable and more secure.)

You can secure your case anywhere you can attach a mount. As we note in our guide to the best iPhone cases, Quad Lock offers additional mounts for many other uses — including car dashboards, motorcycles, and running armbands — that work with its cases and universal adapter.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The case can interfere with wireless charging. For some people, the biggest downside of the Quad Lock case was that the thickness of the mount point prevents wireless charging from working on some Qi chargers. For example, while the Quad Lock case worked fine with several flat Qi chargers we tested, the case did not allow charging with the single stand-style charger we had on hand. For the iPhone 12 and 13 in particular, a MagSafe charger won’t work at all if a Quad Lock case is installed, and the case makes it less likely that third-party wireless chargers will be able to juice up the phone. Quad Lock has since addressed this problem by offering alternate, MagSafe versions for most newer phones. You just need to be sure to choose that type of the case, which costs an additional $5.

It’s a little bulky. Though the Quad Lock case’s mount socket isn’t as obtrusive as those of similar products, it still creates a bumpy dent on the back of the phone that may bother some people. The Universal Adaptor adds enough bulk that we wouldn’t want it there all the time; you might consider buying an approved case specifically for use with the mount.

Aligning the socket with the mount can be tricky. Amy found herself fumbling with it and having to peek under the phone to see why things weren’t matching up. Depressing the release lever can help get it to go on with less futzing.

Changing from portrait to landscape mode requires releasing the lock. Other mounts, including our budget pick, do this more readily.

Budget pick

Tool-free installation

Nite Ize Wraptor

Although not as rock-solid as the Quad Lock system, this mount held phones the most securely of any silicone-strap models we tested, and it should be just fine for occasional use or for bike-share riders.

$20 from Amazon

$23 from REI

$22 from The Home Depot

The Nite Ize Wraptor is a great choice for occasional riders and for anyone who wants to easily add or remove a phone mount from their own bike or a bike-share bike.

It’s very affordable. The Wraptor costs half of what you’d pay for the Quad Lock mount alone, and you can use it with your existing case or no case at all — no need to buy a special case.

It’s easy to move from bike to bike. Hefty silicone straps attach the mount to the bike — you stretch the strap around the bars and hook one of the strap’s holes on the peg at its base. The silicone straps that stretch over the phone’s corners to hold it to the mount are wider and thicker than most others of this style.

It fits our phones without covering important buttons. Nite Ize says the Wraptor fits regular- and larger-size phones with or without a case; the straps on ours accommodated our iPhone 8 Plus in a Speck Presidio Grip case and held our smaller Samsung Galaxy S8 Active firmly. They also didn’t cover the buttons or screen in a way that impeded the use of the phone, unlike some silicone mounts we tested.

It easily adjusts between landscape and portrait mode. On the mount, the phone rotates between portrait and landscape orientation, clicking into place every few degrees as you turn it. One unexpected use for this mount appeared during the pandemic, when many of us were indoors riding bikes attached to smart trainers and spending a lot of time in virtual cycling games. One of these games, the Zwift app, introduced a steering feature that only works if you attach your phone (running the game) to your handlebars, and the Wraptor proved ideal for that purpose.

It’s compact and portable. The whole thing is compact enough to tuck into a pocket when you’re not using it, so it’s especially convenient for people who use bike shares.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It doesn’t hold phones as stable as our other picks. Because silicone is inherently stretchy, the test phones vibrated more in this mount than in the Quad Lock when we rolled over bumps and potholes. Of all the easy-on, easy-off silicone mounts we tested, though, the Wraptor was the most stable; the one from Vup, for example, shook and bobbed at even the slightest change in surface texture. In fact, this mount fared better than two of the more expensive — and ostensibly sturdier — case-style mounts, the Tigra Sport FitClic Neo and the original version of the SP Connect.

The silicone may wear out. Although we saw no indication of wear during our tests, and we’ve used similar straps for years with no problem, we still recommend inspecting the straps regularly.

Upgrade pick

A MagSafe bike mount case for iPhone

Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 16

This MagSafe-compatible phone-specific case locks into Peak Design’s clamp-on mount. It also comes in sizes fitting all the other variations of the iPhone 16, as well as older models of the iPhone (back to and including the 11).

$50 from Amazon

$50 from Best Buy

A MagSafe bike mount case for Samsung Galaxy

Peak Design Everyday Case Samsung Galaxy S25 Series

These phone-specific cases, in sizes fitting the Samsung Galaxy S21 through S25, lock into Peak Design’s clamp-on mount. They also let the phones charge with most MagSafe chargers, but they may interfere with stylus accessories.

$50 from Peak Design

If you’ve already invested in the Peak Design phone case ecosystem, we recommend a Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount V2, which works with a Peak Design Everyday Case (available for late-model iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel phones).

Upgrade pick

A MagSafe bike mount case for late-model Google Pixels

Peak Design Everyday Case for Pixel 9

These phone-specific cases, in sizes fitting the Google Pixel 6 through 9, lock into Peak Design’s clamp-on mount. They also let the phones charge with most MagSafe chargers.

$50 from Amazon

$50 from Peak Design

As with our top pick, if you can’t or don’t want to switch to a Peak Design phone case, you can instead install a Peak Design Universal Adapter.

Upgrade pick

A nearly flat bike mount adapter

Peak Design Universal Adapter

This adapter, which adheres to the back of compatible cases and is flatter than the QuadLock adapter, locks into Peak Design’s clamp-on mount. It’s compatible with MagSafe accessories, but wireless charging may not work.

$30 from Amazon

Buy from REI

$30 from Best Buy

A sturdy bike mount base

Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount V2 With Additional Collar

This clamp-on mount fits almost any handlebar size. Retractable tabs and a strong magnet are easy to use and hold your phone tight — as long as you’re using a Peak Design case or adapter. The system is pricey, though.

$70 from Amazon

$70 from REI

This is the easiest-to-use system. Unlike the Quad Lock cases, which twist and lock onto a bracket, the Peak Design cases click straight onto the mount’s aluminum base, eliminating the kind of trouble we had aligning the Quad Lock case. The back of each phone case (and adapter) has a recessed cutout that mates with a raised metal square on each base. Retractable tabs on the raised square extend under the lip of the cutout; in addition, a strong, MagSafe-compatible magnet concealed under the cutout holds the phone case firmly to the base, which is covered with a layer of silicone.

It’s extremely secure. While holding a phone and case locked onto a mount and facing downward, we compressed the two release buttons under the base to retract the tabs — so the magnet was the only thing keeping mount and case together — and shook as hard as we could. The mount, phone case, and phone all stayed stuck together, at least until we accidentally hit one edge of the case. Then the phone and case fell to the floor.

The case is sleek. We recommend the Peak Design Everyday Case in our guide to the best iPhone 16 cases, praising its looks (its polycarbonate body is covered in a dark-gray nylon) and functionality (the buttons work, and its TPU border has ridges to help protect the phone if you drop it). Despite the cutout-and-magnet affair in the case’s back, the Everyday Case isn’t noticeably thicker than our favorite no-frills iPhone case.

It’s compatible with all wireless chargers. Peak Design’s cases are all MagSafe compatible; its cases for Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones also include the MagSafe magnet and may allow you to charge your Android using a MagSafe charger. (The magnet will, however, prevent Samsung’s S Pen stylus from working.)

The mount is easy to install and remove. The hinged aluminum arm of the Peak Design mount encircles your handlebars and is secured by a single Allen bolt; the mount comes with the appropriate wrench. The current version of the mount comes with four sets of plastic collars that make the arm fit the four most common handlebar sizes. The Allen bolt on the Peak Design mount screws in from the bottom — not from the top, like the more-convenient Quad Lock mount — but a washer keeps it from falling out entirely (as such bolts invariably do) when you unscrew it.

You can secure your case anywhere you can attach a mount. Like Quad Lock, Peak Design has an array of mounts and accessories for its phone cases that includes desk chargers, car-dashboard mounts, wall mounts, motorcycle mounts, and more.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You need to remove the phone from the mount to rotate it. As with the Quad Lock system, to switch between landscape and portrait mode you have to remove the Peak Design case from the mount and reattach it. (Our budget pick lets you turn the phone while it’s in the mount.)

It doesn’t work on aero bars. This clamp system worked well on the handlebars we tried it on, but it won’t work for handlebars that are aero-shaped (that is, not round), tapered, or in an unusual size. The company sells a Universal Bar Mount with a silicone “hook and ladder” band that you can strap around your handlebar or stem. We haven’t tested it, but we’ve used the same sort of silicone bands with bike lights (and like them). They don’t always keep the lights from tilting up or down a bit, but we haven’t lost one yet. The universal mount could also be handy in any situation where you find yourself frequently wanting to move a mount between bikes.

Older phones aren’t compatible. Peak Design started making phone cases in 2021. This may be why it produces cases for relatively recent models only: If you have an iPhone older than the 11, a Samsung Galaxy older than the S21, or any Pixel before the 6 series, you’ll have to settle for Peak Design’s Universal Adapter. That said, the adapter is definitely slimmer than that of Quad Lock, and although Peak Design warns that it may not allow wireless charging, our 2020 iPhone SE charged just fine on a MagSafe stand while wearing an adapter-equipped case. (Peak Design advises attaching the adapter only to the back of a case, not to the back of your phone.)

Two-part mounts with phone-specific cases or universal adapters

The Thule Smartphone Bike Mount is bulky and time-consuming to install, and the mount wasn’t compatible with our test mountain bike, even with the included plastic shims.

The Nomad Universal Phone Mount requires that you stick a magnetic disc the size of a half-dollar coin to the back of your phone or phone case, which renders it incompatible with Qi charging.

We tested nearly the entire line of Rokform bike mounts, including both the Rugged and Crystal cases for our iPhone 8 Plus, the Universal Mount Adapter for our Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, and the V4 Pro Series Phone Bike Mount. None were as good as the Quad Lock mount, yet they cost more.

To switch between portrait and landscape mode with the SP Connect Bike Bundle, you have to adjust the back of the case itself using a small plastic “stand tool” — not convenient to do mid-ride.

The iPhone case in the Tigra Sport FitClic Neo line obstructed our phone’s side buttons. The process for locking and unlocking the phone and mount, involving a skinny plastic lever, isn’t very user-friendly. The standard mount felt more stable than the out-front one, but our test phones rattled more in both locations than we’d like.

The Topeak Ridecase for iPhone lacks an adequate protective lip and isn’t wireless-charging compatible. Also, extracting the phone to swap it to a different case was challenging.

The Fidlock Vacuum Phone cases aren’t compatible with wireless charging either, according to owner reviews on the Fidlock’s site and elsewhere.

Mounts with universal-fit silicone straps or plastic braces

The frame of the Delta Cycle X-Mount Pro can fit only under a bike’s stem cap — there’s no other way to attach it and no way to adjust the angle it sits at.

The handlebar mount of the Roam Universal Premium Bike Phone Mount is overly complicated, annoying to attach, and extremely wide, taking up nearly 2 inches of handlebar space.

The Ram X-Grip Phone Mount has four spring-loaded arms with rubber knobs that grip your phone. Unless we positioned the arms in such a way that the lower ones barely made contact with the bottom of our iPhone SE, the upper ones held and activated the volume buttons on one side and the power button on the other.

The Gub G-85 Bicycle Phone Holder is complicated to assemble, and if you don’t want to scratch your expensive phone or possibly let it slip out of the four metal prongs that grip it, you’ll need to stick four teeny-tiny cushions included with the mount onto those prongs.

The Vup Universal Bike Cell Phone Holder is an inexpensive silicone-bracket mount popular on Amazon. The test phones rattled, quaked, and bounced way too much on our rides, and the lower strap got in the way of the home button on the iPhone 8 Plus.

Getting our phones in and out of the Delta Cycle Smartphone Holder XL was challenging, and it is large, awkward, and, frankly, ugly.

The Nite Ize HandleBand felt durable and secure. However, the wide straps cut across and blocked part of the phone screen.

Mounts with waterproof universal-fit phone holders

The Topeak Smartphone Drybag, which we tested in its 5-inch size, was a tight fit on the iPhone 8 Plus in its case. However, we were more concerned with how much the test phone rattled and bobbled up and down at the slightest pavement change, regardless of where the bag was mounted.

The plastic window on the Bikase Handy Andy 6 reflected so much glare that Amy couldn’t see the phone screen at all.

We also tested and dismissed mounts from Ailun, Bikase, Delta Cycle, Morpheus, TeamObsidian, Topeak, Vibrelli, and Zéfal that have since been discontinued or are no longer available in the US.

This article was edited by Christine Ryan.