In our 6-year quest for the best bike phone mount, we've tested almost 30 models and bought 10 of this year's top options for our latest round of side-by-side testing. We rode with these mounts for hundreds of miles on our daily commutes, across smoothly paved surfaces, and over rough off-road terrain. We checked out how they could handle water and dust, then mounted them on mountain bikes for strenuous tests of vibration and durability. To our surprise, and your good fortune, some of the best performers in many situations turned out to be among the least expensive models.
Between bikes and bike accessories, we've tested hundreds of products. If you're seeking a specific type of bike or component, chances are, we have opinions — and those opinions are based on thousands of hours of riding and real-world usage. From bike computers to top bike helmets and even electric bikes, our reviews can help you uncover the best product for your needs.Awards | ![]() | ||||
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Price | $6.00 List $5.98 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $22 List $24.99 at Amazon | $17.00 List $18.99 at Amazon | $25 List $16.99 at Amazon |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Easy to set up, fits most handlebars | Secure on bumpy terrain, great phone protection from weather, lots of storage | Lots of storage, weather-resistant | Fit widest range of phone sizes in the lineup, easy access to phone | Fits a wide variety of handlebars |
Cons | Not the most secure on bumpy terrain, cannot accommodate large phones | Difficult to access phone, some riders hit knees on bag while pedaling | Poor phone touchscreen usability, large size takes up space on top tube | Difficult to setup, not secure on bike handlebars, bulky | Not secure, bulky, difficult to install |
Bottom Line | A low-cost mount that performs well and is easy to install | With ample storage and weather resistance, this is our favorite bike bag for everyday rides where you want to bring extra stuff along | A decent weatherproof bike bag for storing extra goodies or essentials on your ride | We do not recommend this kind of mount because it is extremely bulky, fussy to set up, and not secure on rough terrain | This model is bulkier and more difficult to install than most others |
Rating Categories | Ailun Silicone Strap | Wild Man Bike Phone... | RockBros Waterproof... | Lamicall Bike Phone... | Roam Universal |
Ease of Accessing Phone (30%) | |||||
Security on Bumpy Terrain (30%) | |||||
Ease of Setup (20%) | |||||
Phone Protection (10%) | |||||
Versatility (10%) | |||||
Specs | Ailun Silicone Strap | Wild Man Bike Phone... | RockBros Waterproof... | Lamicall Bike Phone... | Roam Universal |
Requires Specific Case or Adaptor | No | No | No | No | No |
Waterproof? | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Rotates? | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Materials | Silicone | Fabric | Fabric | Plastic | Plastic, silicone |
Best Overall Bike Phone Mount
Rokform Pro Series Quad Tab Mount
The Rokform Pro Series bike mount is the most permanent installation in our lineup. You must replace the top cap of your bike's 1-1/8-inch threadless steer tube (and make sure your bike has one of these) with the sleek all-aluminum mount, and screw it in tight with the included Allen wrench. Though involved, this process takes only a few minutes, and the mount is ready to go in no time. What we love most about the Rokform Pro Series is its security on varied terrain. If you are a mountain biker or an avid gravel-rider this mount could be the one for you. It is expensive, but spending the money on this mount may be worth it if you don’t want to risk your phone flying off while on bumpy terrain. Another feature that our testers love is the ease of access to your phone. The twist-lock mechanism makes it extremely easy to take your phone on and off the mount for photos or calls. Also, the mount has a built-in magnet that not only provides additional security but also helps to guide the phone into the correct mounting position. It takes some practice to mount or remove your phone one-handed, but it is a cinch once you get used to it.
While the Rokform Pro Series performed very well across many metrics and is the most streamlined mount in our lineup, it comes with some drawbacks. You are required to buy a specific case or case adaptor for your phone to twist-lock into the mount. The case is slim enough to use as an everyday case, but if you seek weather protection, you may want to consider buying a case adaptor to put on your weatherproof case. Another potential limitation is that it can't be used on strollers or treadmills, unlike other award-winners such as the Nite Ize or the VUP. If you would like to mount your phone to your car you must buy a separate car mount that is compatible with the Rokform case or case adaptor. This mounting system is the most expensive in the lineup, but its streamlined, secure, aluminum build is great for everyday commuting, speedy road cycling, and hard-core mountain bike rides alike.
Best for Quick Phone Removal
Quad Lock Out Front Bike Mount
If you’re looking for a sleek mount that is fast on and off for snapping photos, the Quad Lock Out Front Bike Mount may be for you. The Quad Lock scored very well across the board, making it the second highest-scoring mount in the lineup. Our testers’ favorite feature is the ease of accessing the phone and the ability to remove it quickly and easily with one hand. While you must purchase a compatible case or case adaptor to fit the mount, both are low-profile and stylish. Another high-scoring metric for the Quad Lock is its security on bumpy terrain. Our testers found that once installed properly (for mountain bikes we recommend mounting it on the smallest part of the handlebars), the mount was very secure on bumpy single-track and dirt roads at high speeds.
The Quad Lock was our testers' favorite day-to-day pick due to its overall performance, but it did lag in some metrics. It is expensive, though not quite as expensive as the Rokform Pro. Also, it is not the easiest mount to set up as it requires a hex wrench and a little adjusting. Luckily, the mount comes with easy-to-follow instructions and the required tool. Because of its semi-permanent installation, this phone mount is not a great pick if you want the versatility to use it on multiple bikes, strollers, or treadmills. The Quad Lock stands out for its ease of phone access, sleek profile, and security on bumpy terrain. This makes it a wonderful overall mount for the photo enthusiast or mountain biker.
Best Bang for Your Buck
VUP Silicone Mount
As one of the most affordable mounts on our recommended short-list, the VUP Silicone Mount is a great budget pick. It performs nearly as well as the Nite Ize in nearly every metric and is only around half the cost. The VUP stands apart from the crowd as being the easiest mount to set up. It was intuitive and only took 5 seconds to install on our handlebars. Our testers found this mount to be satisfyingly simple to use. Another great feature is that the mount can rotate to both landscape and portrait orientation. The VUP also excels in being versatile: it can easily transfer from bike to bike, or from bike to stroller.
While the VUP mount is user-friendly and performs relatively well due to its simplicity, there are some downsides. Compared to its similar competitor, the Nite Ize, the VUP mount is not nearly as stylish. It also doesn’t have quite the size range compatibility as the Nite Ize. This is especially an issue if you plan to ride in weather (like our testers who bike-commute to work most days) and want to use a weatherproof case on your phone. These differences made the Nite Ize stand out, but the VUP is close in comparison and at almost half the price. At the end of the day, the VUP is a good choice for the rider on a budget or someone who only uses a bike phone mount occasionally.
Best for Everyday Use and Versatility
Nite Ize Wraptor
Versatility, ease of setup, and low price make the Nite Ize Wraptor one of our testers’ favorites. The Nite Ize is tied with the VUP for being the easiest and most intuitive to mount on your bike. No tools were required, and it fit on every bike handlebar we tested. When mounted, the Nite Ize can rotate into whatever orientation you want: landscape, portrait, or something in between. Additionally, the Nite Ize seamlessly transferred onto strollers for walks and shopping carts for grocery store runs. While this mount is made of plastic and rubber, it is one of the sleekest mounts in the lineup - our testers were impressed with its design.
The Nite Ize may not be the best choice for you if you plan to solely ride singletrack; the mount is surprisingly stable, but if you miss putting a corner entirely on, your phone is at risk of falling out. Because it is a universal mount, it takes a few seconds to get your phone on and off the mount. Also, this mount does not provide weather protection alone. For mounts like this, we recommend using a weatherproof case for your phone if you plan to ride in inclement weather. A potential issue with this mount is that an extra-large phone with a beefy case may not fit in the straps. For most people, the Nite Ize would be a great mount at a fraction of the cost of other high-performing mounts.
Best Frame Mount Bag
Wild Man Bike Phone Mount Bag
The Wild Man Bike Phone Mount Bag is an affordable option if you’re looking for a bike phone mount with extra storage. This bag was easier to set up than the RockBros Waterproof Bag because its velcro straps and loops are larger and placed more conveniently. This mount protects your phone from all kinds of weather and is very secure on your bike, despite that it jiggles a bit. As a bonus, the bag has enough storage space for extra gear like a wallet, keys, or a snack.
On the downside, the bike bags are big and take up most of your bike’s top tube. Meaning, it’s hard to stand over the bike while the bag is installed (especially if you’re a smaller person on a smaller bike frame). Also, the plastic that protects your phone simultaneously makes it harder to use. Decreased touchscreen sensitivity and phone screen glare make this mount score poorly in our Ease of Phone Access metric. Also, some users found that their phones overheated on hot days in the bike bag. If you want a bike bag that is weatherproof and has ample storage, the Wild Man bag is a good pick.
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Why You Should Trust Us
Hailing from Western Montana, Madison Botzet spends her time trail running, mountain biking, and uphill skiing. Her hometown is teeming with miles of trails and gravel roads straight out of her backdoor. She commutes to work every day via bike (not a small feat when it’s snowing) and has made a pact not to drive anywhere less than 5 kilometers away. Being a youth mountain bike coach and having interned as a bicycle-infrastructure planner, she has the experience to understand a bike mount’s functionality. In short, Madison spends a lot of time on two wheels and loves it.
Extensive field testing occurred with each mount to assess phone protection, ease of access, and security while riding fast on roads, flowing on single-track, and making quick commutes. We also strapped our phone mounts to strollers and treadmills to uncover which ones are well-rounded and versatile. Additional testing included timing the setup to report on those which were easiest to install.
Analysis and Test Results
To help separate some of the close competitors, we tested all the bike mounts across five different metrics. Below are key variables to consider when choosing a bike phone mount. We describe why each variable is important and how different models in our test performed.
Value
Many of the bike phone mounts performed relatively well across a variety of metrics, but they vary quite a bit in price. Our testers considered the best-performing mounts relative to their prices to help you find the best bang for your buck.
Catching the attention of our testers was the Nite Ize Wraptor for its outstanding overall performance and relatively low price. Another value pick with one of the lowest prices in the lineup is the VUP mount, which is simple to install, versatile, and easy to use. This mount performed better in some metrics than its high-end competitors and at a fraction of the cost. Though it is the most expensive phone mount, the Rokform Pro Series is made of aluminum and is a good investment because it’s built to last.
Ease of Accessing Phone
One of the most important considerations for people when buying a bike mount is how easy it is to access the phone when you are out on a ride. Every second counts if you want to stop and snap a photo quickly. Phones with locking mechanisms performed the best here. We also considered whether we were able to tilt the mount to get a better view of the phone while riding and if the screen was fully visible.
The Quad Lock and Rokform Pro mounts make it easiest to get your phone on and off the bars. Both mounts require a specific case or universal adaptor to work in their twist-lock mechanisms. These mechanisms make it effortless to remove your phone to answer a call or snap a pic. The Quad Lock’s locking tab is big and easy to press to release the phone. The Rokform has a built-in magnet that helps guide the phone to the right place. You can easily remove your phone one-handed with both mounts.
The Wild Man and RockBros bike bags performed the worst in this metric. While these bags are inexpensive, work with most phones, and have plenty of storage, they make it harder to interact with your phone. The main challenge is touch screen usability. The plastic sheet may keep you from accessing your phone's Home button, making using the phone difficult. Phone usability is prone to errors and usually much slower. It takes a little time to remove the phone when you reach your destination or if you want to take a photo. There is no one-handed operation.
Surprisingly, the Rokform Sport Series did not perform well here either. The velcro strap did not tighten enough to provide the stability needed to twist your phone off the mount. Often, the mount would twist instead of the phone - making it a challenge to remove.
Performing in the middle of the pack were the universal silicone mounts like the Nite IzeWraptor, the VUP, and the Ailun. Getting your phone on and off is not difficult, it just takes a little bit of time and is a two-handed process. If you stop to take lots of photos, this can be a nuisance.
Security on Bumpy Terrain
The other metric that people clearly care most about across our research is phone security. A phone is a pricey investment that no one wants to see fly off the mount and become lost, cracked, or broken. We assessed how much the phone moved within the mount and also how much the mount moved on the handlebars.
Semi-permanent mounts and bike bags performed best in this metric. The Rokform Pro topped the pack since it is semi-permanently installed over the bike's steer tube and is less inclined to vibrate or move at all. This mount is well suited to bumpy gravel rides or singletrack. The Quad Lock also performed well on bumpy terrain when securely installed.
The Wild Man Bag and the RockBros Bag are also secure because your phone won’t fall out of the closed bag. These bags wouldn't be great for mountain biking, because they tend to wiggle a lot and can get in the way of you standing over your bike. If your primary concern is keeping your phone safe from flying out of the mount and you want extra storage, then these bags are a good pick.
Surprisingly, the Rokform Sport Series performed relatively poorly because the velcro strap could not be tightened enough to stop the mount from shifting on the bike.
The worst performing mounts in this metric are the Roam Universal and the Lamicall. These mounts tighten with a screw and thus can easily loosen. Also, these mounts are the clunkiest and more prone to vibrations. These are potential issues because it makes it possible for the mounts to loosen and flip upside down, causing you to lose your phone. We do not recommend these designs if you are riding on any kind of bumpy terrain.
Ease of Setup
People want a bike phone mount that is easy to set up, with clear instructions and the required tool(s) needed. We timed the setup of each mount to support our field tests to determine which ones were easy, and which ones were a pain.
The easiest mounts to set up are those with velcro or silicone staps like the Rokform Sport Series, the Nite Ize Wraptor, and the VUP. The VUP took only a few seconds to install and was incredibly intuitive. The Nite Ize and Rokform Sport both only took a few seconds longer than the VUP and were equally as intuitive to set up. None of these mounts require tools.
In the middle of the pack are the Rokform Pro Series and the Quad Lock because of their semi-permanent installation. Though not difficult, they took a few minutes to install (versus a few seconds for the strap mounts).
The Lamicall and the Roam mounts were the hardest to set up. These mounts have multiple finicky parts that need to be adjusted to fit properly. Our testers found these mounts to be the most frustrating to install.
While the bike bags were relatively easy to set up, our testers found that the Wild Man was slightly easier than the RockBros bag because it had bigger, more convenient loops to put the velcro straps through.
Phone Protection
Our testers took into account that some people are dedicated enough to ride their bikes in the rain, sun, dust, and snow - and want to keep their phones protected from the elements while doing so.
In this metric, the bike bags scored very well because your phone is fully enclosed in water-resistant material. However, the drawbacks of the WildMan and RockBros bags are that they reduce touch screen usability and could lead to your phone overheating on warm rides.
Most of the other mounts alone provide no weather protection, so their protection performance will depend on the user’s phone case. We would recommend a waterproof, shock-proof case in these mounts if weather protection is a concern. The Nite Ize Wraptor mount can fit a wider variety of phones than the other universal mounts.
To use the semi-permanent mounts, such as the Rokform Sport, the Rokform Pro, and the Quad Lock, you need either a specific case or a universal adaptor to twist-lock onto the mounts. We recommend buying the universal adaptor for these mounts and putting it on a weatherproof case for your phone.
Versatility
Some users enjoy being able to transfer their bike phone mount onto multiple bikes, strollers, treadmills, shopping carts, or cars. Our testers considered how easy they were to transfer as well as how accommodating the mounts were to different sizes and shapes of bars to install onto.
The Rokform Sport Series performed best in this metric because of the ease of transferability and the long strap lengths that can accommodate the handlebar shapes of strollers, shopping carts, and treadmills alike. The case or universal adapter that works for the Rokform Sport is also compatible with a car mount, but you must purchase it separately. The runner-up in this category was the Nite Ize Wraptor because it's easy to transfer but is slightly less versatile due to a shorter strap length.
The VUP and the Ailun are good picks for users who want to transfer their mount to multiple bikes or strollers. These mounts are easy to transfer but are more limited in their versatility due to their shorter strap lengths.
Conclusion
Bike phone mounts are a useful tool if you want to track your ride, listen to music, use navigation, or have your phone readily accessible for photos or phone calls. If you have the money and ride your bike often, the locking style mounts are the way to go. However, they take some fidgeting and require changing every time you switch bikes. For many people, the universal bar mounts are more than adequate for their needs. They are very inexpensive, fast to install, lightweight, and low profile. If you store things on your bike, the bike bags can be handy but don't count on great touchscreen functionality. Whatever your needs might be, we hope that this comprehensive review will help make your decision that much easier so that you can get out on the road or trail.
— Madison Botzet
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