Smartphones are becoming increasingly useful to us riders thanks to a ton of ride-friendly training and navigation cycling apps. Naturally, this means more riders are looking to mount their phone to a bike.
While the best bike computers put everything you could possibly want in a compact, bike-specific package, some riders prefer a smartphone – especially for commuting bikes and hybrid bikes.
There are pros and cons to both. A dedicated bike computer won't drain your phone's battery, is designed specifically for the job in hand and offers connectivity (typically both ANT and Bluetooth) to a wide range of accessories.
Using a smartphone, on the other hand, means you don't have to splash out on a separate device and normally offers a user-friendly interface. Plus there's a growing number of apps and, generally speaking, you've always got your phone on you for quick trips by bike, so it's a popular choice for cycling to work.
For more advice, read our guide to using a bike computer vs phone on your rides.
If you do use your phone on a bike, you'll want to make sure it's securely mounted. We've pitched the most popular bike phone mounts head-to-head to find out which are worth buying.
When it comes to phone mounting solutions there's a lot of choice and a few different takes on how it's done. Should you want to learn a little more about the different designs and what might work best for you, then head to our buyer's guide towards the bottom of this page.
Best bike phone holders 2023, as rated by our expert testers
Fidlock Vacuum phone mount and case
- Price: £60 / €59.98 / $65 / AU$93 as tested
- Weight: 46.3g bar mount, 61.8g stem cap mount, 39.5g case
- Included: Bar mount (2 clamp sizes, all hardware); Stem cap (mount, stem cap bolt, thumbwheel lock ring bolt, hex-key lockring bolt)
- Optional extras: Car vent mount
Fidlock is known for creating twist-lock magnetic systems and this Fidlock Vacuum bike phone mount pairs this tech with a sucker mount and phone case to hold your phone securely in place.
In fact, so securely, our tester could lift his whole bike up by just holding the phone.
Removing the phone is still easy, though. You just release the suction via a ring underneath the mount.
The phone case lets you rotate the position of the phone through 360 degrees, so you can have your phone mounted in a portrait or landscape position.
It is made from toughened ABS plastic and provides plenty of protection. The case isn't waterproof but if it was this mount would be nigh-on perfect.
Quad Lock Bike Kit
- Price: £50 / €59.95 / $59.95 / AU$69.95 as tested
- Weight: 60g
- Included: Stem/bar mount
- Optional extras: Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band, weather cover
Quad Lock is really a system that you build to suit your requirements and budget. We tested the basic stem mount (which can also be fitted to a handlebar) and snap-case combo, but you can select from the two out-front mounts to suit and build your kit from there.
The case is sleek, even with the mount on the back, meaning we just left it on even when not riding. The stem mount we tried attaches securely using rubber O-rings. Once in place it doesn’t move, with a push-and-twist locking system that’s smooth to use. To release, pull down the retaining ring and twist – even though the lock is firm, it’s an easy operation.
With its high-quality construction and a kit system that allows you to buy only the parts you need, the Quad Lock feels worth its relatively high price.
Zéfal Bike Kit
- Price: £25 / €26.95 / $25 / AU$36 as tested
- Weight: 76g
- Included: Stem/bar mount, weather cover
- Optional extras: Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
The Zéfal Bike Kit is relatively simple to fit and rock-solid in use, thanks to a no-tools-needed setup that uses rubber O-rings to attach the mount to a bar or stem.
The snap-on phone case has an integral fitting that allows you to swap it between different mounts and uses – although it’s a bit too chunky to persuade us to leave it on all the time.
The phone goes onto the mount with a simple twist through 45 degrees and a good positive lock. Two buttons on the underside must be depressed in order to release it, so there’s no chance of doing that accidentally.
The inclusion of a weather cover in the standard kit makes this great value, and we’d also be persuaded to upgrade to the better out-front mount kit that allows for a light/camera too.
Also consider…
The following products scored fewer than 4 out of 5 stars in our test but are still worth considering and might suit your needs.
SP Connect Bike Bundle
- Price: £50 / €60 / $61 / AU$87 as tested
- Weight: 100g
- Included: Stem mount, clamp mount, weather cover
- Optional extras: Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
We tested the Bike Bundle version of the SP Connect, which includes a stem cap/bar mount plus a weather cover as standard, making this good value.
The mount includes an angle-adjustable arm that you can choose to use (we didn’t here). For another £10 the Road Bike Bundle has an improved mount that holds the phone out front, with space for a light/camera. In our opinion, it’s worth trading up for the improved position and flexibility of use.
This is one of the better phone cases: it has a tactile feel and the integral mount is low profile enough not to get in the way during everyday use. But there isn’t a positive click when locking it in place and it requires a firm hand to release it.
Topeak Ridecase
- Price: £35 / €38 / $43 / AU$62 as tested
- Weight: 100g
- Included: Stem/bar mount
- Optional extras: Light/camera mount, car mount, arm band
The standard fitting on the Topeak Ridecase mount is adaptable enough to be fixed on a handlebar or stem, or will even replace the stem cap. You’ll need a 4mm Allen key to fit it but it’s easily done and solid once fitted. The mount is also fully angle-adjustable and lets you use landscape or portrait orientation.
The phone goes into a snap case, which in turn slides into the mount. It is straightforward, but a more positive click once it’s in place would add some reassurance. Unlocking is via a lever.
The mount on the back of the case can be used as a stand – it works better in portrait mode but is useful enough to consider leaving on permanently, removing a hassle factor when setting out.
There is an upgrade bracket available as an extra that holds the phone out front, with space for a light or camera. It adds to the cost but the versatility is worth it.
BTwin Riverside 520
- Price: £13 / $24.99 as tested
- Weight: 120g
- Included: Top tube-mounted case with two bags
- Optional extras: None
While it's not very sleek or hi-tech, we found ourselves warming to the Riverside 520 double bike frame bag way more than anticipated simply because the tube-mounted twin bags are very convenient.
The phone goes in the top, wallet and keys one side, spare tube and tools the other.
The kicker is that the straps could be longer, which means some ingenuity is required to fix it securely in place. The phone goes into its holder easily, but because it isn’t held firmly against the cover, reflection from the plastic can sometimes make it hard to see the screen.
Also, the touchscreen connection isn’t always spot-on. But for a budget-friendly price you get something that holds your phone securely, plus two stash bags.
Buyer's guide to bike phone mounts and cases
Different types of phone mounts
A bicycle phone mount is exactly the same as a bike computer mount, except that instead of a computer it lets you attach a smartphone securely to your bars, stem or top tube. An advantage of this is that you don't need to shell out for a separate bike computer.
Most bicycle phone mounts are small plastic brackets that you attach to your bike and then clip your phone into. Some are transparent pockets which are part of bags you can strap to your frame, and also use for storage. Either way, they need to provide a sturdy way to carry your phone on your bike and protect it from the elements, while also allowing you to use it.
Case mount
Bike phone cases tend to be for stem or handlebar mounts, and they’re usually variations on a similar theme: your phone is held in a case that is specific to the size and model of your phone, which can then be clipped securely into a small plastic block on your handlebar or stem. The case may or may not be waterproof.
These sorts of mounts, generally speaking, will allow you to align your phone in either portrait or landscape orientation. Although for the sake of keeping it out of the way of errant knees, it's best to use portrait orientation if the phone is mounted on the stem.
Universal bracket
These are similar to the above mounts, but they don't rely on a dedicated case to put your phone into. Instead, they use a universal mount that attaches to your handlebars or stem, and will grip practically any phone even if it's already in a protective case.
The obvious advantage is that you don't need to buy a new mount when you change phones (and you can lend it to people), but therein lies its disadvantage, too: we reckon they're a lot less secure.
Frame bag
If you’d rather keep the real estate on your bar clear, then carrying your phone in a frame bag is the alternative. A phone frame bag sits on your top tube, just behind the head tube. As well as providing some storage space, this will also have a transparent sleeve for your phone to slide into.
The key consideration is whether the transparent window provides sufficient protection from the elements while also allowing you to operate the phone’s touchscreen.
The major downside of this option is that you have to look/reach down further than you would if your phone were mounted on your bar. So if you can’t hear the audio alerts, the frame-bag option may be more suitable for riders who are willing to stop when they want to use their phones.
Check the compatibility of your bike phone mount
The deciding factor on which mount you end up choosing will ultimately be which one works with your phone. Most mounts come in various sizes and guises to accommodate as many varieties of phone as possible, but double-check before you plough ahead with your purchase.
On a similar note, if you’re on a contract and are likely to change/upgrade the model soon, it may be worth holding off until you know what model you’ll be switching to. There's no point buying a phone-specific mount for a model you won’t be using in a few weeks.
