The best car phone holders are designed to hold your device securely for safe screen viewing while driving. It's not just ergonomically better to store your smartphone in a dash-mounted holder; in most countries, you're also legally obligated to use them when interacting with your device in the car.
Among the many varieties available to buy, two stand out: air vent-mounted and suction car phone holders. Air vent-style holders can be removed easily if needed but don't have the same resilience as suction models. Suction cup marks also might attract thieves – something to consider before buying.
We've picked the best car phone holders that make using your phone in the car safe and legal. Some are compatible with charging cables for keeping your phone powered up on the go, and some allow you to change the orientation of your phone depending on your preference.
Most phone mounts we've chosen are compatible with all smartphones and aren't expensive, either. If you're looking to kit out your car fully, you should also consider one of the best dash cams, which will save you money and hassle in an accident, and the best sat navs to help you navigate to your destination safely.
The best car phone holders you can buy right now
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
1. Belkin Car Vent Mount
A low profile phone mount that leaves your windscreen clear of screens and smudges
Specifications
Best for: Subtlety
Attachment: Air vent clip
Compatible with: Smartphones up to 5.5 inches
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Grips securely but gently Low profile
Reasons to avoid
- You'll need to switch the vent off if the car heating is running
There’s a reason cab drivers tend to use vent mounts rather than the sucky ones that stick to the windscreen: they put the phone in a position where it’s easy to see without obstructing your view and they’re much less likely to come loose when you’re cornering and send your phone crashing into the footwell.
Belkin is well renowned for its accessories and the Belkin Car Vent Mount is our pick for the best car phone holder right now. It simply slips onto one of your heater vents (remember to turn the airflow to that vent off if your car heating is running) and then holds your phone securely in its rubberised grips.
The vent mount rotates 180 degrees so you can use your phone in portrait or landscape mode and there’s cable holder on the back to help keep the charging cable neatly connected. Speaking of cables, this mount doesn’t come with one, so if you haven’t got a spare one lying about you’ll need to buy one separately. Belkin says the mount will hold phones that are up to 5.5" and that it will accommodate most cases up to 3mm thick.
2. Belkin BoostCharge MagSafe Wireless Car Charger
The best car mount for iPhone users
Specifications
Best for: iPhone users
Attachement: Air vent
Compatible with: iPhone 12 and newer
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ MagSafe convenience Strong vent grip USB-C cable and 12V adaptor included
Reasons to avoid
- iPhone 12 onwards only Limited charging speed
If your car doesn’t haveCarPlayand you want a safe and convenient way to use your iPhone for navigation, we think the Belkin Magnetic Wireless Car Charger gets a lot right. It is small, discrete and takes up very little space while offering an incredibly convenient way to charge your iPhone and use it for navigation. The vent mount is a near-universal standard among most vehicles, and the included USB-C to USB-A cable, plus a 12V adapter, gives two options for plugging it in right out of the box.
We were pleased with how securely the mount held our iPhone, and the screw lock ensures the adjustable joint stays firmly in place too. Owners of smaller cars might have limited options when it comes to positioning their iPhones, especially if they want it in portrait, as it can block access to infotainment or climate controls. But for everyone else, this mount is a great way to conveniently charge an iPhone while driving.
Read our full Belkin BoostCharge MagSafe Wireless Car Charger review
3. Kenu Airframe Qi Wireless Charging Car Vent Mount
Support your phone and recharge wirelessly
Specifications
Best for: Charging
Attachment: Air vent clip
Compatible with: Both
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Qi compatibility Slim and well made Dual QC 3.0 adapter
Reasons to avoid
- Not all phones are wireless charging
How about a mount which holds your phone and charges it? This sleek option from Kenu is just the ticket, with 10W Qi wireless charging built in, saving you from having to mess around with unsightly cables. It's a really neat option, that will leave your car's cabin looking tidier.
It clamps onto an air vent (a window mount is also available) and can be adjusted with a swivel joint. A dual QuickCharge 3.0 adapter is also included in the box, so you'll be able to charge a second device as well.
4. Logitech ZeroTouch
A voice assisted car phone mount for hands free navigation
Specifications
Best for: Hands free control
Attachment: Air vent clip
Compatible with: Android
Adjustable: No
Reasons to buy
+ Compatible with Alexa No touching required
Reasons to avoid
- Need to download the app
This car phone mount isn’t anything special in terms of the cradle itself, but what this phone mount does do is allow for total hands free control. The corresponding app allows you to control your phone completely via voice control and it is even compatible with Alexa so she can play you music, make calls, send texts and route your GPS for you. There is no adjustment features on this mount, but the air vent clip is sturdy and allows your phone to be at the perfect angle for viewing.
Make sure you check our Logitech discount codes to snap up a deal.
5. Exshow Car Mount
A flexible windscreen mount that won’t obstruct your view
Specifications
Best for: Flexibility
Attachment: Suction pad
Compatible with: Screens up to 6 inch
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ 360 degree adjustment Extra suction for stability
Reasons to avoid
- Tends to wobble a little
This extra-long car phone mount is perfect for getting your phone in the prime position for viewing without obstructing your view of the road. The doubled-up suction pad means it sticks to the windscreen with ease, however its length means it does tend to wobble a little on uneven surfaces.
You’ll also get 360 degree ball adjustment which will allow you to find the perfect position and orientation of your screen, holding any smartphone up to 6 inches. Overall, users found this to be a simple yet effective car phone mount.
6. Yosh Magnetic Car Mount
A simple yet effective design for easily mounting your phone
Specifications
Best for: Design
Attachment: Air vent clip
Compatible with: All smartphones
Adjustable: No
Reasons to buy
+ Magnetic attachment Can hold a tablet
Reasons to avoid
- Requires you to stick a sticker on the back of your phone
If you don’t want something too fiddly and cumbersome, then this simple magnetic air vent mount is the ideal choice. Users love how sturdy the clip to the vent is, and how you can simply place your phone in any position you like on the mount.
This little device may not look like much, but it can even hold your tablet and is said to stay put even when driving on uneven terrain. You do have to stick a magnetic sticker to the back of your phone in order for it to work, which can be a little unsightly if you have a pretty cover or coloured case. However, for a cheap yet reliable car phone mount, you can expect good things from this one.
7. Arteck Car Mount
Mount anywhere for easy access
Specifications
Best for: Multifunctional
Attachment: Sticky pad
Compatible with: All smartphones
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Not too cumbersome Holds even the bigger smartphones
Reasons to avoid
- Requires some moisture to stick well
If sticking a car phone mount of your windscreen is a little bit of a stretch, then this sticky pad is a great option for attaching your phone to your dashboard. Buyers found this car phone mount to be very adjustable, allowing you to position your phone either horizontally or vertically, and found it to be surprisingly sturdy even for larger handsets.
Some had trouble initially sticking this mount to their dashboard, but found a little bit of water helps it grip nicely. Overall customers recommend this product as sturdy and customisable mount for all smartphone devices.
8. Wuteku Car Phone Holder
A simple yet adjustable magnetic phone mount for your dashboard
Specifications
Best for: The perfect angle
Attachment: Sticky pad
Compatible with: All smartphones
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Magnetic grip Discreet magnetic phone disc
Reasons to avoid
- Sticky pad not the best
Here we have another great magnetic car phone mount, but this time you can hide the magnetic disc underneath your phone’s case discreetly so it won’t ruin the aesthetics of your phone.
Owners found this small mount to hold even larger phones very well, but some had trouble with the sticky pad staying put on their dashboard. However, those with a standard smartphone can expect this mount to provide a great deal of flexibility with minimal effort.
9. Mpow Grip Pro 2
This mount slots into your CD player for a secure hold
Specifications
Best for: Anti-slip
Attachment: CD insert
Compatible with: Screens up to 3.5 inches
Adjustable: Yes
Reasons to buy
+ Can still play CDs Solid and sturdy
Reasons to avoid
- Can obstruct view in portrait position
If you’re not convinced by the sticky pads or suction clips, then this car phone mount is a sturdy and solid alternative. This device is secured by being inserted into your CD slot which minimises movement and eliminates the risk of slippage.
It is fully adjustable via swivel and tilt, although users with bigger screens have said that in a portrait position it can obstruct their view. You can also still play CDs with this phone mount in place, but you will have to remove it in order to change CDs.
10. Syncwire Magnetic Car Phone Holder
A compact, tilting and rotating phone holder
Reasons to buy
+ Compact aluminium design Tilting and rotating options Works with any phone
Reasons to avoid
- Requires sticking a magnetic pad to your phone (or putting it inside a case) Might not fit to all types of air vent
This magnetic phone holder by Syncwire features a tough aluminium design and can be tilted and rotated to help you find the perfect position for your phone. The mount clips to most dashboard air vents and comes with a pair of magnetic plates (one circular and one square) for sticking to the back of your phone.
This type of magnetic mount is designed to work with any phone, but the metal plate can cause the phone's wireless charging feature to stop working. To get around this you can stick the plate to the back of a phone case, then remove that while charging wirelessly.
How we test the best car phone holders
We spend a lot of time reviewing the best car phone holders, so when it comes to recommending what mounts to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we'll recommend the best options for you.
We'll usually spend a week or longer testing new phone mounts, and the review process is fairly straightforward – we use them to mount our phones in the car! This helps us see how robust the holder is and how well it actually works. We'll also test how easy it is to put the phone in and take the phone out again.
We test these phone holders in the real world environment, and, when possible, use them with different phones.
Once the initial review period is complete we'll publish a full review, give the car phone holder a star rating, and add an abridged review to this guide.
CATEGORIES
Auto