This article was updated in September 2023.
Cellphones are integral to our daily lives; we use them for work, fun, and, of course, communication. They've even infiltrated our vehicles, where they provide music, maps, and hands-free messaging. Since holding a phone in your hand is far too distracting when driving (and illegal in most states), when you must use yours for navigation or selecting the right music, a car phone mount is the tool you need.
The idea of a car phone mount is simple: display necessary information while minimizing distraction. To combat the distraction factor, phone holders have been engineered to hold your phone close to your line of sight to the road.
Three main types of car phone mounts have emerged: cupholder, vent, and window/dash. All perform the same basic function in different locations that cater to your vehicle. In general, car phone mounts range from $20 to $70. The pricing seems to correlate more with the number of features than the quality of the mount. Surprisingly, one of our favorites was among the cheapest.
Our Top Picks
Best MagSafe Car Phone Mount
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless-Charging Vent Mount
Read more
Best Cupholder Phone Mount
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless-Charging Cupholder Car Mount
Read more
Best Premium Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicGrip Double-Pivot Auto-Grip
Read more
Best Car Phone Mount For Ride-Sharing
WeatherTech CupFone Two View with Hand-Sanitizer Holder
Read more
Best Budget Vent Car Phone Mount
iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Air-Vent Mount
Read more
Best Adjustable Window/Dash Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicMount Pro² Extendo
Read more
Things to Consider
Before you decide on a phone mount for your car, there are some important factors to think about.
Types of Phone Mounts
Cupholder Mounts
Cupholder mounts are practically useless unless they raise your mobile device up near your radio and HVAC controls so you can keep your eyes focused on the road. They're great for truckers, cargo vans, and some pickups, where they can provide a nearly ideal position for the phone. The only drawback is there's one less spot for that gas station slushy.
PROS:
- Great for vehicles with raised cupholders
- Ideal phone positioning and adjustability
CONS:
- Only usable in certain vehicles
- Takes up a cupholder
Vent Mounts
Vent mounts blend some attractive perks to create a cheap and useful place to secure your phone. They come in all kinds of variations, including magnets and clamp types, and they might include wireless charging. The line of sight is excellent, but you will lose out on some air-conditioned airflow.
PROS:
- Great line of sight
- Works with just about every kind of vehicle
CONS:
- Clamping, which varies greatly among designs, is sometimes inadequate
- Blocks airflow from the vent
Window/Dash Mounts
Mounts that keep your eyes on the road come in handy during tricky city driving, where the slightest distraction can cause you to miss a turn—or worse. However, the excellent line of sight to your phone comes with diminished road visibility, and any blockage increases risk.
PROS:
- Fantastic line of sight
- Flexibility to mount on windshield or dashboard
CONS:
- Impedes road visibility
- Can leave a residue ring on the windshield
- Dash mounting requires a sticky mounting plate
Choosing the right phone mount for you and your vehicle really comes down to where you want to see the display. If you have high cupholders, that style might be the easiest route. If you want to see your phone raised toward the road without mounting it on the dashboard or windshield, a vent mount is a great choice. And if you want the best line of sight to your phone, albeit with a slight knock against overall visibility, a window/dash mount would work for you.
Whatever your personal preference, remember that safety is the theme here. Our phones should be on display only for necessary things—not for scrolling Facebook or catching up on streaming. So go out there, fire up your favorite map and music apps, throw your phone on your new mount, and enjoy your next drive!
How We Tested Phone Mounts
To test phone mounts adequately, we employed five different parameters:
- Mounting strength
- Phone grip strength
- Grip adjustability
- Magnet strength (if applicable)
- Charging operation (if applicable)
These parameters were tested with simple hand tests and aggressive driving around curves to create a stressful environment for these little devices. Here are the Best Car Phone Mounts.
Best Window/Dash Car Phone Mount
Belkin Universal Car Mount
Best Window/Dash Car Phone Mount
Belkin Universal Car Mount
Pros
- Twist-to-lock suction is very easy to use
- Strong phone grip
Cons
- Side tabs open together, inserting phone requires two hands
Fantastic budget-friendly window/dash mount. The suction-cup operation is easy for attaching and removing the mount. The head telescopes for easy adjustment. However, the tabs require two-handed operation.
Suction-cup strength: Great
Phone grip: Excellent
Grip adjustability: Decent; requires two hands
Best Vent Mount
Sandmarc Active Wireless Car Mount
Best Vent Mount
Sandmarc Active Wireless Car Mount
Pros
- Excellent vent grip
- Design looks great
Cons
- Mount does not come with stick-on magnet for your phone
Top-notch vent grip with an adjustable knob, strong magnet without a case, looks sharp, braided cord. Does not come with a cigarette-lighter adapter, only a USB-C connection. You will also need a separate sticky magnet, as this lacks one in the package.
Vent grip: Excellent
Magnet strength: Great without a case; decent through a thick case (you will need a separate sticky magnet)
Charging: Charges through case
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Best MagSafe Car Phone Mount
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless-Charging Vent Mount
Best MagSafe Car Phone Mount
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless-Charging Vent Mount
Pros
- Magnet-powered security and wireless charging for MagSafe iPhones
Cons
- Only really works with MagSafe
If you have a MagSafe iPhone and/or case, this is the mount to get. The Velox also doubles as a charging pad, producing 7.5 watts of charging power via the MagSafe system.
Vent grip: Decent
Magnet strength: Good without case; decent with case
Charging: Charges through case
Best Cupholder Phone Mount
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless-Charging Cupholder Car Mount
Best Cupholder Phone Mount
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless-Charging Cupholder Car Mount
Pros
- Very easily expands in cupholder
- Automatic phone-grip function
Cons
- Needed to adjust bottom feet to align wireless charger with phone battery
Wireless charging, simple expansion in the cupholder, and automatic clamping on the phone. Excellent cup mount at an affordable price.
Cupholder grip: Excellent
Phone grip: Great
Grip adjustability: Excellent
Charging: Charges through case
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Best Premium Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicGrip Double-Pivot Auto-Grip
Best Premium Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicGrip Double-Pivot Auto-Grip
Now 57% Off
Pros
- Qi-certified wireless charging
- Automatic arms
Cons
- Pricey
The Scosche MagicGrip is a fantastic, do-it-all window/dash phone mount. With Qi-certified wireless charging, auto-sensing arms that close on their own, and an all-around good grip, it really feels like the ultimate phone mount—if you're willing to shell out some dough.
Suction grip: Good
Phone grip: Good
Grip adjustability: Great; arms close automatically
Charging: Charges through case
Best Car Phone Mount For Ride-Sharing
WeatherTech CupFone Two View with Hand-Sanitizer Holder
Best Car Phone Mount For Ride-Sharing
WeatherTech CupFone Two View with Hand-Sanitizer Holder
Pros
- Fantastic adjustability
- Comes with two bottles of Purell hand sanitizer
Cons
- Nesting cup design is tricky
Awesome choice for ride-sharing. Excellent adjustability. The nesting cup design is difficult to use. Comes with two containers of Purell hand sanitizer that fit perfectly in the slot.
Cupholder grip: Good, once you manage to separate the adapters to find the correct size
Phone grip: Great
Grip adjustability: Excellent
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Best Budget Vent Car Phone Mount
iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Air-Vent Mount
Best Budget Vent Car Phone Mount
iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Air-Vent Mount
Pros
- One-handed operation is very useful
Cons
- Vent grip could be better
If you're looking for a vent phone mount on a budget, we liked this option from iOttie for the price. We really liked the one-handed operation for opening and closing the arms, but the grip on the vent left something to be desired.
Vent grip: Poor
Phone grip: Great
Grip adjustments: Excellent; easy one-handed operation
Best Adjustable Window/Dash Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicMount Pro² Extendo
Best Adjustable Window/Dash Car Phone Mount
Scosche MagicMount Pro² Extendo
Now 17% Off
Pros
- Intuitive Extendo function to bring the phone closer to you
Cons
- Magnet could be a tad stronger
We loved the Extendo function of this window mount, which really unlocks a plethora of positioning options.
Suction grip: Great
Magnet strength: Good; better with included sticky magnet
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How We Tested Phone Mounts
When testing these mounts, we measured five parameters: mounting strength, phone grip strength, grip adjustability, magnet strength (if applicable), and charging operation (if applicable). These were tested under aggressive driving on curves and simple hand tests to simulate jarring driving.
We used the base iPhone 13 and, when testing with a case, an OtterBox Commuter. During testing of magnet strength and charging operation, we tested each applicable mount with both case-on and case-off tests and noted the results.
For the magnet test in particular, none of the mounts had magnets powerful enough to hold the phone through its case. To combat this, a stick-on magnet is included with most magnetic mounts—but this adds a semi-permanent accessory to your phone case, which some folks don't necessarily want.
In short, to enjoy the strength of a magnetic phone mount fully requires removal of the case or installation of the sticky magnet.
FAQs
What type of car phone mount is best?
Depends on what kind of car phone mount you're looking for. There are mounts with magnets, clamping arms, wireless charging, and even Alexa integration. Our advice is to think about the features you'd most prefer, and search for a phone mount with them in mind.
Where is the best place to put a phone holder in your car?
Depends on the car. Cupholder mounts are super easy to use, but you need a vehicle with cupholders near the windshield—or an extender, such as on the WeatherTech. Vent mounts are great, but the phone blocks airflow from the vent it's mounted to. Window/dash mounts are an optimum choice for line of sight with the road, but they can decrease your visibility through the windshield or leave a sticky ring on your dashboard.
Do magnetic car phone mounts damage cell phones?
No. Modern chip technology is made with nonmagnetic materials, so your phone is totally safe.
Are car vent mounts safe?
Car vent mounts are safe, but phones are a distraction no matter where they are. However, you should minimize risk by positioning your vent mount near your view of the road.
How can you keep the suction cup on a phone mount from falling off?
All of the dashboard and windshield car phone mounts we tested had impressively strong suction cups. However, they won't stick well if the mounting surface is dirty or porous. Clean the inside of your windshield with glass cleaner and dry with a lint-free towel before applying.
For dashboards, either attach the suction cup to the included mounting plate—or clean and dry your dash well, and avoid placing the mount over any holes, cracks, or porous material.
Do car phone mounts damage air vents?
They can. Vent-style car phone mounts are designed to secure themselves to just about any style of air vent without causing damage. However, installing the mount incorrectly can cause issues.
When sliding a vent mount onto the fin of an air vent, push consistently and smoothly, without any jerking motions. If you need to exert an excessive amount of force to slide the mount on, try a different approach. This is one of the most common ways your car's air vents can get damaged.
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Collin Morgan
Commerce Editor
Collin Morgan is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where the former Rust Belt mechanic and gadget enthusiast presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors.
