If you don’t have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in your vehicle, you’ll use your smartphone for directions and listening to music. A car phone mount can ensure your device is in an easy-to-see place so you can use it while driving.

What to Look For in a Car Phone Mount in 2024

While all car phone mounts solve the problem of propping up your phone for easy access while driving, they achieve this in different ways. Some use suction cups or adhesive tabs to attach to dashboards or windshields. Others have clips that grip onto air vents. A few are even designed to sit in cup holders.

Your choice will depend on several factors, such as how close you want your device to be, your cabin’s topography and material finish, and your state laws. That’s right—some states have laws specifying where you can attach devices, especially when windshield mounted. Make sure to check in with your local laws before picking a car mount!

Besides the surfaces to which they are attached, car mounts also vary in how they hold onto your phone. They could be magnetic, use spring-loaded arms, or even be MagSafe-compatible for iPhone 14 and 15.

Spring-loaded clamps are the sturdiest and can handle almost any phone, but they’re relatively more difficult to operate—we’ve made sure to choose the easiest options, though.

Meanwhile, using a magnetic mount is as easy as slapping your phone onto it and taking it off when done. However, they require you to attach a metal plate to the back of your phone or phone case, which isn’t always pleasing to look at.

Another factor to consider when choosing a phone mount is wireless charging. You can get mounts with built-in Qi wireless support that get power from your vehicle’s DC port, so you don’t have to plug in your phone each time you enter the car.

Most of the charging options are compatible with Android devices and iPhones, usually maxing out at 10W for the former and 7.5W for the latter. These charging speeds provide an excellent outlet to keep your phone juiced up on the move.

Lastly, it’s worth considering the maximum phone size a mount can hold to prevent your phone from falling off when you hit those pesky bumps. Smaller mounts with magnetic designs or MagSafe support tend to struggle with larger phones, while larger spring-loaded mounts generally do just fine. With a spring arm, check the maximum extension width to ensure it’s enough to hold your phone. And whatever you do, don’t forget to factor in the size and weight of your phone case if you use one.

Best Vent Car Phone Mount: Kenu Airframe Pro

The Kenu Airframe Pro is our choice for a mount you can use with your vents. It has a clip that securely attaches to AC vent slats with different orientations—horizontal, vertical, or angled. You press the buttons on either side of the frame to open the pinchers and then slip them over the vent slat.

The clips are made of metal but are covered in a rubberized material to ensure they firmly grasp the vents without scratching them. However, there are reports that the rubber covering tends to wear out with time, exposing the metal part. This doesn’t seem to happen with all units, though, so as long as you check the mount occasionally, the AirFrame Pro should be fine.

To keep your phone in place, it uses a spring-loaded expandable jaw sturdy enough to hold even the largest devices on the market. There’s no need to worry about your phone slipping out of place here! The ease of use makes the Kenu Airframe Pro stand out from most other options with the same design, as you can attach your phone to the mount with one hand.

Meanwhile, the mount can adjust in two planes: a 360-degree rotation that allows you to place your phone in portrait or landscape mode and an approximately 45-degree tilt to the back or sides.

Best Vent Car Phone Mount

Kenu Airframe Pro

A solid car phone mount that works well with most vents and is sturdy enough to hold very large phones. Despite the tension-arm design, it’s also relatively easy to operate.

$30 at Amazon

Best Dashboard Car Phone Mount: Scosche MagicMount

If you want a car mount that’ll sit on your dashboard, you’ll want to grab the Scosche MagicMount. The small base uses an adhesive pad to attach to your dash. But despite its size, the bond is strong enough to keep the mount firm on smooth horizontal or vertical surfaces. Plus, the small footprint means that it can fit in many less practical locations—nooks, crannies, or crevices—making it more versatile than a suction cup.

The MagicMount uses a magnet to secure your phone, although you’ll have to slap a metal sheet on the back of your device. However, if you can look past that, the setup is even more adjustable than the Kenu Airframe Pro, thanks to its ball-and-socket design. You can see your phone perfectly whether you mount it on a sloping or vertical surface.

Unfortunately, as versatile as the MagicMount is, the adhesive pad is not great on textured surfaces. Also, you can’t move it to a new location on your dash without getting a new pad. The latter is true for most adhesive products like the MagicMunt, but it’s something to keep in mind if you need to remove the mount from its spot.

Best Dashboard Car Phone Mount

Scosche MagicMount

$13 $14 Save $1

An excellent dashboard mount that fits in unusual locations with an adhesive pad that’s easy to install. It also uses a simple magnetic design to hold the phone in place and is the cheapest option on this list.

$13 at Amazon

Best Windshield Car Phone Mount: iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Mount

If you’re looking for a car phone mount to attach to your windshield, the iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Mount fits the bill. So long as it doesn’t go against the laws of your state, you’ll quickly find that this model perfectly combines convenience, phone security, and flexibility. It attaches to your windshield with a powerful suction base that’s easy to set up and doesn’t lose grip over time.

The iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Mount can support many phone sizes, keeping them firm and steady. It uses a ball joint that allows you to rotate your phone 360 degrees between portrait and landscape orientations. It may not be as flexible as the MagicMount, but for many users, the iTap 2 will get the job done.

It’s important to note, though, that the iTap 2 is magnetic and requires you to attach a small metal plate to the back of your phone. The small size means it shouldn’t bother you too much—if it does, you can try fitting it inside a thin phone case.

Best Windshield Car Phone Mount

iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Mount

$19 $25 Save $6

A great car phone mount that fits snuggly on your windshield, holds your phone securely, and rotates in many directions.

$19 at AmazonSee at bestbuySee at Target

Best Cup Holder Car Phone Mount: TOPGO Cup Holder Phone Mount

The TOPGO Cup Holder Phone Mount is our pick for the best car phone mount for cup holders. Its impressive design uses a base with three clamps that can be adjusted to fit the width of just about any cup holder. Plus, the base is tall, providing enough traction to support the rest of the structure even with your phone on it.

The product can handle many smartphones with its adjustable arms spanning approximately three and a half inches. With a one-key release system for controlling the arms that grip your phone, it’s easy to get your phone in and out of the mount whenever needed, even with one hand.

Once in position, your device can rotate 360 degrees thanks to the motorized gooseneck. The neck is long enough to keep your phone at a reasonably high level, so it’s easy to see, even if your cup holder is positioned low. However, if you have your car holders in an unusual spot, the mount might be difficult to use, so make reasonably sure the mount works with your car’s layout before buying.

Best Cup Holder Car Phone Mount

TOPGO Cup Holder Phone Mount

$26 $28 Save $2

Impressive design with cup holder clamps that deliver a snug fit regardless of the compartment’s size. It’s convenient, featuring a one-key release system that lets you attach and remove your phone whenever.

$26 at Amazon

Best Car Phone Mount Charger: iOttie Wireless Car Charger

All the options on this list are excellent for holding your phone in a particular location or position, but you still need to plug it in to avoid draining your battery. However, the iOttie Wireless Car Charger combines a mount and a wireless charger for your Qi-compatible phone to give you the best of both worlds.

As far as charging your phone goes, the iOttie Wireless Car Charger can deliver up to 10W of power to supported Android devices and 7.5W for iPhones. The holder itself is versatile and available in multiple styles—dash, windshield, vent, or CD-slot mounts—so you pick this up no matter where you need to place the mount. Whichever you get, you can rest assured that it’ll be sturdy and easily adjustable.

For keeping your phone in place, iOttie has gone for a telescopic arm. The design features adjustable appendages that securely grasp your phone on either side. But for added firmness, the wireless charger also incorporates a two-prong base that can be pulled lower to accommodate taller devices.

Despite that, the iOttie Wireless Car Charger cannot support all phone types. If you have a phone on the larger side, make sure the clamp can hold it before you purchase this mount!

Best Car Phone Mount Charger

iOttie Universal Car Mount

Up to 10W wireless charging for Android devices and 7.5W for iPhones on a sturdy design. It’s available as a dash, windshield, vent, or CD-slot mount for variety.

$23 at Amazon

Best MagSafe Car Phone Mount: iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Charging Car Mount

Take what iOttie did best with their Universal Car Mount, but add MagSafe compatibility and you should have a good idea of what the iOttie Velox is all about. That also includes support for MagSafe-compatible cases, even if you’re still stuck with the iPhone 12.

As for the hold, the iOttie Velox uses a strong magnet, as opposed to suction, which the Universal Car Mount uses. It’s still just as easy, if not easier, to remove your smartphone from the car holder. And since it’s a magnet, it won’t lose any grip strength if the holder collects a bit of dust.

To keep the holder in place, the iOttie Velox uses silicone prongs, which aren’t just strong. The silicone material also means you won’t have to worry about damaging your car. Even the surface of the holder is silicone, so it won’t scratch your phone or case, either.

As if the iOttie Velox couldn’t get any better, it tops the cake with wireless charging. Now, it’s just 7.5W of power, but that’s still plenty to keep your device charged in case of emergencies and whenever you need GPS. If you need a little more power, a USB-C charger is included that connects to your cigarette outlet.

Best MagSafe Car Phone Mount

iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Charging Car Mount

$45 $50 Save $5

Not only does the iOttie Velox keep your phone nice and secure with a strong magnet, you can still go on using a case, so long as it’s MagSafe-compatible. It even provides 7.5W of wireless charging, as well as a USB-C adapter for your car’s power outlet.

$45 at AmazonSee at Best BuySee at Target

FAQ

Do vent car phone mounts damage air vent fins?

Some vent phone mounts can damage the air vents; however, these are usually mounts of poor build quality. Most vent car phone mounts will use rubber or other materials to make sure it will not damage the vents.

Will my phone case prevent my mount from working properly?

Generally not. The only time a phone case will interfere with a mount is if you’re using a magnetic mount and the magnet is not strong enough to hold through the case.

Do windshield car phone mounts leave residue on windshields?

If you’re using a windshield car phone mount with adhesive, it can sometimes leave residue on the window. If it uses a suction cup, it should not leave any residue.

Do suction-based car phone mounts work in very hot or very cold weather?

Suction-based phone mounts work fine in very hot weather. However, they do have difficulties staying stuck onto windows in very cold weather, as the rubber is less flexible and makes for a less effective seal.

Will a vent car phone mount overheat my phone with the heat on during winter?

It can! If you’re using a vent phone mount, make sure the vent the mount is attached to isn’t blowing hot air directly onto your phone.

Can I use a magnetic car phone mount without a case?

Most magnets that come with magnetic car phone mounts have an adhesive that you use to attach it to the back of your phone. If you don’t mind the magnet being visible on the back of your device, you can use this type of phone mount without a case.

Will bumpy roads cause my phone to move or fall from the mount?

Any car phone mount of decent build quality will be able to hold your phone even on bumpy roads.