Holding your phone during a long video call is one of those things you do once and immediately regret. Your arm gets tired, the camera drifts, and the other person spends half the conversation staring at your ceiling. A tripod solves all of that in about ten seconds.
The harder question is which type of tripod actually fits your life. Flexible tripods, full-size stands, and pocket-sized options each have a different use case, and buying the wrong one means it ends up in a drawer. This guide breaks down the best options in each category so you can pick the right one and actually use it.
A good tripod does more than just hold your phone upright. It stabilizes your shots, frees both hands, and removes the shake that even optical stabilization can’t fully eliminate. Whether you’re recording YouTube content, doing Zoom calls from home, or traveling light, there’s an option here that fits.
Best Smartphone Tripod Mounts: Quick Comparison
| Mount | Type | Best For | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkon Flexible Tripod | Flexible | All-around use | Wraps around poles, fences, railings |
| Sensyne 62″ Tripod | Full-size | Video calls, content creation | Adjustable height up to 62 inches |
| Joby GorillaPod 1K | Flexible (premium) | Heavy use, camera gear | Best-in-class build quality |
| Kenu Stance+ | Pocket / MagSafe | Travel, everyday carry | 10-in-1 with MagSafe, fits in a pocket |
Tripods cover desk and tabletop use. For hands-free navigation while driving, check out our guides on the best MagSafe car mounts, vent mounts, and cup holder mounts.
What Type of Phone Tripod Do You Actually Need?
Before buying anything, it helps to know what you’re actually going to use it for. There are three distinct categories here, and they serve different purposes.
Flexible tripods have bendable legs that let you mount to uneven surfaces, wrap around poles or railings, or prop up on a corner where a standard tripod would tip over. They’re lighter, cheaper, and more adaptable than any other type. If you want one tripod that works in multiple situations, a flexible mount is almost always the right answer.
Full-size standing tripods prioritize stability and height adjustment. If you’re doing long video calls at your desk, recording tutorials or YouTube content, or streaming from a fixed position, a proper floor-standing tripod gives you a consistent, hands-free setup that doesn’t require any creative positioning. The tradeoff is size: these don’t travel well.
Pocket tripods sacrifice adjustability for portability. The best ones fold down to the size of a keychain or a small accessory case. They’re ideal for travel, airplanes, coffee shops, or anywhere you want the option of a stable shot without packing extra gear.
Best Smartphone Tripod Mounts
Best Overall: Arkon Flexible Tripod
Arkon has been making mounts since 1988, and their flexible tripod is the easiest recommendation for most people. The 11-inch bendable legs can wrap around fence posts, tree branches, railings, and poles, or simply sit flat on any surface as a conventional tripod. The spring-loaded holder fits phones up to 8 inches and keeps ports and side buttons unobstructed, which matters if you need to charge or adjust volume while recording.
What sets Arkon apart from cheaper flexible tripods is the build. The reinforced composite construction doesn’t lose tension over time the way bargain-bin octopus tripods do. After a few months of use, the cheaper versions go floppy and won’t hold position. Arkon holds its shape.
This is the most versatile choice in the category and the one to pick if you want a single tripod for home use, outdoor shoots, desk calls, and anything in between. It also includes a standard 1/4-inch mount for small digital cameras.
Best for Video Calls and Content Creation: Sensyne 62″ Phone Tripod
When you need proper height and stability, a full-size standing tripod is the right tool. The Sensyne 62-inch extends to just over five feet, which puts your phone camera at natural eye level whether you’re seated at a desk or standing for a presentation. It collapses into a selfie-stick form factor for easier storage and includes a wireless Bluetooth remote shutter so you can trigger shots without touching the phone.
The universal phone holder fits devices between 2.8 and 5.7 inches wide, and the 1/4-inch screw mount means you can swap in an action camera or webcam if needed. 360-degree rotation covers both landscape and portrait shooting.
This is the right choice for anyone who does regular video calls, records tutorials or unboxing content, or needs a repeatable, stable setup in the same location. It won’t fit in a bag, but it handles the situations where flexibility doesn’t matter as much as height and rigidity.
Best Premium Flexible Pick: Joby GorillaPod 1K
Joby invented the flexible tripod category, and the GorillaPod remains the benchmark that everything else gets compared against. The 1K version supports up to 2.2 pounds, which covers any smartphone and most compact cameras. The ball-and-socket joints use TPE grip pads that hold position firmly without needing to be tightened or locked, and the rubberized feet grip virtually any surface, including wet rocks, rounded railings, and rough concrete.
The difference between a GorillaPod and a cheap flexible tripod becomes obvious the first time you put them side by side. The cheaper option flexes in all directions, including the ones you don’t want. The GorillaPod bends exactly where you point it and stays there. The removable ballhead adds an extra axis of adjustment that the Arkon doesn’t have.
If you’re a serious content creator, a photographer who wants a compact travel option, or someone who’s already burned through two cheaper flexible tripods and wants one that lasts, this is the one to buy.
Best for Travel: Kenu Stance+
The Stance+ is one of those products that sounds gimmicky until you actually use it. It’s a 10-in-1 MagSafe gadget that functions as a tripod stand, car vent mount, dashboard mount, CD slot mount, finger grip, airplane tray mount, selfie stick, and a few other things depending on how you configure it. The whole thing folds down to pocket size and ships free worldwide.
As a tripod, it props your phone at a stable viewing angle on flat or uneven surfaces. As a car mount, it snaps into your vent or onto your dashboard. On a plane, it hooks onto the tray table or brochure pocket. The MagSafe version attaches magnetically to iPhone 12 and later, and a bracket holds non-MagSafe phones as well.
This isn’t the right pick if you want a dedicated, high-stability tripod for video production. But for anyone who travels frequently and wants one small item that handles a dozen different mounting situations, the Stance+ is genuinely impressive.
Common Mistakes When Buying a Phone Tripod
Buying based on price alone. Cheap flexible tripods lose tension quickly. The legs stop holding position after a few months and the whole thing becomes frustrating to use. Spending a bit more upfront, especially on a GorillaPod, avoids that cycle.
Ignoring your actual use case. A full-size floor tripod is useless for travel. A pocket tripod doesn’t give you the height you need for desk video calls. Matching the product to how and where you’ll use it matters more than any other factor.
Not accounting for case thickness. If your phone lives in a thick case, verify that the holder stretches wide enough to accommodate it. Most do, but battery cases and extra-rugged cases can be an issue.
Assuming all flexible tripods are the same. They aren’t. The difference between a GorillaPod and a five-dollar knockoff is significant in terms of joint quality, load capacity, and long-term durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use these tripods with an Android phone?
Yes. All four options here use spring-loaded or clip-style holders that fit any phone within a given width range. None of them are Apple-only except the MagSafe snap feature on the Kenu Stance+, which still has a bracket for Android phones.
Do I need a special phone holder or does the tripod come with one?
All four picks listed here include a phone holder as part of the package. You don’t need to buy a separate clamp.
What’s the difference between a flexible tripod and a regular tripod?
A regular tripod has rigid straight legs that work on flat surfaces. A flexible tripod has bendable legs that can wrap around poles, grip uneven surfaces, or prop up at angles a rigid tripod can’t handle. Flexible is more versatile; rigid is more stable.
Can I use these for filming with a DSLR or action camera?
The Arkon flexible tripod and GorillaPod 1K both include a standard 1/4-inch camera mount, so yes. The GorillaPod 1K supports up to 2.2 pounds. The Sensyne and Kenu Stance+ are phone-focused but the Sensyne also has a 1/4-inch screw mount.
Is a 62-inch tripod tall enough for standing desk video calls?
At five feet two inches of height, the Sensyne works well for most standing setups. If you’re unusually tall or need the camera slightly above eye level, look for an 80-inch model.
Bottom Line
For most people, the Arkon flexible tripod covers every situation at a price that’s easy to justify. If you want the best flexible option available without worrying about budget, the GorillaPod 1K is worth the upgrade. For desk-based video calls and content work, the Sensyne 62-inch handles the job with proper height and stability. And if you travel a lot and want one versatile gadget instead of a dedicated tripod, the Kenu Stance+ is surprisingly capable.
If you’re also looking to mount your phone in the car, check out our guides on MagSafe car mounts and dashboard mounts for in-vehicle setups.
