We all take selfies, but holding your phone or camera at arm's length to include yourself in the shot rarely gives a flattering image, with the combination of a wide-angle view and shooting up close exaggerating facial features, not to mention forcing an awkward pose with an outstretched arm. A selfie stick enables you to shoot yourself from a much more natural distance and is great for including yourself in group shots, as well as shooting from up high for an aerial view or to clear lofty obstacles.
Even if you're not much of a selfie-taker, a selfie stick can still be useful; I stopped thinking of them as 'selfie sticks' and more as multi-purpose camera support devices (not as catchy, it’s true). Yeah, they are a way to take Instagram-worthy selfies that don’t include arms at weird and unnatural angles or take a view straight up noses, but with many models including features such as tripod feet, they are versatile photographic tools that can help alleviate shake in long exposures, without having to resort to a dedicated tripod.
Many selfie sticks come with a Bluetooth remote control, which enables the shutter to be fired remotely. The obvious use is for taking self-portraits without having to resort to a self-timer, but I found it equally useful for capturing stills or video footage when I didn’t want to jog my device, such as when taking carefully framed macro or long-exposure images. Some even offer built-in device charging, so you can do away with packing a power bank if you're looking to cut down on weight when out on your travels.
Some of the selfie sticks I tried were only suitable for smartphones, and some were device-specific (such as for a GoPro or Insta360), but others came with attachments for all kinds of cameras. So investing in one of the best selfie sticks not only enables you to take excellent pictures and videos in comfort but can open up a whole new world of photographic possibilities.
The best selfie sticks will come with Bluetooth control and extend to a decent length while packing away small enough to fit in a rucksack. With so many selfie stick options on the market, we’re here to help you find the best one for your needs and budget while avoiding the cheap and nasty examples.
Note that we also have guides for the best smartphone gimbals for shooting stable video, best tripods and best monopods, which may be more suitable for your needs. But here are the best selfie sticks you can buy right now...
Top picks
Strong and stable
With the option of opening tripod legs and a sturdy feel, this is a good choice that can handle a lot of cameras types – even a decent vlogging camera.
Read more below
Light and simple
Supplied with detachable tripod feet and not short of accessories included in the box, this is a handy and lightweight travel companion, but there's no Bluetooth remote.
Read more below
Powerful stabilizing tool
The ability to extend like a selfie stick is but a footnote in this phone gimbal's extensive feature list, which can really up your video game.
Read more below
The best selfie sticks
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Best overall
My first thought on unpacking the Andoer selfie stick was how much it resembles a monopod. Indeed, the mechanism to unlock the stick sections and enable its extension is the same as that found on many tripods and monopods. Fully collapsed and without any of the device-securing attachments screwed onto it, it measures a sizeable 16.5 inches (42 cm), which means it isn’t ideal for slipping into a casual shoulder bag but it will sit comfortably in a backpack. Fully extended, it reaches a whopping 59 inches (150cm), which gives incredible range. Given that it’s almost as tall as me when it’s at maximum extension, I don’t think it’s too heavy. The Bluetooth controller connected to my phone without any hitches and was straightforward to use.
Although there is a camera screw mount via the tripod socket, I would be reluctant to attach my DSLR to it as I’d be wary of waving around something so heavy. I'd happily attach a smaller, more compact model (such as a vlogging camera), and there are attachments for an included smartphone holder and an action cam. It also comes with detachable tripod feet for stable shooting but this isn’t as neat a solution as those with integrated supports.
It might not be the most compact or lightest selfie stick, but it offers a great deal of versatility for a very reasonable price.
Simple selfie stick
At roughly 12 inches (30cm) when collapsed (without any attachments), the Smatree SmaPole Q3 is a small, lightweight selfie stick. It extends to around 36 inches (91cm) with a twist-lock mechanism, which I found quite stiff to unlock, but I got there eventually.
The SmaPole Q3 comes with a ball head already attached, and you can secure a variety of devices to it with the included attachments. I found it straightforward to attach my compact camera straight to the selfie stick; there’s also an action cam attachment for a GoPro or the best GoPro alternatives. However, the provided smartphone holder uses a spring clip to secure a phone, which I didn’t find as secure as the screw mechanism used in the Andoer selfie stick, but it did do the job.
I found the tripod attachment, which comes separately, was pretty heavy. But it screwed into the base of the selfie stick easily to give me a functional portable tripod. However, as there’s no Bluetooth controller included with Smatree Smapole Q3, it’s not quite so useful for hands-free shooting.
Extending stabilizer
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 (OM6) is an all-in-one smartphone stabilizer and a selfie stick. It automatically stabilizes the phone, reducing camera shake in both stills and video, and the head twists, turns and rotates through all three axes to track subjects automatically. While the 215mm (8in) extension cannot match the lengths that dedicated selfie sticks go to, it nevertheless enables selfies to be shot from a decent distance.
DJI has steadily improved the Osmo Mobile line over several iterations, and this has a more 'pro' look and feel compared to the Osmo Mobile 5 that came before it. The OM6 introduces an analog control, which offers a great deal more subtlety in adjusting the movement of the head to which the phone is attached. The phone sits in a cradle that attaches to the body of the device via a magnet (so you can easily pull your phone off to use it), but is plenty strong enough to support the weight of a phone and is a lot more convincing in reality than you might imagine!
The OM6 doesn't take up much more space in a bag than a regular selfie stick (it’s positively svelte compared to earlier-generation Osmo models), but opens up a whole world of creative possibilities. Posts will be immeasurably improved, with silky smooth panning when used as a mini tripod. While it clearly costs a lot more than a simple selfie stick, it's an intriguing alternative if you have the budget, or its predecessor, the OM5, is noticeably cheaper.
Read more: DJI OM6 review (and check the DJI OM5 review too)
Vlogging gimbal
The Insta360 Flow is a compact, folding gimbal that, like the DJI OM6, extends by 215mm (8.5in), offering selfie stick functionality (albeit a little limited in length) with the bonus of stabilization and AI subject tracking technology, which is very impressive, locking onto subjects with unerring accuracy.
It is quick to set up, but there are a couple of drawbacks to bear in mind; the vertical support can interfere with the tilt axis range, limiting its flexibility, and the integrated tripod legs are not very robust.
What sets the Insta360 Flow apart from other gimbals is its thoughtful design for smartphone videographers; it has a cold shoe mount, to which you can attach external microphones, and there's plenty of space to attach a cable to your phone, for enhanced audio recording capabilities.
It offers similar functionality and selfie stick extension length as the DJI OM6, but all things considered, I'd choose the DJI over this, as it has better range and feels like a more sturdy device.
Read more: Insta360 Flow review
Compact selfie stick
I was impressed with the Atumek 3-in-1 selfie stick from the moment I took my very first look at it. It is compact and lightweight, and there are no fiddly attachments to lose. The smartphone holder appears at the top of the selfie stick as you extend it and the tripod feet are integrated too, folding out from the base.
It was a doddle to connect the Bluetooth controller to my phone and the controller clips neatly into the body of the selfie stick when it’s not in use. Again, this makes it harder to misplace. A micro USB cable is included, to recharge the controller's built-in battery.
At a smidgeon under 81cm (32in) when fully extended, the Atumek 3-in-1 isn't the longest of the selfie sticks I tested, and it is suitable for smartphones only. But if you're looking for a smartphone selfie stick-come-tripod, its range is long enough, and at just under 20cm (8in) when collapsed and a lightweight 170g, it’s highly portable. If you don’t need to attach devices other than a smartphone, I think the Atumek 3-in-1 is hard to beat.
Longest selfie stick
If you're after a selfie stick that doubles up as a tripod, includes a remote and has an enormous reach, the Yoto Phone Stand and Selfie Stick has it all. Admittedly it doesn't pack up quite as small as other options on offer but the fact it extends to 176cm kind of makes up for it.
The wireless remote control enables you to effortlessly trigger the shutter to record videos, take selfies, or start a live stream. It also comes with a 360-degree ball head for easy shooting and a range of alternative mounts, depending on whether you want to shoot with a phone, a GoPro, or a camera.
Best selfie sticks for GoPros
The GoPro 3-Way 2.0 is more than just a simple selfie stick; its arm folds out in an arc rather than collapsing straight down, meaning that it’s possible to arrange your GoPro at such an angle that you can capture your selfie without getting the shaft of the arm in the shot, even with the wide-angle lens characteristic to GoPro Hero cameras.
An Integrated ball joint enables to you swivel your camera through 360° without having to reposition the mount. It also functions as a simple handheld grip and as a static tripod.
If you don’t mind spending a little more, this waterproof arm is one of the best accessories to augment your shooting with the best GoPro cameras. The original GoPro 3-Way is still available at a discount, though this model doesn't have the ball joint, which makes it a little less flexibile.
Best selfie sticks for 360º cameras
Using a selfie stick might, in theory, seem like a good idea when shooting with a 360º camera but in practice you risk getting it in the shot. For this reason, the Insta360 Invisible Selfie Stick is a great choice if you plan on primarily using a selfie stick with a 360º camera rather than a phone.
Algorithms on compatible cameras are set to automatically detect the stick and digitally remove it from the shot, meaning it won't spoil your panoramic photos or videos. It is designed to be used across the range of Insta360 cameras, which are among the best 360 cameras available, and screwed straight into my Insta360 X3's tripod thread.
I've used this stick a lot, and you can see the results in a story I wrote about how the Insta360 X3 affected my vacation – most of the time I was shooting using the Invisible Selfie Stick. The stick is strong but narrow enough for the replaced areas to be seamlessly removed, and it works better than I'd imagined.
How we test
We test products by using them for their intended purpose, it's as simple as that. With selfie sticks, that has meant trying them to shoot selfie photos and videos, both solo and in groups, as well as testing functions such as the rigidity of tripod feet. For some of the more sophisticated products – such as the extending gimbals – we have gone into more depth, and have provided links to our full reviews of the products.
See also
Best gimbals for iPhones and smartphones
Best gimbals for GoPros
The best iPhone tripods and supports
The best mini tripods
Best invisible selfie sticks
