The Best Phone and Camera Gimbals for 2025

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Mirrorless cameras and smartphones are incredibly capable devices for making movies, but even built-in stabilization systems can quite get you the Steadicam look. Instead, you need a powered gimbal that uses brushless motors to keep your camera smooth and steady for POV shots or walk-and-talk vlogs. Most consumer models support one-handed operation, too, so you don't need a full film crew to take advantage of the tech. We've been covering this space for several years now, so you can be sure that our recommendations work effectively and reliably. Our current slate of Editors' Choice winners includes the intuitive Insta360 Flow for smartphones and the advanced DJI RS 4 for mirrorless cameras, but our other picks are still worth exploring depending on your needs and gear.

Gimbals Offer Powered Stabilization

For static shots, you can get stable recordings with something as simple as a sturdy set of tripod legs, typically with a fluid head for smooth pans and camera movements. If you want to move during a shot, you can opt for a video monopod or, for rock-solid footage, a powered gimbal.

Gimbals balance your camera using brushless motors to keep it in place with smooth motion and no additional noise. They require some setup—you need to make sure your camera is properly centered and balanced for the best results. There's a learning curve, but with some practice, you should be able to set up your kit in about 15 minutes.

Once everything is up and running, a gimbal delivers perfectly smooth footage, like you get from a Steadicam on a Hollywood set or from a drone. The cameras on consumer drones use the same type of brushless motors to keep the image steady. Basic gimbals provide stabilization, typically along three axes, as well as motorized camera movement via joystick control.

Advanced models include USB camera control, wireless video transmission, motor and gear systems to drive manual focus lenses, and mounting points for accessories. Motion-lapse, 360-degree rolls, and low-angle operating modes are step-up features. Most include Bluetooth and a smartphone control app but also allow operation independent of a phone.

Smaller gimbals embed the battery in the handle. Run times can be long enough for all-day use, and USB charging is a standard feature. Just keep in mind that when those batteries stop holding a charge, you have to replace the whole unit. Some models opt for swappable batteries instead.

How to Choose the Right Gimbal

Camera gimbals come in different sizes, so make sure to pick one that can handle your setup.

A gimbal that's too small to support your camera will deliver poor results because its motors will struggle to keep balance. Most gimbals have a payload rating that you should pay attention to, especially if you use an interchangeable lens camera. Take a look at the entire weight (and size) of your kit and pick one that's close. You are likely to end up with a gimbal that can handle more weight than you need.

Price scales along with the amount of support—a gimbal for a smartphone or GoPro costs a lot less than one for a full-frame camera. Depending on your kit, expect to spend anywhere between $100 and $1,000 to start.

You should also be realistic about what kind of lenses you can use with a gimbal. Most will reach for wide angles, but standard and short telephoto lenses are usable as well. I recommend keeping things at 85mm or wider. Wildlife photographers use gimbal tripod heads for extreme telephoto lenses, but despite sharing a name, gimbals for wildlife photography and gimbals for video cameras are very different things.

We included picks for everything from smartphones to full-frame mirrorless systems below, organized by camera type. We haven't reviewed every gimbal on here, but make sure to check out the links to the full reviews for those we have.