We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products The 12 Best Phone Purses of 2024 Options with phone compartments and at least three card slots are ideal. By Nneya Richards Nneya Richards Nneya Richards is a New York City-based fashion and travel writer and public speaker. She is a frequent contributor to publications including Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, and PopSugar, and has been featured on Forbes, CBS News, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on January 17, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Tips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / Marcus Millan Let’s face it, cellphones are ubiquitous. But there’s nothing more annoying than sifting through your bag looking for your device. Luckily for all of us, phone purses have recently crossed over from being woefully practical-looking to downright stylish, with everyone from athletic brands to luxury fashion houses offering their design takes. Whereas the micro bag trend had us perplexed about where to stash our phones, these dedicated purses actually highlight the phone instead. A phone purse serves as a wallet bag with just the essentials — think credit cards, identification, and lip balm. Whether you’re traveling or needing something for running errands day to day, a phone purse is a non-cumbersome option, and we’ve rounded up the best of the best here. Our Top Picks Best Overall: J.Crew Gracie phone bag at Jcrew.com Jump to Review Best Style: Bandolier Billie Utility Crossbody With Case at Bandolierstyle.com Jump to Review Best Durable: MZ Wallace Micro Crosby Crossbody Bag at Nordstrom $145 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Ferragamo Hug Smartphone Leather Crossbody Bag at Nordstrom $654 Jump to Review Best Budget: Cooking Coll Cell Phone Purse Wallet at Amazon $19 Jump to Review Best Colors: Cotopaxi Hip Pack at Amazon $32 Jump to Review Best Oversized: Athleta Revive Modular Crossbody Bag at Gap.com Jump to Review Best With Built-in Charger: Skyborne iTravel Folio 4.0 at Skyborne.co Jump to Review Best Leather: Vanessa Bruno Lou Phone Pouch at Vanessabruno.com Jump to Review Best Organization: Anya Hindmarch Everything Pouch at Net-a-Porter $395 Jump to Review Best Overall J.Crew Gracie phone bag PHOTO: J. Crew View on Jcrew.com Why We Love It The metallic color and structural design makes this a great evening bag. What to Consider With just one slit inside and a pocket on the outside, this isn’t the best bag for organizing several cards. This sleek crossbody is an eye-catching statement bag in the tiny bag era. With enough room for just the essentials, like a large phone, lip gloss, and cards, it’s a compact and lightweight dream. The matching detachable pouch that comes with this bag is the perfect size for the little extras, like earbuds or keys. The metallic silver or gold styles of the Gracie bag really pop, making it the perfect evening bag, and you can even add a monogram for an additional $10. The Details: 7.25 x 4 x 1 inches | Leather shell, cotton lining Best Style Bandolier Billie Utility Crossbody With Case PHOTO: Bandolier View on Bandolierstyle.com Why We Love It The utilitarian style really maintains the minimalist, phone-only look. What to Consider This is fitted primarily for iPhones. The Bandolier Billie Utility bag is a showstopper. We love the ivory and gold combo that’s versatile for both the summer and winter months. The utility pockets offer three distinct pebbled leather compartments along the nylon strap and an envelope style compartment on the back. The open face attachment for your iPhone makes it perfect for use on the go, as it prevents you from needing to fish around for your phone in a compartment. Need room for extra accessories? Bandolier offers a matching stylish earbud pouch, too. Custom fitted for iPhones, you can choose your model to ensure a perfect fit — though we admit, that’s not such a great thing in terms of the inevitable upgrade. Still, this is a great stylish travel companion. The Details: 2.5 x 5 x 1 inches | Genuine pebble leather Best Durable MZ Wallace Micro Crosby Crossbody Bag PHOTO: Nordstrom $145 at Nordstrom View on Mzwallace.com $145 at Bloomingdales Why We Love It The quilted nylon is both stylish and easy to clean. What to Consider The optional chain shoulder strap is a fashionable touch, but does add a little weight to the bag. I have an MZ Wallace quilted camera bag, and it’s gone everywhere with me, including three continents and countless countries and cities. And despite having sat on airport floors and gone through airport security, the bag still looks great. While wearing this bag crossbody is the easiest option, MZ Wallace’s signature detachable chain link provides another handle option for a more stylish look. For some extra security on the go, the interior lining and three card slots are made with RFID protection, so no one can read your cards. The Details: 5 x 7 x 2 inches | Nylon, lamb leather Best Splurge Ferragamo Hug Smartphone Leather Crossbody Bag PHOTO: Nordstrom $654 at Nordstrom $1,090 at Neiman Marcus $1,090 at Bloomingdales Why We Love It It’s a luxurious, timeless shape that is a great addition to any wardrobe, smartphone or not. What to Consider It requires special care to continue looking nice. Phone purses have become so popular, almost every major luxury brand now has one in their collection. The Ferragamo Hug Smartphone Leather Crossbody revamps a classic Ferragamo shape to make it smaller (but no less elegant) for your smartphone. A magnetic closure is secured by the iconic Ferrgamo Gancio flip lock to protect three interior card slots. Paired with a trench coat and chic flats, this smartphone bag would look just as impeccable on Audrey Hepburn (Ferragamo was one of her favorite brands, after all) as it would on you. The Details: 6.7 x 5.5 x 2.6 inches | Calfskin Best Budget Cooking Coll Cell Phone Purse Wallet PHOTO: Amazon $19 at Amazon Why We Love It At such an affordable price, it’s an easy way to try out the cell phone purse style. What to Consider The zipper is a little finicky. This phone bag with a clear back for touchscreen phones comes at a great price — so if you’re not quite sure the phone purse style is for you, this is a great option to test the waters. Built to allow for easy access to your phone, this purse has two compartments and four slots to store multiple cards, a passport, and even the little extras. It’s available in a variety of color options, so you’re sure to find one that matches your outfit. The Details: 7.4 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches | PU faux leather Best Colors Cotopaxi Hip Pack PHOTO: REI $32 at Amazon $30 at REI View on Cotopaxi.com Why We Love It The fun colorways of Cotopaxi bags add whimsical style to your outfit. What to Consider It’s on the sportier side, so this look may not be for everyone. Sustainable retailer Cotopaxi is known for its fun color combinations. That said, this tiny Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L crossbody packs a lot of vibrant color into a small space. The large main compartment is perfect for storing your cell phone, while a zippered front pocket is great for stowing extra accessories. The top handle offers another convenient carrying option if not slung crossbody or worn as a belt bag. The Cotopaxi brand is geared toward travelers and the repurposed fabric is super easy to clean, so you’re sure to get plenty of use out of it. Not sure about the “surprise” aspect that allows Cotopaxi to customize the colors of this bag for you? Opt instead for the warm color drop — it’s beautiful and reminiscent of a desert sunset, plus you’ll have a better idea of what you’re receiving. The Details: 7 x 4 x 4 inches | 100 percent repurposed fabric Best Oversized Athleta Revive Modular Crossbody Bag PHOTO: Athleta View on Gap.com Why We Love It Equipped with special pouches for sunglasses and earphones in addition to ample room in the body, we love the amount of storage this bag offers. What to Consider Because it’s so spacious, it tends to get heavy when filled to the brim. Sometimes you just need a little bit more space. Itching to bring along a hand cream, pack of tissues, or smart reader? A minimalist phone bag just won’t do! The Athleta Revive Modular crossbody is perfect for travel days or weekends on the go. We love that this bag has a sunglass pouch built right into the strap and plenty of extra space in the main compartment for more accessories. The bag is a little on the heavy side, but that weight is functional: it keeps the bag from sliding around while you have it on. The Details: 9.5 x 6.5 inches | Yulex, recycled polyester The 6 Best Waterproof Phone Cases of 2024 Best With Built-in Charger Skyborne iTravel Folio 4.0 PHOTO: Skyborne View on Skyborne.co Why We Love It It’s made for business travelers, so there’s a space for everything. What to Consider It’s a wristlet, so it lacks a shoulder strap. This is the ideal phone purse crafted with travel in mind. Boasting both a built-in 8000 mAh power bank and a wireless charging pad, the Skyborne has enough power for up to three full charges, so you’ll never be stranded with a dead phone. Plus, this purse has room for it all — earbuds, luggage receipts, cash, coins, two passports, a pen, you name it. If you’re a frequent business traveler, or even if you simply like to keep your things extremely organized, the Skyborne is for you. The Details: 7.56 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches | Full grain calf leather Best Leather Vanessa Bruno Lou Phone Pouch PHOTO: 24S View on Vanessabruno.com View on 24s.com Why We Love It The chic saddle stitching on this leather phone pouch elevates it to a fashion statement item. What to Consider Featuring just one compartment and one slip pocket, it’s very minimalist. Whether you snag this bag in tan or dark green, the Lou Phone Pouch by Vanessa Bruno brings traditional leather craftsmanship to a modern phone purse. The elegant saddle stitching and flap closure make this tech piece timeless, and we love the use of suede and polished leather. The flap closure is magnetic, making for easy opening and closing. The back features one small patch pocket with a cutout inset for quick card removal and an overall clean look. Because the long strap is detachable, the strap hooks can instead be easily attached to a belt or larger bag for a whole new look. The Details: 4.3 x 6.7 inches | Calfskin, cowhide leather Best Organization Anya Hindmarch Everything Pouch PHOTO: Net-a-Porter $395 at Net-a-Porter View on Anyahindmarch.com Why We Love It The tongue-in-cheek gold-lettered labels on each pocket makes organizing this purse a cinch. What to Consider It’s definitely a splurge for a primarily TPU bag. This Anya Hindmarch Everything Pouch is a super chic way to store, well, everything. Stamped gold lettering (featuring words like “glasses” and “everything”) on the leather trim helps you organize your everyday essentials beautifully. A front slip pocket stows your glasses, and there’s an internal key ring and detachable strap in case you want to slip this purse into a larger travel bag. The clear look makes organizing even easier because you have to keep it tidy. Designed with clear TPU and finished with luxurious leather trim, this is the kind of phone bag you’ll want to wear to see your favorite act’s stadium tour. The Details: 0.8 x 7.7 x 4.7 inches | TPU, leather Best Waterproof Booe Waterproof Belt Bag PHOTO: Booe View on Booe.com Why We Love It You can stash your phone in this bag and remain worry-free even when snorkeling or kayaking. What to Consider It’s not as stylish as some other options on our list. Versatile enough to be worn as a belt bag, crossbody, or neck bag, this is a great waterproof phone case to have on hand for water activities. It’s 100 percent waterproof and airtight thanks to 6-millimeter Tru Zip waterproof zippers with ergonomic pull rings and watertight welded seams. It can be submerged up to one meter underwater for 30 minutes. While the clear back panel is ideal for your phone, the interior pocket is great for all your essentials. The bag also floats, so it’s easy to locate if it gets away from you. The Details: 7.5 x 4.7 x 1.5 inches | TPU, tarpaulin Best Sustainable Dagne Dover Mara Air Mesh Phone Sling PHOTO: Dagne Dover $75 at Nordstrom View on Dagnedover.com Why We Love It It’s sustainable, durable, and easy-to-clean. What to Consider It’s definitely a sportier bag, so it may not work for every situation. Designed to be worn across the chest, Dagne Dover’s Mara Air Mesh Phone Sling is well-constructed and made with women on the go in mind. It perfectly fits your phone, cards (there are three card slots), lip balm, and even a passport, so this is the perfect bag for exploration during your travels. It’s also 100 percent vegan, as its fabrics are made of recycled plastic bottles. The sustainable and easy-to-clean materials make it a trusted option on the go. The Details: 7.5 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches | Air Mesh, recycled poly Tips for Buying a Phone Purse Prioritize key features Phone purses can range in size. Some are designed to hold your phone only, while others have space for extras like sunglasses, keys, and cards or cash. What do you need to carry? Is it just your phone? Or do you hope to pack lip gloss or balm as well? Will you be bringing along international currency or earbuds? Think about what you most need to carry, and prioritize a phone purse with the right amount of pockets and space for those items. Be realistic about size needs If you’re the type of traveler who carries everything but the proverbial kitchen sink, a phone purse may not be for you. After all, phone purses typically don’t have enough room for necessities like medications and vitamins. However, some larger phone purses do have dedicated spaces for travel essentials like a passport. While you can fit a few small items besides a phone in a phone purse, don’t expect to fit very much. Think about how much you use your phone. Some phone purses have front-facing PVC windows that allow you to use your phone while it’s still in the case. This might be of interest to you if you use your phone a lot, especially while traveling. If this is the case, consider a phone purse like the Bandolier Billie that’s designed to leave your phone’s face and back camera open and easily accessible. If you’d like a little more security (think theft protection) in addition to easy accessibility, you might want to consider a phone purse with an interior phone pocket. Frequently Asked Questions How much can a phone purse typically carry? Though a much more practical style option than the micro bag trend, a phone purse doesn’t carry much. It’s not meant to. It should carry your phone and perhaps a few other essentials, but it will offer more storage than a phone wallet. How do I wear a phone purse? Wear most phone purses as you would your standard crossbody bag. Some phone purses, though, can also be worn around the neck, over the shoulder, or around the waist like a fanny pack. Still others, like the Skyborne iTravel Folio 4.0, should be carried wristlet-style. Do I still need a case on my phone if I’m using a phone purse? Yes, we still recommend a case even if you’re using a phone purse. This may need to be a thin option as many small bags don’t have room for large, chunky cases. While a phone purse keeps a device safe when tucked away, it’s still important to have some sort of protection in case it slips out and falls to the ground. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Multi-hyphenate Nneya Richards (pronounced en-NYE-ah) is a fashion and travel creative, blogger, and public speaker. She is best known for her blog, ’N A Perfect World, which is a curated intersection of travel, food, style, and geopolitics, inspired by the millennial global citizen. Nneya is a twice-published author, most recently contributing a short story about a trip to Cuba for the dance and travel anthology “Dance Adventures: True Stories About Dancing Abroad.” To curate this list of the best phone purses, she researched and used dozens of products. From Crossbody Bags to Totes, T+L Editors Share Their Favorite Purses for Traveling Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.