5 Best GorillaPod Alternatives for Travel Photographers
The Joby GorillaPod made flexible tripods popular, and it still works well for phones and light cameras. But shoppers search for gorillapod alternatives for three main reasons: price, load capacity, and size.
Some buyers want to spend less than $50. Others carry a mirrorless camera with a zoom lens that pushes past a small GorillaPod's weight limit. Still others want a longer reach or extra mounting points for vlogging on the road.
We researched five real flexible and mini tripods that compete directly with GorillaPod models. If you'd rather skip flexible legs entirely, our guide to the best travel tripods for photographers covers standard folding tripods built for travel.
Best Joby GorillaPod Alternatives at a Glance
Alternative
Best For
Price
Standout Feature
Ulanzi MT-08
Phones and compact cameras on a tight budget
About $20
Doubles as a tripod, selfie stick, and camera handle
K&F Concept MS01
Best all-around value with true bendable legs
About $28
6.6 lb load rating with a Bluetooth remote included
Manfrotto PIXI EVO
Heavier mirrorless and DSLR bodies on a tabletop
$84.95
5.5 lb capacity with a sturdy rigid aluminum build
Benro KoalaPod (KP1)
Closest feel to the original GorillaPod
Around $40, often on sale below $30
Bendable legs and a built-in ball head at under half a pound
Benro TablePod Flex
Heaviest gear needing both rigid and flexible legs
$159.95
6.6 lb capacity that converts from tabletop tripod to bendable legs
Why Buyers Look for GorillaPod Alternatives
Most people switch tripods for one of three reasons: price, load capacity, or size.
The GorillaPod line runs from roughly $20 for the smallest model to close to $100 for the 5K kit built for DSLRs. That range means a buyer with a heavier camera pays a premium for a bendable-leg design that competitors now match at a lower price.
Load capacity is the second reason. A GorillaPod's smaller sizes top out well under the weight of a mirrorless body with a long lens, so photographers who upgrade their camera often outgrow their old GorillaPod.
Size and reach matter too. Vloggers who want a taller stand, a longer selfie-stick mode, or extra cold-shoe mounts for a light and microphone often find that dedicated alternatives cover those needs better than a general-purpose flexible tripod.
Lower price for a similar bendable-leg design
Higher load capacity for mirrorless and DSLR bodies
A different form factor, such as a rigid tabletop stand or a hybrid rigid-and-flexible design
Best GorillaPod Alternatives at a Glance
Here's the short answer: your budget and your camera's weight decide which gorillapod alternative fits best.
Each pick below serves a different price point or load capacity, so match the tripod to your gear before you buy. Full details, pros, and cons for each option are below the summary table.
Ulanzi MT-08 — cheapest option, about $20, best for phones and compact cameras
K&F Concept MS01 — best overall value, 6.6 lb capacity, about $28
Manfrotto PIXI EVO — sturdiest rigid stand, no bendable legs, $84.95
Benro KoalaPod (KP1) — closest feel to the original GorillaPod, often under $40
Smartphone or Mirrorless Camera? Match Your Tripod to Your Gear
Your camera's weight decides which type of flexible tripod fits best.
Phones and compact cameras under 1 lb work fine on almost any bendable-leg tripod, including the lightest picks on this list. Bendable legs on gear that light rarely sag or slip.
Mirrorless cameras with a kit lens usually weigh 1 to 2 lb, so a mid-capacity flexible tripod rated near 6 lb handles them safely. Add a zoom lens or a DSLR body, and the math changes: legs bend under weight they weren't built for, and the camera can tip mid-shot.
For a DSLR or a mirrorless body with a heavy zoom, skip bendable legs and choose a higher-capacity hybrid design or a rigid stand instead. A rigid tripod won't flex under a front-heavy lens the way a bendable-leg tripod can, which matters more than most buying guides mention.
How We Compared These Flexible Tripod Alternatives
We compared each pick on four criteria: rated load capacity, leg material and grip, extended height, and price.
Load capacity matters most because a flexible tripod rated below your camera's actual weight — body plus lens — can let the camera slip mid-shot. We checked each brand's published spec sheet rather than relying on marketing copy alone.
We also weighed price against what Joby charges for a similarly sized GorillaPod, since most readers comparing gorillapod alternatives are weighing cost as much as features. If a rigid, full-size tripod fits your travel kit better than a flexible one, see our travel tripod guide for standing options that still pack down small for a carry-on.
Each Alternative, In Depth
1
Ulanzi MT-08
Best for: Phones and compact cameras on a tight budget
About $20
The Ulanzi MT-08 is a telescoping mini tripod, selfie stick, and camera handle in one, and it's the cheapest real GorillaPod alternative on this list. It uses a flexible ball head instead of bendable legs, so it points at multiple angles but doesn't wrap around branches or railings. At under $20, it's built for phones and compact cameras like the Sony RX100 or Canon G7X, not for a mirrorless body with a lens attached.
Pros
Around $20, the cheapest real GorillaPod alternative on this list
Doubles as a tripod, selfie stick, and camera handle in one tool
Folds down to under 6 inches for a jacket pocket or day bag
Cons
Flexible ball head, not bendable legs, so it can't grip a branch or railing like a GorillaPod
Not rated for cameras heavier than a compact point-and-shoot
Legs don't grip uneven terrain the way GorillaPod's ridged leg joints do
2
K&F Concept MS01
Best for: Best all-around value with true bendable legs
About $28
The K&F Concept MS01 uses true bendable legs, closer to a GorillaPod's design than most other tripods on this list. It's rated for 3 kg (6.6 lb), which covers a mirrorless camera with a light lens, and it ships with a phone holder, cold-shoe mount, and Bluetooth remote. At about $28, it costs roughly a third of a similarly capable GorillaPod kit.
Pros
Bendable legs wrap around railings and branches like a GorillaPod's ball-and-socket joints
6.6 lb rated load capacity, in line with GorillaPod's mid-size models
Includes a Bluetooth remote and cold-shoe mount that GorillaPod doesn't bundle at this price
Cons
Leg joints feel less refined than GorillaPod's magnesium-alloy construction
Phone holder is a snap-on add-on, not built into the head
Only one size option, so it doesn't scale up to a GorillaPod 5K-style capacity
3
Manfrotto PIXI EVO
Best for: Heavier mirrorless and DSLR bodies on a tabletop
$84.95
The Manfrotto PIXI EVO skips bendable legs for a rigid, five-step aluminum design rated to 5.5 lb (2.5 kg). It won't wrap around a railing or tree branch, but its 90-degree portrait tilt and sturdier stance suit a DSLR or mirrorless body better than a flexible-leg tripod. At $84.95, it's the priciest tabletop option here, trading versatility for stability.
Pros
5.5 lb (2.5 kg) load capacity handles a DSLR with a mid-size lens
Aluminum legs with 5-step angle adjustment feel sturdier than bendable-leg designs
90-degree portrait tilt built into the head for vertical shots
Cons
Legs don't bend or wrap around objects, losing the GorillaPod's grip-anything trick
At $84.95, it costs more than most flexible alternatives on this list
Needs a flat or near-flat surface to stand on
4
Benro KoalaPod (KP1)
Best for: Closest feel to the original GorillaPod
Around $40, often on sale below $30
The Benro KoalaPod (KP1) comes closest to replicating the original GorillaPod feel, with three bendable rubber-and-aluminum legs and a built-in ball head. It weighs about half a pound and extends to roughly 8.3 inches, and it regularly sells below $40, often under $30 on sale. The legs are thinner than a GorillaPod's, so grip strength drops with anything heavier than a compact camera.
Pros
Bendable legs and a built-in ball head work almost exactly like a GorillaPod
Under half a pound, so it barely adds weight to a camera bag
Legs are noticeably thinner than GorillaPod's, so grip strength drops with heavier gear
The 3-leg kit (KP1) doesn't include the 5-leg expansion unless you buy the KP1K kit
Smaller support network than Joby if a leg joint wears out over time
5
Benro TablePod Flex
Best for: Heaviest gear needing both rigid and flexible legs
$159.95
The Benro TablePod Flex hides three flexible legs inside a set of rigid carbon fiber tripod legs, so it works as a standard tabletop tripod or a bendable-leg GorillaPod-style stand. It's rated for 6.6 lb, more than most GorillaPod sizes, and includes an Arca-Swiss compatible plate for photographers who already use that mount. At $159.95, it's the most expensive pick here, best suited to a mirrorless body with a zoom lens.
Pros
Switches between a rigid tabletop tripod and bendable GorillaPod-style legs in one unit
6.6 lb capacity handles a mirrorless body with a zoom lens
Arca-Swiss compatible plate for photographers who already own that mounting hardware
Cons
At $159.95, it's the most expensive alternative on this list by far
Bulkier and heavier than a dedicated bendable-leg tripod
Overkill for phone-only or casual travel shooters
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
If we had to pick one winner among these gorillapod alternatives, it's the K&F Concept MS01. It matches the GorillaPod's bendable-leg trick, holds up to 6.6 lb, and costs about $28 — a fraction of a mid-size GorillaPod kit.
Best budget pick: Ulanzi MT-08 — about $20 for a phone or compact camera.
Best for heavier cameras: Benro TablePod Flex — 6.6 lb capacity with a rigid-to-flexible hybrid design.
Closest to the original GorillaPod feel: Benro KoalaPod (KP1) — nearly the same bendable-leg grip, often cheaper.
Best for tabletop stability: Manfrotto PIXI EVO — trades bendable legs for a sturdier rigid stand.
Still want a traditional standing tripod instead of a flexible one? Our travel tripod guide covers full-size options that pack down for a suitcase or backpack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to the GorillaPod?
The K&F Concept MS01 is the best overall alternative to the GorillaPod for most travelers. It has true bendable legs, a 6.6 lb load rating, and costs about $28 — less than half the price of a similarly capable GorillaPod kit. If you only carry a phone or a compact camera, the cheaper Ulanzi MT-08 works just as well for less money.
Is there a cheaper flexible tripod alternative to the GorillaPod?
Yes, several flexible tripods cost less than a comparable GorillaPod. The Ulanzi MT-08 runs about $20, and the K&F Concept MS01 costs about $28 with bendable legs and a load rating similar to a mid-size GorillaPod. Both cost roughly a third of what a GorillaPod 5K kit typically sells for.
Why switch from a GorillaPod?
Most people switch because they want a lower price, a higher load capacity, or a different form factor. A heavier mirrorless or DSLR setup can outgrow a small GorillaPod's weight limit, pushing photographers toward higher-capacity picks like the Benro TablePod Flex. Others simply find a comparable bendable-leg tripod for less money.
Should I use a flexible tripod for my phone or my mirrorless camera?
Use a lightweight flexible tripod like the Ulanzi MT-08 for a phone, and a higher-capacity model like the K&F Concept MS01 or Benro TablePod Flex for a mirrorless camera. Phones and compact cameras rarely exceed 1 lb, so almost any bendable-leg tripod holds them safely. Mirrorless bodies with a zoom lens need a tripod rated at 2 lb or higher to avoid tipping or leg sag.
Can a flexible tripod hold a DSLR safely?
Some flexible tripods can hold a DSLR, but only if the rated load capacity clears the camera's total weight with room to spare. The Benro TablePod Flex and GorillaPod 5K both list capacities near 5.5 to 6.6 lb, which covers most DSLR bodies with a standard lens. Add a heavy telephoto lens, and a rigid tripod stand is the safer choice.