The 9 Best Electric Bikes Under $1,000: Electric Assistance on a Budget

Electric bikes have enjoyed a massive surge of interest lately as an increasing number of commuters turn to cheaper, more efficient means of travel. However, the addition of a motor, battery and all the necessary electrical parts has pushed the price up, making e-bikes considerably more expensive than traditional bikes.

Top Electric Bike Specific Brands

Don’t be disheartened though, as several manufacturers are now attempting to make e-bikes more affordable by using cheaper parts and materials. Although this brings down the overall quality of the bikes, you can still find some decent offerings for under $1,000. They may not have the same speed or range as the expensive models, but most suffice for short trips and recreational usage.

Why You Should Get an E-Bike

The added pedal power that an e-bike provides opens up the market to a huge part of the population that would otherwise never cycle. Many simply aren’t fit enough, while others don’t want to arrive at work sweaty from a long cycle. With an electric-powered bike, you can glide to work almost effortlessly and arrive sweat-free and ready to go.

Even experienced cyclists have found that e-bikes help to minimize muscle fatigue and joint strain, reducing the risk of injury later in life. No matter what your fitness or skill level, everyone can benefit from the convenience of an e-bike.

The 9 Best Electric Bicycles Under $1,000

1. RIDE1UP Portola

Foldable affordable electric bike

MSRP: $995
Ride1UP

The Ride1UP Portola is well equipped for a thousand-dollar mark. There’s a 750W pedal-assist motor that helps to speed up the bike to 28 mph and the 10.4 Ah provides a decent range of up to 40 miles. If you need more, you can get the 13.4 Ah battery instead. 

At 59 lbs, this bike is not light, but it is easily manageable. Plus, you get an 8-speed drivetrain that will help you climb more easily and extend the range of the battery. Not to forget one of the best-selling points – the easy-to-use folding mechanism that will help you store and transport this bike with ease.

• Motor: 750W
• Battery: 48v 10 Ah or 13.4 Ah
• 20″ x 3″ tires
• Class 3 eBike
• Weight: 59 lbs

>>>Related: Ride1UP Portola Full Review

The bike also comes with dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, which is pretty much the gold standard on electric bikes of this type and in this price range! Read more about the Ride1Up brand to get a better view of their motto and full range of ebikes.

The GOOD: Foldable, affordable, two battery sizes, 7-speed, fat tires, awesome looks

The BAD: Heavier than ideal

The SUM: Ride1UP is definitely a good new eBike brand to consider when looking for high-value electric bikes.

Max Weight Capacity: 342 lb

Get It from Ride1UP.com

2. Nakto Camel

Best electric cruiser bike

MSRP: $895
Nakto

Who would’ve thought that you can get an e-cruiser from a brand name at such a low price tag?

Electric cruiser bikes seem to gain popularity again, and the price tag for mid-range models has dropped to three digits in the past few years. What we have here is a super cheap bike from a popular manufacturer! Let’s take a look and see what to expect:

• 26″ wheels
• 7-Speed drivetrain
• Mechanical Disc Brakes
• Alloy wheels
• 500W hub motor
• Max speed: 20mp/h – Class 1 Pedal-assist
• Battery:  360 Wh

To conclude, this is a super basic cruiser bike that we’d really recommend for light commutes on slightly uneven terrains. Mechanical disc brakes and bottom-line components are not as suitable for long rides, but they can be suitable for someone who is on a low budget and looking to get a cheap electric bike.

Get from Nakto

3. LECTRIC XP4

Foldable fat-tire eBike

MSRP: $999
Lectric Bikes

A tiny city-hopper with a fat-bike attitude, this folding electric bike from Lectric is both a stylish and functional machine. The geared hub motor pumps out a huge 500W of power and will go for 50 or 85 miles on a single charge of the 48v removable battery, depending on the capacity you choose.

The fat 20×3″ CST tires are great for tackling rough city streets or dirt paths, and the hydraulic disc brakes won’t let you down. The Lectric XP4 includes a rear rack, fenders, lights, and charger so you’re ready to go straight out the box.

• 500W
  (850W peak)
• Range: Up to 50 or 85 mi
• Folded dimensions: 37″ x 18″ x 27″
• Two frame types: step-over and step-through
• Rear rack, fenders, kickstand
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Total weight: 64 lbs

>>> Related: Lectric XP4 Full Review

Buy from Lectricebikes.com

4. Buzz Centris

MSRP: $900
Buzz Bicycles

Buzz Bicycles is a lesser-known name in the electric bike market, which produces cheap e-bikes for everyday use. The Centris is a convenient folding urban e-bike that makes city living convenient. 

• 500W motor
• 48V battery 
• 6-speed
• Mechanical disc brakes
• Weight: 68 lbs

The Centris is an electric folding bike that can be used for other any urban riding. Although it is the cheapest bike in their range and is equipped with a 500W motor and a 48V battery that returns 40 miles of range.

Other notable features include 4.0″ tires for grip and comfort and a 6-speed drivetrain to help you maximize your battery’s range.  

There’s literally nothing to add or remove from the bike to make it more suited to its price range, even though Buzz offers quite a selection of accessories on their bikes.

Buy from BuzzBicycles.com

5. ENGWE T14

MSRP: $499
Engwe-bikes

If you are looking for a cheap folding electric bicycle to use for everyday commutes, RV camping trips, etc. The Engwe T14 is a great all-around choice.

This bike has a 480Wh battery with up to 50+ miles of range to power the 350W motor. The T14 also uses a single-speed drivetrain.

 Finally, this folding bike has a rear rack and fenders which make any commute more convenient.

• 350W high-speed brushless gear motor.
• Max speed: 20mph
• 480Wh battery
• Range: 50+mi (pedal-assist)
• Charge time: 6-8 hours
• Max capacity: 220 lbs

The GOOD: Cheap and packs a punch.

The BAD: Very heavy and unpractical out of urban environments.

The SUM: Solid affordable e-bike for commuter use.

Buy from Engwe-bikes.com

6. ANCHEER 12″ / 500W Folding Electric Bike

Score 4.4/5 out of 167+ ratings

MSRP: Check on Amazon

The Ancheer 500W folding electric scooter is a miniature eBike with a mid-size motor that can provide 20mph speeds for a range of  18-20 miles. This eBike doesn’t have any pedals or drivetrain and runs purely off the motor which is controlled via a smartphone app.

It has a tiny frame and wheels with a handlebar that folds down to resemble a giraffe with a broken neck. Although very compact and convenient, the design quality is low and you’re likely to run into some problems with heavy use. For a fun weekend bike, it may be sufficient, but it’s unlikely to fulfill the needs of a daily work commute.

• 500W Hub-motor
• Range: 20mi
• Speed: 20mp/h
• Charge time: 3hours
• Max capacity: 265lbs
• Disc brakes, kickstand
• Extremely portable, fold-in handlebar

Max weight capacity: 265lbs

Buy on Amazon

7. SWAGTRON 14″ 250W Swagcycle EB5

This folding ebike from Swagtron uses a common straight-bar folding aluminum frame on two 20″ wheels. It’s a tiny, lightweight vehicle that doesn’t feel particularly strong but will get you from A to B. However, the gear range is not great so when the battery runs out, pedaling becomes difficult.

Best electric bike under $500

It features a small motor and battery like those typically found on low-cost ebikes. The motor can reach speeds of 15mph (24kph) and the battery will last about 15.5 miles (25km) on one charge. To go further, you can buy an extra battery to carry on you and swap it out during your trip.

• 250W Motor
• 14″ wheels
• Range: Up to 15miles
• Max Speed: 15mph
• V-brakes
• Fully foldable!

Fits riders 4’10” – 5’10”

Buy on Amazon

8. ANCHEER – 27.5” Electric Mountain Bike

This Ancheer electric hybrid bike includes a front suspension and thick 27.5″ treaded tires so you can take it off-road along dirt or gravel tracks. The large capacity battery will take you on average 30 miles (48km) on a single charge and the 350W motor can reach speeds of 20mph (32kph).

The 24-speed drivetrain makes cycling uphills easy, even if the battery dies! Plus, you get mechanical disc brakes for excellent stopping power in any weather conditions. The removable 36V Li-Ion battery takes about 6 hours to charge and you get an LCD display meter with speed and battery time.

• 350W
• Max speed: 20mp/h
• Range: Up to 25mi
• 27.5″ Wheels
• Disc brakes
• Weight: 53lbs
• 24-speed

Recommended for riders 5’1″ – 6’4″

Get from Amazon

9. Lectric XP Lite2

Best electric city bike under $1,000

MSRP: $999

This attractive folding bike is great for city commutes, shopping, or visiting friends. The Lectric XP Lite2 is the most affordable model on their range and is compatible with various accessories for commuting or off-road riding. 

The upright seating position means you’ll be comfortable throughout the day, and the 500W pedal-assist motor will take you up to 80 miles on a single charge of the 672 Wh Li-Ion battery. 

Hydraulic disc brakes and 2.5″ tires on 20″ wheel give the XP Lite2 mixed-terrain capability. Finally, this bike comes with integrated LED lights on the front and back. 

• 500W
• Mileage: Up to 80 mi
• Charge time: 4-6h
• Max speed: 20 mph
• Wheel Size: 20″
• Single-speed
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Weight: 49 lbs

Max weight capacity: 275lb

Get from LectricEbikes.com

FAQ

Do We Recommend Electric Bikes Under $1,000?

Yes, you might just get lucky with an electric bike from Amazon, but that comes with a price!

Buying an electric bike in 2024 is not an easy task, especially when you don’t have too much experience in cycling. It might seem too tempting to order a bike solely based on the price or reviews, but something that you should also know is that adding that extra $500 can save you a bunch in the long run.

In short: We recommend bikes from well-known brands, which tend to start at the $1,300 mark, if that’s possible for you. Otherwise, one of the cheaper models will get the job done for recreational riding.

Getting a bicycle is a long-term investment, especially when we are talking about electric bikes – which ‘age’ quicker than your normal bicycles.

$2,000 vs $1,000 electric bike – What is the difference?

It’s very hard to find a decent electric bike for under $1,000, so when buying one you need to be more careful and accept that you may run into some issues. When compared to an electric bike that costs $2,000, you will quickly notice the difference in quality.

A $2,000 electric bike will include name-brand parts that have a proven history of reliability. The batteries on these bikes will usually last several years before needing replacement, and you will seldom have trouble with the motor or controller.

An electric bike under $1,000 will usually have no-name brand Chinese components, which will work well in most cases. However, customers sometimes cite issues with batteries dying after a few months and problems with the cheap display units breaking. Sometimes, the manufacturer rectifies these issues, but occasionally, the warranty doesn’t cover them and it leaves you forking out your own cash for replacements.

If you can afford to spend more, most people would advise a bike closer to the $2,000 price range. However, even with some part replacements, you could still end up with a decent, working eBike for around $1,000.

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About the Author

Sam Millers

Sam Millers is the guy behind Bikexchange.com. From the early days of three wheels to conquering challenging mountain trails, Sam's love for cycling knows no bounds. With a background in web development, Sam seamlessly combined two of his greatest passions – cycling and technology. As the creative force behind Bikexchange.com, he shares insightful stories, expert tips, and engaging content for fellow cycling enthusiasts. When he's not exploring new biking routes or tweaking website codes, Alex enjoys sipping on a post-ride espresso and planning his next cycling adventure.