This post compares a selection of 9 of the best cheap e-bikes you can buy for under $1,000. A really great electric bike can cost a lot of money – between $1,500 and $12,000. But the good news is that if you want to try electric bikes for the first time, you can buy a decent but cheap e-bike for a lot less money. Read this post; pick out your very own budget ebike; try it out; and experience the joy of electric biking! Note that these e-bikes are not presented in order of preference – the best one depends on what will work for your own personal needs.
Chart Comparing Our Picks for 9 of the Best Cheap E-Bikes
| Price: | Type of Ebike: | Power, Battery & Claimed Range | Operation Modes: | Gears and Brakes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Approximately $660; please click here for exact current price | Mountain EBike, best for heavier cyclists; rated for riders up to 300 pounds | 250 Watts motor with 36V/8AH lithium battery; range: 14 to 17 miles | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 21 Shimano gears; Mechanical disk brakes |
| Approximately $649; please click here for exact current price | Cruiser Style Ebike, best for those wanting to do some stylish city cycling; rated for cyclists up to 220 pounds | 250 Watts motor with 36V/10AH lithium battery; range: 22 to 28 miles | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 6 gears; V-brakes in front, expansion brake on rear wheel | |
| Approximately $649; please click here for exact current price | Practical, transport-type ebike, best for people who want a practical but good looking bike for transport and shopping; rated for cyclists up to 250 pounds | 250 Watts motor with 36V/10AH lithium battery; range: up to 28 miles in pedal-assist mode | Ride as a regular bike; or with 2 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 6 gears; V-brakes on front wheel; expansion brake on rear wheel | |
| Approximately $890; please click here for exact current price | Fat Tire Mountain Ebike, best for taller cyclists; rated for riders up to 250 pounds | 500 Watts motor with 36V/12AH lithium battery; range: 19 miles | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 7 Shimano gears; Mechanical disk brakes | |
| Approximately $639; please click here for exact current price | Mountain EBike, best for pPeople who want quality components in an ebike that looks like a regular bike; best for heavier cyclists; rated for riders up to 300 pounds | 350 Watts motor with 36V/7.8Ah lithium battery; range: Up to 30 miles with a lot of pedaling | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 21 Shimano gears; Mechanical disk brakes | |
| Approximately $649; please click here for exact current price | Mountain Ebike, best for shorter cyclists; rated for riders up to 220 pounds | 250 Watts motor with 36V/8.8Ah; range: Up to 30 miles with a lot of pedaling | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling | 21 Shimano gears; Mechanical disk brakes | |
Ecotric Folding Fat Tire Ebike | Approximately $795; please click here for exact current price | Folding Fat Tire Ebike, best for those wanting transport options in a folding ebike; rated for riders up to 240 pounds | 500 Watts motor with 36V/12Ah lithium battery; range: 12.4 miles | Ride as a regular bike; or with 3 levels of power assistance for your pedaling | 7 Shimano gears; Mechanical disk brakes |
 | Approximately $390; please click here for exact current price | Folding Ebike, best for those wanting a cheap folding ebike for transport; rated for riders up to 265 pounds | 350 Watt motor with 36V/6Ah battery | Ride as a regular bike, or use throttle power | 1 gear; V-brakes on the front wheel and mechanical disk brake on the rear wheel |
 | Approximately $799; please click here for exact current price | Mountain Ebike, best for those wanting a good looking mountain bike | 350 Watt motor with 36V/10.4Ah battery | Ride as a regular bike; or with 5 levels of power assistance for your pedaling; or with throttle power only (no pedaling) | 7 gears; Mechanical disk brakes |
In case you are wondering – YES, you CAN get fit on an ebike! Check out our post about getting fit with an ebike here.
Ebikes take the fear of hills out of cycling, ensure that you ride more often and further, and still give you a great workout. With almost all of the affordable electric bikes we have selected for this post, you can choose how little or how much power assistance you use. So if you mainly choose No Assist on flats, you can still get a great workout – and also cruise up big hills without too much effort!
These electric bikes are cheaper for several reasons. First, they are all hub-drive, that is, they house their motors in the hub of the rear wheel. This is a simpler and cheaper configuration than a mid-drive ebike, in which the motor is housed in the bottom bracket, between the pedals. Also, these bikes have cheaper parts mixed in, as is usually the case with cheaper bikes. For example, the manufacturers of most of these ebikes state that they have Shimano gears, but that is somewhat like saying they have round wheels. Shimano makes a very large range of gears, and these ebikes will all have gears from the lower end of the Shimano range.
That said, if you find you really love your new electric bike, you can always upgrade the components over time. Plus, you will have extra money to spend, because the cost of running an ebike is mere pennies a day (for electricity). Also, note that these manufacturers have not sacrificed safety considerations. For example, most of these ebikes have mechanical disk brakes, which give you the stopping power you need for a fast ebike. And a surprising number of these ebikes also have integrated accessories, such as horn, rack lights, fenders, and baskets. One even ships with a helmet and a lock!
All of These Cheap Electric Bikes Have Smart Chargers
All of these ebikes are shipped with smart chargers, which means you can just plug the battery in to charge, and forget about it – it will stop charging when it is fully charged. Note that if you don’t ride your ebike for about three weeks or more, you should charge the battery up occasionally – just to keep it in good shape. Like us, lithium batteries need regular exercise! I bought a power bar with a 7-day timer that I connect up when the weather is very bad. I charge my battery for 30 minutes a week, and that keeps it healthy.
Yiilove Electric Mountain Bike
Best for: Heavier Cyclists Wanting a Strong, Budget Electric Bike
Overview of the Yiilove Mountain Ebike
This well reviewed ebike has an aluminum alloy frame, and a strong carbon steel front fork to soak up the bumps. It is one of our top choices for a value-for-money, sturdy, affordable ebike.
Like all ebikes in the USA and Canada, this bike is limited to a maximum speed of 32 km/h (20 mph). That’s a legal requirement, achieved with software. Of course, you can go faster than that, but the motor will stop helping you once you exceed 20 mph.
This budget ebike is fitted with 21 Shimano gears for reliable shifting, and decent quality disk brakes for powerful braking. Plus, it has an integrated horn, bike light, and fenders, so it is ready for every kind of action from the minute you get it. We think this would be an excellent ebike for commuting.
Power and Battery
Don’t worry about the 250 Watts motor – in my experience, 250 Watts is plenty for heavier riders. My current ebike has a 250 Watts motor, and it gets me up some very big hills (with help from me pedaling). Also, this is a high speed brushless gear motor, which is the best way to go. Add in a removable 36V 8Ah lithium battery, and you have a great mountain ebike that will take you many miles – at a bargain basement price.
Claimed Range of the Yiilove Ebike
The manufacturers don’t make any exaggerated claims for the range – they claim a modest 14 to 17 miles per charge – which should be more than enough for most cyclists. I really like that they are honest about the range claim.
Operational Modes
The best thing about this bike is that you have multiple operational modes to choose from. So you get to choose the best mode for how you feel and the terrain you are on. Of course, you can keep the motor switched off, and ride it like a regular bike when you choose. Such as, if you are cycling on totally flat terrain. You can also go to the other extreme – use the thumb throttle to ride without any pedaling at all. When you do that, you do of course shorten the range dramatically. Finally, the best mode of all is pedal assist, in which you pedal, and the motor helps out, making you feel like an Olympian! This bike has three levels of assist, so you can choose which one works best for the terrain and your mood.
Rated For:
Testament to the ruggedness of this ebike is that it is rated for cyclists up to 300 pounds. Many expensive bikes are only rated for up to 250 pounds. Contributing to this sturdiness are double layer aluminum alloy wheels. When it comes to heavier cyclists, rugged wheels are essential. The last thing you want is to bust a wheel while cycling at 20 miles per hour!
User Reviews of the Yiilove Ebike
User reviews are very positive. Many comment on how easy the bike is to assemble and to mount and ride. A couple in their sixties chose this ebike for its best feature – the fact that you can use it as a regular bike, or use it with varying levels of assistance.
Also, users find them rugged, sturdy, and durable. They report getting speeds as high as 20 miles per hour, long battery life, and a comfortable ride.
Riders find it easily gets a rider of 230 pounds up hills. That was certainly my experience – 250 Watts is plenty of power for most riders.
A common theme with reviewers is that this does not look like a cheap ebike, and it is excellent value for money. And also, that customer service from the company is excellent.
For full Manufacturer’s Description and Bike Specs, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this budget ebike!
Nakto Ebike
Best For: People who Want to Do Stylish City Cycling
Overview of the Nakto Budget Ebike
This is a good looking 6-speed cruiser. It has an integrated bike light, horn, and basket, so you are ready to ride! It is depicted with a helmet and lock, because these are included in the budget price. However, that cable lock is not strong enough to protect an ebike that you spent more than $500 on. Check out our post on 5 of the best bike locks for some better ideas, and tips on keeping your bike safe.
This ebike ships almost fully assembled; all you have to do is add the handlebar and front wheel. Note that for some unknown reason, the helmet and lock are sometimes shipped separately.
Power and Battery
This budget electric bike has a 250 Watts High-Speed Brushless Motor with a 36V/10AH lithium battery. This combo will get you up the hills, and give you plenty of range too.
Claimed Range
Nakto claims 22 to 28 miles (30 to 45 km) for this ebike. As with all claims of range, you need to remember that it depends on many factors, such as terrain, weather, how hard you pedal, and your own weight. The same ebike will take two different people different distances, if one of the people weighs 80 pounds, and the other weighs 350 pounds.
Operational Modes
The Nakto can be ridden as a pedal assist ebike, that is, you pedal to keep it moving, and you can choose how much assistance you engage for your pedal power. You can also use it with throttle only (no pedaling) and with no power at all (plenty of pedaling!)
Rated for
This very affordable ebike is rated for riders up to 220 pounds.
User Reviews of the Nakto Cheap Ebike
The reviews are in on this ebike, and they are pretty glowing. A common theme is “” Also, “customer service was outstanding” and “can’t believe the price.”
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and more reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this budget ebike!
Nakto City Bike
Best For: People Who Want a Practical but Good Looking Bike for Transport and Shopping
This is a super-practical, bargain electric bike!
Overview of this Cheap Electric Bike for City Transport
This is a stylish carbon steel ebike with integrated front light, bike basket, and a rack to hang your panniers from. The comfort seat and integrated chain guard are nice touches. When I look at this bike, I imagine myself cycling to an event wearing a suit, perhaps with flowers for my wife in the basket! It’s a heavy, solid bike that should stand up to many years of city cycling. Note that it is 26″, so it will not suit shorter cyclists.
Related: 7 of the Best Bike Panniers
Power and Battery
This ebike is powered by a 250 Watts brushless motor and a 36V/10AH lithium battery.
Claimed Range of the Nakto City Electric Bike
Nakto claims a range of up to 28 miles in pedal-assist mode. This claim seems a little extreme. Perhaps if you use it with the minimal assist mode, and pedal continuously and very hard. And of course, you only weigh about a hundred pounds or less, and the terrain is either flat or downhill. All the same, with a 36V/10AH lithium battery, it is highly unlikely that you will run out of range with this ebike. Not many people cycle more than 10 miles in one session, let alone 28 miles!
Operational Modes of the Nakto Electric Bike
This Nakto ebike works as a pedal assist ebike, that is, as soon as you start pedaling, the motor assistance kicks in. You can choose how much assistance you engage (there are two levels). You can also use it with throttle only (no pedaling) and with no power at all (lots of pedaling!)
Rated For:
This bike is rated to carry cyclists up to 250 pounds.
User Reviews of the Nakto City Ebike
This bargain electric bike gets mainly very positive reviews, with the consensus being that it is great value for money. Users do note that it is heavy, though. In our opinion, it would not suit a small or frail adult.
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this affordable electric bike!
Ecotric Fat Tire Electric Bike for Beach, Snow, and Mountain Trails
Best for: Taller People Shopping for a Cheap Ebike
The Ecotric is a great looking fat tire mountain ebike. And it can be yours for a bargain price.
Overview of this Budget Ebike
This is a great looking electric fat tire mountain bike, suitable for use on the road, the trails, the beach, and the snow.
The 26 inch fat tires ensure a comfy ride off-road, even on snow and on the beach. And on trails, it’s a very comfy ride. The mechanical disk brakes ensure solid stopping power.
Like most ebikes, it comes with a smart charger, for easy charging. Just plug it into the wall and forget about it.
Power and Battery
This budget ebike comes with a much bigger motor than the first bike, packing a 500 Watts motor, coupled with a 36V/12AH removable lithium battery. This combo gives you both power and range.
Claimed Range of the Ecotric Mountain Ebike
36 V x 12 AH gives you 432 amp hours, which is a lot of range. Of course, it depends on factors such as terrain, your weight, how hard you pedal, weather conditions, etc. However, the manufacturer’s claim of over 19 miles seems reasonable.
Operational Modes
It works as a pedal assist ebike, that is, you have to pedal to keep it moving, and you can choose how much assistance you engage. You can also use it with throttle only (no pedaling) and with no power at all (lots of pedaling!)
Rated For:
This bike is rated for riders up to 260 pounds.
User Reviews of this Affordable Electric Bike
This surprisingly cheap ebike gets overwhelmingly good reviews, with reviewers focusing on the following positives:
- unbelievably good value for money, and
- easy to assemble (rear tire assembly is already complete, and that is usually the only tricky part with ebikes).
Some people complain that they can’t reach the seller by phone; however, this is standard on Amazon. Instead, you contact them via Amazon online. I have done this often and it always works well. Buyers note that the sellers of this bike are fair and helpful. The manual does not give step-by-step assembly instructions, so if you are not handy, you might want to choose the professional assembly option.
Related: FuroSystems New Carbon Frame E-Bikes – Carbon Folding E-Bike and Mountain E-Bike
Note that the Ecotric Mountain bike is more suitable for taller people. As in, over 5 foot 9. Ecotric makes a foldable fat-tire bike with smaller tires and the same motor and battery specs. So if you are on the shorter side, you might want to check that one out. It will suit cyclists as short as 5 foot 2. See Ebike #7 in this post, below.
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this affordable electric bike!
Ancheer Electric Mountain Bike
People who want quality components in an ebike that looks like a regular bike; heavier cyclists
Overview of this Budget Electric Bike
This is an updated version of an already popular budget ebike. The Ancheer mountain ebike comes with a one-year warranty for the electric motor, battery and other parts (except the frame). Assembly is fairly easy, as it ships 85% assembled. However, you can elect to have it professionally assembled, for an additional charge. In that case, you have it shipped to a store.
This is a sturdy and responsive bike, constructed from Aviation Grade Aluminum Alloy. The bike also has dual disk brakes for powerful stopping power, and a steel fork to soak up the bumps.
Power and Battery
The Ancheer is equipped a 350 W high speed brushless motor. And it’s important to note that the 36V 7.8Ah lithium-ion battery is a Samsung. It is unusual for an ebike at this price point to have a respected name-brand battery, so that is a big plus for this ebike.
Claimed Range
The battery specs make it likely that the manufacturer’s claim of a 30-mile range is not too wild. They do specify that the range is 18 miles with throttle mode and 30 miles in pedal-assist mode. But obviously, it will depend on how much you pedal. And also that you are not cycling in the Alps!
Operational Modes
This affordable ebike offers the choice of using it as a regular bike, an assisted bike (when you pedal, the power kicks in), and as a purely electric bike (you don’t have to pedal at all). The last-mentioned option is especially useful when pulling off from a stop, particularly if you are on a hill. When you are using power assistance, you can choose between three levels of assistance.
Reviews
Reviewers of this bike note that it has a sturdy construction, and is fast and powerful on hills. Plus, as with most ebikes, it is fun to ride!
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and User Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this affordable electric bike!
Cyclamatic Power Plus CX1 Electric Mountain Bike
Best for Shorter Cyclists who Want a Cheap Ebike with a Steel Frame
Overview of the Cyclamatic Power Plus CX1
The original Power Plus has been a popular mountain ebike for a long time. This model is an upgrade, with a more powerful brushless motor, a better battery, and 21 quick-shift gears. It’s a steel frame bike with suspension. It is well suited for shorter cyclists, from 5 foot 3 upwards. It requires just a few minutes of assembly, and comes with a bicycle bell, a comfy saddle, 26” Kenda tires, and front and rear mechanical disk brakes.
Power and Battery
250 Watt motor with 36V/8.8Ah Li-ion lithium battery. Manufacturers state that the top speed is 15 miles per hour, which is lower than the legally allowed maximum of 20 mph.
Claimed Range
The manufacturers claim a range of approximately 25 to 31 miles when cycling on “normal” terrain at speeds of up to 15 mph. It is not clear what they mean by “normal”, but safe to assume they are not talking about steep uphills.
Operational Modes
The motor offers you three levels of power assistance when you pedal, but does not have a throttle option. Of course, you can also ride it without assistance, like a regular bike.
Rated For:
Riders up to 220 pounds.
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this affordable electric bike!
Ecotric Folding Fat Tire Ebike
Best for: Shorter Cyclists who want a Folding Electric Bike
Overview of this Very Cheap Electric Bike
An affordable but very powerful folding ebike, with a very generously specced battery for long, long rides! Disk brakes on both wheels ensure solid stopping ability. With the addition of lights and a bike bell, this ebike offers great transport options.
Why would you want a folding ebike? Well, think about the options. You could ride halfway to work, then fold it up and hop on a train or bus. Or drive halfway, then park, pull the folding ebike out of your trunk, and ride the rest of the way. Once at work, you could take your ebike up to your office, charge it as you work, and then ride back to your car that evening. Plus, you could easily take your foldable ebike along on a vacation, and have almost-free transport once you get there! Once purchased, an ebike costs just pennies per day to operate. You plug it into any available wall socket, and it charges up.
Power and Battery of the Ecotric Folding Fat Tire Ebike
The 500 watt motor and 36V/12Ah battery give you an amazing amount of power, plus a whole lot of range.
Claimed Range
The manufacturers claim a range of up to 23 miles on electric power only; this seems like a very reasonable claim given that the battery is a 36V/12 Ah lithium battery.
Operational Modes of the Ecotric Folding Fat Tire Ebike
This affordable ebike offers the choice of using it as a regular bike, an assisted bike (when you pedal, the power kicks in to help you), and as a purely electric bike (you use a throttle, and you don’t have to pedal at all). When using pedaling assistance, you can choose between three levels of assistance.
Rated for:
This ebike is rated to carry riders up to 240 pounds.
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and User Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this cheap electric bike!
Rattan 26 inch Mountain Electric Bike
Best For: Anyone Looking for a Bargain Mountain Ebike
Overview of this Affordable Ebike
This mountain ebike is good looking and well specced. While it only has 7 gears, it does have multiple operating modes, and five levels of pedal assistance. It has a rugged 6061 aluminum frame, a spring fork with an aluminum alloy shock absorber, and mechanical disk brakes on both wheels.
Power and Battery
This ebike has a great balance of power and range, with a 350 Watts motor and a 36V/10.4Ah lithium battery.
Claimed Range
The manufacturers claim up to 80 miles in pedal assist mode, which I don’t believe for a minute! With such a great product, I am not sure why they felt the need to make such a ridiculous claim. That said, with the combo of a 350 Watts motor and a 36V/10.4Ah lithium battery, it should have a range of at least 20 miles, which is plenty for most people.
Operational Modes
This budget ebike gives you the choice of using it as a regular bike, an assisted bike (when you pedal, the power kicks in to help you), and as a purely electric bike (you use a thumb throttle, so you don’t have to pedal at all). When using pedaling assistance, you can choose between five levels of assistance (which is a stand-out in this class).
Rated For:
This budget electric bike is rated to carry riders up to 250 pounds.
For full Manufacturer’s Description, Bike Specs, and User Reviews, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this affordable electric bike!
Ravent Folding Electric Bike
Best For: People who want a Folding and Very Cheap Ebike
Overview of this Very Cheap Ebike
Why would you want a folding ebike? Well, think about the options. You could ride halfway to work, then fold it up and hop on a train or bus. Or drive halfway, then park, pull the folding ebike out of your trunk, and ride the rest of the way. Once at work, you could take your ebike up to your office, charge it as you work, and then ride back to your car that evening. Plus, you could easily take your foldable ebike along on a vacation, and have almost-free transport once you get there! Once purchased, an ebike costs just pennies per day to operate. You plug it into any available wall socket, and it charges up. The Ravent takes about three hours for a full charge.
This is a lightweight ebike. That is not a sentence I write very often! Weighing in at under 27 pounds, it is easy to carry once folded up. This little bike also has top-of-the-line electronics on board, including cruise control! This eliminates a complaint that many riders have about throttle control – that their hand gets tired on long rides. Also, you can lock your bike with a password that you set up on the included app, so no one else can ride it.
A built-in, bright LED headlamp and horn, plus rear disk brakes, ensure this bike is ready to make your commuting journey more fun, right out of the box. The bike only has one gear, indicating that is more of a transport machine than a workout machine. The entire package comes with a one-year warranty.
Power and Battery of the Ravent Folding Ebike
The 350 watt motor and 36V/6Ah battery give you plenty of power for the hills.
Claimed Range
This ebike is a little on the light side in terms of range. The manufacturers claim 12.4 miles as the range, which is about half the range of the other ebikes in this post. However, for this kind of bike (that is, a bike that can be popped into the trunk of a car or taken on a bus), we see this as an adequate range. Everybody always frets about range, but I have to say in my many years of ebiking, I have never been able to outlast a lithium battery. Except on rare occasions when I have forgotten to charge it, and that, of course, was on me!
Operational Modes of the Ravent
The fact that this bike is more for transport than for exercise is evident from the fact that the motor is operated only by the throttle. So, unlike other ebikes in this post, you do not have the option to pedal and have the motor help you by boosting your pedaling power. If you want to pedal you can, but your pedaling will not synchronize with electric assistance.
Rated for:
This bike is rated to carry riders weighing up to 265 pounds.
For full Manufacturer’s Description and Bike Specs, please click here to go to Amazon. You won’t be committing to buy, but you can read more about this cheap electric bike!
 | Thinking of buying an Electric Bike? Check out my new edition of How to Buy the Best Electric Bike! Buy it here. | Read all about How to Buy the Best Electric Bike here. |
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