Best budget electric bikes: Affordable options to give you a boost

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular on roads and trails across the globe. The main benefit is the accessibility they offer to a diversity of cyclists, ranging from those requiring a bit more power to conquer their local trails to those looking to leave the car at home for commuting.

Of course, the best electric bikes often come with a hefty price tag. Though following a surge in popularity, we’re beginning to see a broader range of budget electric bikes enter the market; many with good quality specs and standard extras such as mudguards, lights, and racks to tempt you. Though electric bikes are still largely more expensive than standard pedal bikes, there are still lots of options for those of you looking for the best electric bikes under £1000 / $1000 or the best electric bikes under £2000 / $2000.

Since a few of these models aren’t available internationally due to contrasting local road and highway laws, we’ve split this guide into the best budget options available in the US and the UK respectively. Our best overall pick for the US is the Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2. It’s lightweight and comes with handy extras for city cruising. Then, our best overall UK pick is the Pure Flux One—a simple, low-maintenance and budget-friendly eBike.

It’s perhaps a cliché to say, but now really is a great time to consider investing in an electric bike. Battery technology is becoming cheaper and more innovative, and we’re seeing a greater variety of bike styles available, even at lower price points. From sleek single speeds to zippy folding commuter bikes, alongside chunky mountain bikes and hybrids, you are unlikely to have to compromise on your preferred style of riding if you don’t want to break the bank.

If you’re still unsure of what the best budget electric bike is for your needs, then be sure to check out our How to Choose section at the end of this guide.

Quick list

Best budget electric bikes in the USA

Best budget electric bikes in the UK

Best Budget Electric Bikes in the USA

Best overall USA

The Treadwell Neo adds a rear hub motor to Cannondale’s city bike, which is designed for agility and comfort. You have a choice of a step-through frame or a slightly higher crossbar that’s still easy to climb on and off.

There are various specs of the Treadwell Neo which get different rear hub motor systems and different drivetrain options. They are nimble handling bikes that are fun to ride, and the EQ models come equipped with mudguards, a kickstand and lights, as well as a front rack/basket so they’re ready for all-weather riding and luggage carrying duties.

Best high-torque assistance

The Mosh/Cty e-bike is equipped with a motor from Brose which pushes out 90Nm of torque for fast starts and easy hill climbing. Its power is transmitted through a single-speed Gates belt drive that’s maintenance and lubricant-free and there’s a large capacity battery for plenty of range.

The Mosh/Cty comes with really wide 2.8-inch Schwalbe tyres, integral lights and powerful hydraulic brakes. There’s fast charging of the battery both on and off the bike.

Best for urban living

Aventon’s Pace 500.3 is the latest iteration of one of their most popular models and continues to offer a great bike for commuting and city cruising at a decent price point.

A zippy, class 3 bike with an impressive range of up to 60 miles, the Pace 500.3 now boasts a torque sensor for a smoother pedalling experience and bright front lights with rear turn signals. It has a hub motor to help you tackle inclines, and a fully integrated fast-charging 48V battery, offering a sleek aesthetic.

There’s a large, handlebar-mounted LCD display that works well in bright sunlight to give you status data and it also has throttle control if you don’t want to pedal. A bit of a packhorse, the Pace 500.3 has the capacity to load the bike up to 300 lbs, which is extremely impressive if you’re looking for a bike capable of replacing your car. However, models don’t come with additional racks, so you’ll need to purchase these separately which does bump up the price.

Best for efficient storage

The funky-looking Generation e1.1 from American outdoor store REI’s own-brand Co-Op Cycles comes with 20-inch wheels with 2.4-inch tyres and a low standover for zippy handling and easy on/off. There’s one frame size, but four colours. It’s only available in the USA, and it’s powered to a ‘Class 1’ speed of 20mph by a Bafang rear hub motor. Hydraulic disc brakes take care of stopping.

Nice extras include lighting, a kickstand, a rack, and a suspension fork. The 417Wh battery is removable, and lockable and gives you up to 40 miles of range. It’s only available in the USA.

Best for rough roads

Another USA-only entry from REI’s Co-Op Cycles, the CTY e2.2 has a more powerful Shimano Steps mid-mounted motor than the popular e2.1. Designed for urban riding, there’s a low standover, an upright ride position and a walk mode to the motor, making the e-bike easy to move around when you’re not riding. Though at almost 24kg, it’s not light, so don’t expect to carry it upstairs without difficulty.

For comfort, there’s a Suntour 75mm travel suspension fork and 1.95-inch Schwalbe tyres. REI gives you mudguards, wired-in lights, a kickstand and a sturdy rack, so you’re all set for city riding, but we like it best for its ability to handle rougher terrain.

Best for comfort

If you’re after laid-back cruiser style from your electric bike, the Cruiser Go! is for you. It’s sold by Trek’s Electra brand and as the name suggests, it has a ‘cruiser’ design, popularised on beaches and boardwalks in the USA. It has an integrated battery and although its capacity is limited, it is fully enclosed in the frame and gives you plenty of range if all you want is an easy cruise with family, friends, or alone.

You can add a second range extender battery that sits just behind the head tube and plugs into the charge post at the bottom end of the down tube. It has the same 250Wh capacity which should provide up to 40 miles of extra range.

Best budget electric bikes in the UK

Best value

Finding a budget eBike that still performs is no easy task. We think the Carrera Actuate 1 Lowstep offers fantastic value in it’s simple and functional design.

Firstly, the 367Wh battery is neatly integrated into the downtube and offers a range of 20-25 miles on average, with a max of 50 miles on a single charge—making this ideal for commuters and casual leisure riders. Plus, the single speed drive chain is low-maintenance and ideal for city streets and bike paths.

Best for casual riding

The Ridgeback Electron Plus has a claimed 125km range from its Shimano Steps drivetrain. There’s a Shimano Nexus seven-speed hub gear and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, for a comprehensive, quality Shimano package.

There’s the classic upright ride position, with tall handlebars, and the bike comes complete with mudguards, a rack and lights, as well as a kickstand. It might not be the fast-handling nimble bike like others on this list, but it offers a relaxed, comfortable position that helps you see around you, making it ideal for getting about town safely.

Best women’s

The Pendleton Somerby E provides an electric boost to the Pendleton women’s leisure bike, thanks to a Bafang rear hub motor and a battery under the rear rack.

The step-through alloy frame and upright position offer a similar list of benefits to the Ridgeback above; making it easy to get around town safely.

The eight-speed gearing makes for steady progress, while Tektro V-brakes help you stop. The bike comes complete with metal mudguards and a luggage rack to help you get through the city in comfort.

Best folding

The Raleigh Stow-E-Way gives you all the benefits of a folding bike plus a battery range quoted at 30 miles, with the battery removable for charging. It’s not too heavy either and comes with a seven-speed Shimano drivetrain and walk assist mode.

You get a full set of extras in the deal too, including lights, mudguards and a rear rack. The bike’s rim brakes are a fairly standard item on folding e-bikes, rather than disc brakes.

Best for rougher roads

Another budget entry from Raleigh, the Array has a 63mm travel Suntour suspension fork, mudguards, kickstand, lights and a rack, so you can get out and ride without any additional expenditure.

Suntour provides the motor and battery too, giving you a good range that’s claimed at up to 104km and has four power levels.

If you want to add a little off-road diversion to your commute the combination of suspension fork and wide 47mm tyres will smooth out the ride, whilst Tektro mechanical disc brakes provide the stopping power.

Raleigh also does a step-through version of the Array if you prefer easier mounting and dismounting

Best lightweight

The Ado Air 20 Pro e-bike has an impressively low 18kg weight in addition to a 100km quoted range. It has a lightweight aluminium frame and a simple folding mechanism. The battery is stored in the seatpost so it can be easily removed if you need to charge it away from the bike.

While the single-speed drivetrain isn’t ideal for hill climbs and different terrains, the motor will take care of the hard work. By removing the gears, the ADO Air 20 Pro has been fitted with a belt drive system which keeps maintenance to a minimum as it doesn’t require any lubrication. Removing the potential of dirty chain stains also makes the ADO a great option if you want to commute in your work clothes

It comes fitted with 1200-lumen lights and mudguards too. We think this is a great option for commuters with limited storage space.

How to choose

When it comes to purchasing an electric bike, it’s crucial to consider various factors for an effective comparison to help you narrow down your selection. You’ll need to consider elements such as battery range, motor power, torque, weight, and design to help ensure that you select the bike that best suits your needs.

In budget electric bikes, there will likely be some level of compromise across some of these factors, and it is useful for you to understand which are non-negotiable for you. Try different bikes from different retailers where possible to get a feel for the various quirks and nuances in each: you’ll start to get a deeper understanding of your preferred weight, style and torque.

You’ll also need to think about the type of riding you want to do – or would like to do more of. This is particularly crucial if you’re looking for something that can handle off-road or rougher terrain – even occasionally. Electric bikes can be heavy, and you’ll need a high degree of fitness to pedal if they lose battery power. Making sure you’ve selected the right style bike to handle whatever you throw at it will make your ride much more enjoyable.

Everything you need to know

How we test?

At Cyclingnews we have amassed years of testing across a wide range of categories of bikes. While our specialism is in road and gravel bikes, we have also tested plenty of other bikes including commuter, step-through, folding, and mixed-terrain e-bikes—to suit the most common urban and recreational use cases. It’s not just bikes either, from testing groupsets to wind tunnel and lab testing, our reviews cover all components and accessories. This intrinsic understanding means that we are able to confidently recommend the best budget electric bike for you, picking options for cyclists based in the US and the UK.

Testing is the backbone of the tech department at Cyclingnews and how we test is taken seriously, so read on to find out more.