Calling an e-bike “cheap” is a risky proposition. As members of the media, we have to be careful to avoid words that can be misunderstood; in this case, our readers might think we are saying the products listed below suffer from poor quality, when we mean instead that they’re extremely budget-friendly.

To be clear, as much as we enjoy helping people find e-bikes to fit their specific needs and budget constraints, we don’t recommend products that aren’t well-made and built using quality components.

If you’re surfing Alibaba, Temu, or Amazon, you may be able to find e-bikes priced lower than those we’ve included here, but there are several reasons you won’t find them listed below. We’ve had hands-on experience with every bike on this page, and each has met our standards for quality, performance, and safety, while still being seriously affordable. While it sounds like an oxymoron, it’s not: these are the best cheap e-bikes around.

Some of the e-bike models listed here are naturally priced low, while others have been marked down significantly for clearance sales. Some have even been awarded a top overall e-bike of the year by our team of expert testers and reviewers! Regardless, each is a great deal that we think would be hard to pass up if you’re pinching pennies.

• Best Cheap Multi-Purpose: Lectric XP4
• Best Cheap Folding: Ride1UP Portola
• Best Cheap Lightweight: Aventon Soltera 2.5
• Best Cheap City Cruiser: Velotric Discover 1 Plus
• Best Cheap City Commuter: Ride1Up Roadster V3
• Best Cheap Single Speed: Lectric XP Lite2
• Best Cheap Portable Fat Tire: RadExpand 5
• Best Cheap Beach Cruiser: Retrospec Chatham Rev 2
• Best Cheap Step-Thru: Aventon Pace 500.3 ST
• Best Cheap Mid-Drive: Heybike Alpha
• Best Cheap Full-Size Fat Tire: Velotric Nomad 1 Plus
• Best Cheap Cargo: Lectric XPedition2
• Best Cheap Moped-Style: Retrospec Valen Rev 2

Electric tricycles, also known as e-trikes, are three-wheeled mobility devices that offer riders a high degree of stability at low speeds. Their stability makes them ideal for seniors or other adults with special mobility needs who are unable to balance on a bicycle or e-bike. For whatever reason you’re hesitant to hop on two wheels, maybe hopping on one of the best electric trikes is more what you’re suited for.

Electric trikes typically have high payload capacities, giving them a remarkable amount of utility! If they don’t outright include cargo racks or baskets, they can usually be outfitted with a range of compatible accessories to help riders carry a load of groceries or other cargo. E-trikes are also well-suited for carrying heavier riders.

The following list is comprised of a handful of our go-to recommendations for e-trikes. Each differs from the others in at least one main area; some are best for shoppers on a budget, others prioritize portability, and still others aim to maximize their overall stability and accessibility.

Each trike’s section below covers a few of its highlights, but we’ve included links to our full written and video reviews in case you have unanswered questions. Keep reading to learn more about our top choices for the best electric tricycles!

• Lectric XP Trike2
• Velotric Triker
• Rad Power Bikes RadTrike
• Evelo Compass
• Retrospec Boca Rev Trike
• Mooncool TK1 Folding Electric Trike
• Sixthreezero Easy Transit 750W Folding Electric Trike
• Mokwheel Granite
• Sixthreezero Rickshaw

The daily commute for an average person can be many different things. It can be dozens of miles spent in a car each morning and evening, an hour or two on public transit per day, a couple of three-block walks, etc. From our point of view, there’s no reason why your trip shouldn’t be spent on one of the top commuter electric bikes!

From powerful speedsters and sporty, long-haul pedalers to elegant and comfortable cruisers, our team of reviewers has tested the best commuter e-bikes money can buy. We’ve compiled our favorites to help you pick the bike that fits your needs.

The commuter e-bikes included on this list will not just get you to your destination without sweating through your clothes; they’ll get you there quickly and have the battery capacity to cover long distances with ease. More importantly, these bikes will make the job of getting to your job much more fun and enjoyable!

Since commuting can mean so many different things depending on where you live and work (especially here in the U.S.), we’ve tried our best to stick to bikes designed primarily for this specific purpose.

These bikes are primarily built for pavement, and their motor and battery systems were chosen with speed, efficiency, and longevity in mind. If you’re looking for a lighter-duty commuter more at home in a bustling urban environment, check out our list of the best city and urban e-bikes; otherwise, keep reading below!

• Aventon Level.3
• Lectric XPress 750
• Ride1Up Vorsa
• Velotric Discover 2
• Rad Power Bikes Radster Road
• Lectric ONE
• Ride1UP Prodigy V2
• Tenways AGO X
• Euphree Stellar Falcon
• Trek Allant+ 8S
• Rad Power Bikes RadKick
• Trek FX+ 7S
• Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 EQ Carbon

From cruising traffic-clogged city streets to scooting a few blocks to the office and back, our staff of professional testers reviewed many of the best city and urban electric bikes on the market. But what makes a city bike a city bike?

Truthfully, this category of e-bikes is broad, and ultimately, any bike can be a city bike. For example, you could happily ride a full-suspension eMTB around the streets of New York City. You might, however, run into its limitations in that environment when riding through puddles or trying to carry it up a flight of stairs.

Generally speaking, city and urban e-bikes are a part of the larger commuter category, but they have certain characteristics that make them best suited for short-range commutes in densely populated urban environments.

They’re usually a little lighter, a little more nimble, and sometimes have a little less power and range than pure commuter bikes, though they may look extremely similar at first glance.

All of the bikes on this list have been put through the wringer by our team of experienced bike testers on the roads and bike paths of southwest Utah. We consider each to be equally comfortable in a dense urban environment.

If you’re seeking the best city e-bikes on the market, we think these are just too good to ignore.

• Ride1Up Roadster v3
• Tenways CGO600 Pro / Pro-C
• Lectric XP Lite2
• Aventon Soltera 2.5
• Velotric T1 ST Plus
• Trek FX+ 1S
• Rad Power Bikes RadKick (Chain Drive)
• Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 EQ Carbon
• Trek FX+ 2
• LeMond Prolog

Cruiser-style e-bikes are the epitome of a good time! They’re designed to be comfortable, accommodating, and easy to ride, but a few other characteristics come standard as well.

While other types of e-bikes often pitch their riders forward, cruisers are known for their upright positioning (more like sitting on a chair than flying like Superman). They also typically have handlebars with some degree of curve, giving them a relaxed, ergonomic feel.

Finally, while some e-bikes deviate from the norm more than others, cruisers often feature motors with reserved, highly approachable power levels. This toned-down vibe encourages taking a slower pace and enjoying the scenery, making electric cruiser bikes ideal for leisure rides.

We’ve identified a handful of the best cruiser-style e-bikes from the hundreds our team of reviewers has tested. Cruisers come in two varieties that we have separated our selections into:

• Beach cruisers evoke the classic cars of the 1950s and 60s with curvy retro styling, soft colors, and shiny aluminum trim. Their handlebars are wide and swept back, with a feel similar to using a wheelbarrow.
• Dutch-style cruisers, on the other hand, are lightweight commuter hybrids that tend to be more contemporary in design; we like to call them “city cruisers.” They often have sleek, angular frames with brighter or bolder colors. While curved, their handlebars place their riders’ hands closer together in front of their bodies instead of tilted down and out to the sides.

Both styles are great for running errands or simply getting some fresh air. If you’re seeking a comfortable, stylish bike for casual rides or commuting, continue reading below for more information about our favorite cruisers!

Best Dutch Cruisers

• Velotric Discover 2
• Lectric XPress 750 ST
• Velotric Breeze 1
• Aventon Pace 4
• Specialized Turbo Como 3.0

Best Beach Cruisers

• Electra Townie Go! S
• Retrospec Chatham Rev+
• Retrospec Beaumont Rev 2

When discussing the two types of e-bike motors, the best mid-drive e-bikes and hub-drive e-bikes give riders a surprisingly different riding experience. With one, you only need to work as much as you want. With the other, you’re involved.

It’s a little more complicated than this, but I think it’s automatic vs. stick shift.

Most mid-drive motors use a torque sensor to judge when to turn the motor on and off. They also add an additional layer to the experience. By detecting how much pressure is on the pedals, they allow the motor to change how much it helps you pedal.

From the moment a rider pushes down on a pedal, the motor springs to life. Power addition and subtraction come in proportion to the rider’s effort. Furthermore, the proportion of power applied is determined by which PAS level the rider has selected.

While the experience of riding a mid-drive e-bike is natural and seamless, it also means that the rider is going to have to work harder to go faster. A Class 3 mid-drive e-bike, for example, won’t go 28 mph without the rider making some real effort.

We’ve tested a myriad of e-bikes with mid-drive motors and have selected a handful of options that we consider to be the best. Whether you want a relaxed city cruiser or a tough and active trekking bike, look no further for the best mid-drive electric bikes!

• Ride1UP Prodigy V2
• Aventon Ramblas
• Trek Allant+ 8s
• Aventon Aventure M
• Tenways AGO X
• Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 6.0 EQ Carbon
• Specialized Turbo Como 3.0 IGH
• Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy Gen 4
• Trek FX+ 7S
• Tern Quick Haul Long D9
• Trek Marlin+ 8

If you’re a speed demon, an adrenaline junkie, or simpy a fun-seeking rider searching for an e-bike with heaps of power and punch, you’re in the right place!

Whether used for cruising, commuting, or playing in off-road environments, moped-style e-bikes are as versatile as they are iconic. They borrow visual elements from motorcycles and dirt bikes, giving them an aggressive look that often matches their speed capabilities. In most cases, they’re also remarkably comfortable!

Also known as moto-style e-bikes, those in this category typically have thickly padded, nonadjustable bench seats. Some offer the ability to carry a passenger, commonly with the addition of a saddle extension, and many include motorcycle-grade suspension systems, durable tires, and lighting features such as full-on headlamps and turn signals.

Of course, moped-style e-bikes also include operable pedals, though we anticipate most riders will rely primarily on throttle power to motor around.

Our team of professional reviewers has tested hundreds of e-bikes of various styles, including moto- and moped-style e-bikes for on-road, off-road, and mixed use. If you’re seeking recommendations for a super speedy commuter or an off-road monster, see below for a list of our favorites!

• Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT
• Ride1UP Revv 1 FS
• EUYBike S4
• Ride1UP Revv 1 HT
• Retrospec Valen Rev+