Finding a good quality, high performance and durable electric bike is tough. It’s even tougher to find one for less than $1000. But if you put in the work and search around there are definitely a few cheap e-bikes out there that cost less than $1000 and are worth the money. We’ve done the hard work for you and given ourselves a budget of $1000 to find the best e-bikes we can. We’ll go through our findings in a list of the top 10 best electric bikes for less than 1000 dollars. And to make things even easier for you they’re all available on Amazon so you could be the proud owner of one of these bikes in the next day or two.
Whilst we have ordered the list, it was very difficult to do so and there is very little difference in quality between the bikes in position 10 and 1. They’re all worth your time and money and we’re sure you’ll get a great product no matter which one you buy.
Contents
10. Nakto Foldaway Electric Bike
The Nakto folding electric bike is small, lightweight and fun start to the list. It has a 250 W motor and a 36 V 10Ah battery that gives it enough energy to manage a comfortable 20 miles on a single charge with some people hitting 22 or 23 miles. The battery will recharge in about 3 – 4 hours depending on how much it has been used. The motor and lightweight gives it a top speed of around 20 miles per hour. It has multiple control modes so you have the choice of how much work you do and you can even ride it with no electrical assistance at all.
The Nakto is well built and feels sturdy. It is fitted with a quick release clamp to assist in folding the bike quickly and makes a perfect bike for taking with you on travelling holidays or using as a commuting bike. If you are particularly looking for a commuting bike, have also a read of the best electric bikes for commuting in 2020.
Other features that the Nakto offers are:
- Front v-brake and rear expansion brake
- Adjustable and quick release seat post
- Maximum rider weight of 250lbs
- Included tool kit and smart battery charger.
Overall, the Nakto foldaway electric bike has everything you need to get you started with electric bicycles. It would make a great commuter bike and has great reviews all over the internet. Best of all it comes in at just over half of our budget, which feels like an absolute bargain for what you’re getting.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
9. Swagtron Swagcycle
Swagtron are becoming quite well known for building cheap and yet feature heavy electric forms of standard transportation. For example the Swagtron Swagger is a fantastically price electric scooter that has features you only normally see on premium models. But the Swagger only cost a couple hundred dollars, rather than a couple thousand. We liked it so much that it even made it onto our list of the best electric scooters for commuting.
Continuing with the trend that Swagtron products tend to have, the SwagCycle is feature packed and yet very well priced. It’s not like your conventional e-bike, rather its somewhere between a scooter and a bicycle. It doesn’t have pedals at all but is instead powered by a 250 W motor. The motor is powered by a 36V battery that can give a range of around 10 miles on a full charge. The battery and motor work together to get the SwagCycle up to a top speed of 10 miles per hour.
It is also fitted with quite a few features and extras that many other electric bicycles don’t have, especially foldable ones under 1000 dollars. These include:
- A micro USB charging point built into the battery so you’re able to charge your devices whilst you ride
- A twist throttle
- A built in horn
- A front headlight for night time riding
- A kick stand
- An accompanying mobile app
Overall, the Swagtron SwagCycle is a very capable little machine. It is definitely suited to city riding and is perfect for commuting. There isn’t any suspension and the ride can be a bit rough so we’d recommend it for shorter commutes. This is definitely one of the more unique bikes on the list but still fits the criteria so we can say it’s one of the best electric bikes under 1000 dollars.
The Swagtron SwagCycle also features on our list of the best folding electric bike reviews.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
8. Cosway Speed Electric Mountain Bike
The Cosway is the first electric mountain bike on the list. It’s made from a combination of a high strength carbon steel and aluminum alloys to make it lightweight yet very strong. It uses a 250 W brushless electric motor that can get it up to a top speed of just over 15 mph. Whilst this isn’t the best performance on the list it does have a great range statistic. The Cosway is capable of reaching almost 40 miles on a single charge. This is due to a long range 36 V 8Ah lithium ion battery. It’s also equipped with a smart charger so it can be charged in around 4 hours.
It also has a 3 speed smart meter button and 2 working modes. This means you can choose to have the bike do all the work for you or set it to assistive mode where it complements your pedaling.
The Cosway Speed Electric Mountain Bike also features some nice little extras, such as:
- A 6 speed Shimano gear set
- Ergonomic grips
- Fully adjustable seat
- Anti-slip wear resistance tire to help with traction on any off road sections you might attempt
- Front LED light for helping to see in the dark
- Included horn
Overall, the Cosway is a great attempt at making a durable and high performance electric mountain bike. Whilst the top speed isn’t as good as other bikes it certain makes up for it with the maximum range that it can deliver. Bare in mind this range figure is probably when conditions are ideal and the terrain is flat. If you’re going up and down rough hills on a cold and windy day you’ll be getting less. But this is the same for all electric vehicles so you shouldn’t worry too much. The Cosway also comes in a just over half the budget so you’re getting quite a lot of bike for very little money.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
7. Cyclamatic CX2 Foldaway Electric Bicycle
We’ve recently reviewed some of the best value for money electric bikes and one of those was a Cyclamatic. One of the best things we liked about the Cyclamatic is the value for money. This time it’s the CX2 that we’re reviewing but with whichever product of theirs you look at you’re getting a lot of bike for a very reasonable price.
The CX2 is a foldable electric bike that is ideal for city commuting. It has a 250 W motor that will easily help you reach 15 miles per hours. This is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery that is also removable. This gives the user approximately 25 – 30 miles of range on a single charge. This will obviously vary depending on the weather, rider and terrain but if you’re going to be using it in the city for your commute we’d expect you to reach at least 25 miles.
The Cyclamatic CX2 has multiple riding modes to allow you to choose how much effort you put in and can even be ridden with no electrical assistance at all if you desire. This is all controlled through a simple system on the handlebars.
The CX2 also features:
- A padded saddle
- 20 inch Kenda tires
- Mud guards
- A 6 speed Shimano transmission system
- V-brakes
- Electric lights
- A bell
- A set of front and rear reflectors
Pretty much everything you need to get you riding comfortably and safely.
Overall, the CX2 is perfect for people looking to buy a very well priced folding e-bike for city commutes. It’s designed especially for this exact purpose and will help you get to work without the effort (or sweat!). Just be weary that if you do have to manually pedal a few people have reported the pedals being tough and not as well made as some other bikes. We find this to be a small percentage of the buyers but it is still something to be aware of nonetheless.
For a more detailed look at the Cyclamatic CX2 read our full review.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
6. GoPlus Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike
The GoPlus is our first fat tire bike on the list. Having fat tires means more grip and a wider surface area to ride on. This makes it perfect for terrain such as snow and sand as there is a larger footprint for the bike to grip to.
The GoPlus has 20 inch wheel with fat tires. It also has premium shock absorption on the seat post and the front wheel. All of this helps towards providing a very comfortable and satisfying ride, even when going fast over bumpy roads and trails. The main frame of the bike is made from 100 percent aluminum alloy frame which means it’s lightweight but also quite durable. The front fork is made from a high strength carbon steel which is said to give a better braking effect. The GoPlus has two hydraulic disc brakes to help you slow down that work very well. It’s powered by a 350 W motor and a removable 48 V 8Ah battery. You’ll be getting about 25 miles range and a top speed of 17 mph. The battery fits perfectly within the frame which we love. It makes the bike look like a standard mountain bike rather than a mountain bike that has been adapted into a makeshift electric bike like many other e-bikes out there.
Other features of the GoPlus include:
- Two modes – e-bike and assistive
- Bright LED headlight
- Included horn
- 6 speed Shimano shift
Overall, the GoPlus is a very capable e-bike. It costs about ¾ of the budget which is a little more than some of the other mountain bikes on the list but for that money you’re still getting a very good bike.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
5. Nakto Cargo Electric Bicycle
The Nakto Cargo Electric Bike is your typical step through electric bike except with a few additional extras that take it one step higher. Like the Nakto Foldaway, the Cargo is very well built, being made from a high strength carbon steel frame. It also performs very well using a 250 W blushless motor and a 36 V 10Ah lithium battery that is removable. This means you’re likely to get around 25 miles from the battery before it needs to be recharged. You can also pretty comfortably hit 15 – 20 mph with the motor.
Like many e-bikes at this price range, you get 2 operational mode, one for complete power from the bike and the other being the assisted mode.
But what the Cargo version has that many others do not is the additional basket and rear carrying rack for transporting goods. These are very nice additions that improve the versatility of an already very versatile bike. The front basket is good but like many baskets can feel a bit flimsy at times, whereas the rear rack is very sturdy and larger than we were expecting. They add together to make very useful carrying space.
Other features include:
- Tool kit for keeping the bike road worthy
- 1 year warranty
- Electric power display
- Front v brake and rear expansion brake
- 250 lbs max rider weight
Overall, the Nakto Cargo offers a lot of features, great build quality and some very nice looks for a good price. For all this you can expect to pay about two thirds of our budget, which is very reasonable. We’d pay more and still call it one of the best electric bikes under 1000.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
4. Cyclamatic Power Plus CX1
The Cyclamatic CX1 is built from a completely steel frame which manages to make the entire bike very strong. Despite this there have been precautions taken to keep the total weight low and they have done a decent job as the entire steel bike and battery system only weighs 63 lbs (28.6 kg). What really stands out with the cyclamatic, though, is the attention to detail with the build. The mudguards are good quality, and there isn’t any cheap plastics used around them. The finish on the connections that have been welded are very good. They’re very precise and it really creates a strong final product. They look smooth and you can tell there has been care taken in not creating any sharp or uneven edges. All this also creates a very nice looking bike.
The CX1 is also very easy to use. There is a 250W brushless motor that assists the rider whenever they start pedaling. This can be adjusted with the control panel on the handle bars. There are three pedal assist levels – low, medium and high. In addition to this it also has a 21 gear system. This is a quick change Shimano system that is very often seen on premium bikes and allows for much easier and controllable inclines.
Powering the 250W motor is a 36V 8.8AH removable lithium ion battery. It can be fully charged in 4 – 6 hours and can provide a range of around 25 – 30 miles. This is obviously dependant on the rider, conditions, terrain and the assistance settings but you should expect at least 25 miles on a full charge.
In addition to the already mentioned features it also has:
- Full weather proofing so can be ridden in rain or shine
- It is also fitted with a padded seat
- Front suspension
- 26 inch Kenda tires that help to make a surprisingly comfortable ride
Overall, if you’re looking for a solid all round electric bike that is super simple to use and cost much less than $1,000 then the Cyclamatic CX1 is one of the best value electric bikes you can buy right now.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
3. Cyclamatic GTE Pro Step Through Electric Bike
At number 3 is the last of the Cyclamatics. This is a standard step through bike with the addition of an electric motor. It’s fairly similar to the CX2 we mentioned above but doesn’t have the ability to fold. Instead it has an increased battery size of 10.4 Ah and it produces 36V. This runs a 250W motor like many of the other bikes on this list. But the GTE Pro is able to achieve a max range of almost 40 miles. It’s top speed is about 15 mph. This makes it perfect for long range riding.
What we really like about this is the design with the battery. It’s very simple and we’re suprised we haven’t seen more bikes do this. It takes the battery and mounts it over the back wheel and then places a rack over the top. This makes the entire bike look sleeker, it removes the battery from the main frame which can sometimes get in the way, and it gives you a rack for storage at the back.
The rest of the GTE Pro is just as you’d expect from a Cyclamatic. Here’s a list of some of the best features we haven’t mentioned so far:
- Weather proofed so it’s fully safe to ride in the rain
- 6 speed Shimano gears
- 5 levels of assistance so you can get the perfect help to suit you
- Padded saddle
- Kenda tires
- Electric lights
- A bell
- A set of front and rear reflectors
Overall, this takes the care and quality of the other Cyclamatic e-bikes and just adds more performance and versatility to it. You’re left with a great bike and it comes at a very reasonable price. You’ll get a couple hundred dollars left over from the budget and be left with a bike that can compete with e-bikes that are more than twice the price.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
2. Ecotric Fat Tire Foldable Electric Bike
The Ecotric is a compact, foldable, fat tire, electric bike. It’s fairly small and lightweight, using aluminum for the frame material. It uses a 500W motor and a 36V 12AH lithium ion battery. Using this it can easily reach speeds of 20 mph and at least 25 miles range. What we really like about the Ecotric is how versatile it is. As it uses the fat tires and small wheels it can be used by basically anyone. It’s incredibly easy to ride and can take rider weights of up to 300lbs. It handles very well on all surfaces and terrains, including snow and sand as you would expect from a fat tire bike. The overall performance is very impressive for the price.
It also features a few things that you’ve probably come to expect by now and a few extras that you might not expect, for example:
- Front and rear disc brakes
- Shimano 7 speed transmission system with a half twist throttle
- Multiple operation modes
- A very good LED display
- Foldable frame with connecting rod lock and self locking type safety hook
- Snow crank
Overall, the performance and the versatility make this a great option for anyone. It’s especially good for heavier riders and will provide hours of fun. It’s also very well priced and you’ll easily get a couple hundred dollars back from the budget. This is definitely one of the best e-bikes under 1000 dollars.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
1. Ancheer Folding Electric Mountain Bike
The Ancheer folding electric mountain bike has a very striking appearance, with unmistakably large wheels, a solid looking frame despite it having the ability to fold and a little fabric pack on the front of the handlebars which houses the battery.
The frame is made from an industrial aluminum alloy that makes the Ancheer incredibly lightweight and yet very strong. The frame is coated with an anti-rust and anti-exposure paint to make it more durable. The wheels are 26 inch magnesium alloy wheels that have an anti-slip resistance tire. This allows the entire system to be suitable for any weather including rain and even snow. The folding mechanism is very simple and it feels sturdy when extended, unlike some cheaper mountain bikes. It also folds down quite a way and makes storage a lot easier, even with the large wheels.
The Ancheer is powered by a 36V 8Ah battery that powers a 250 W motor. This is said to give it about 30 miles maximum range when in assistive mode. The battery is able to fully charge in 4-6 hours. How much power you want the bike to exert is dependant on which mode you set it to. It has 2 modes: assistive and e-bike. E-bike will power the entire thing for you so you don’t have to pedal at all, whereas assistive will give you a bit of power to help you out. This is all controlled by a small panel on the handlebars.
Other features include:
- High strength carbon steel suspension system
- A smart lithium battery charger included
- A bright headlamp on the front of the bike
- A horn on the handlebars
Overall, the Ancheer is a great e-bike that is well worth your money. Mountain biking with the electrical assistance makes it a lot less demanding and can open up the sport to many more people. It has a great feature set, comes mostly assembled and Ancheer are said to have a very good customer service team. Not only this but the Ancheer foldable mountain bike follows its non foldable brother and is priced very cheaply. You can probably find it for just over half the budget. For all this, we can’t really fault it.
Read our full review of the Ancheer Folding Electric Mountain Bike for a more detailed look.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Read More on AltRiders
Which of the bikes under $1000 on this list come with a warranty and or can one buy replacement parts for, especially the electrical parts that keeps one from having to replacing the entire bike??? Thank you
Hi Kate, most of the bikes on the list have a 1 year warranty. The Ancheer has a 6 month warranty and the Ecotric has a 2 year warranty.
Nakto and Swagtron have a good range of replacement parts and they both tend to be pretty well stocked. As far as I’m aware, most of the other brands tend to be a bit more difficult to find replacement parts for so you might have to do a lot of searching around the web, unfortunately.
Hope this helps a bit, let us know if you need anything else.
Want to add my bike to this list? Ride1UP 500 series. Or do you charge to be on this list?
-Kevin
Hi Kevin,
No we don’t generally charge for products to be featured on the site. We’ve sent you an email with a bit more information.