Everyone will have a different definition of the term "affordable" when it comes to electric bikes. We get it; personal budgets and living costs vary greatly depending on where you live, what your priorities are, and so on. For the purposes of this category, we consider any electric bike that costs less than $2,000 to be "affordable". While there are still better products out there, for many people "a bike is a bike", and any e-bike that lets you get out and ride is a great e-bike to own. E-bikes in this category tend to offer good value without breaking the bank, and they're recommended if you're new to the wonderful world of electric bikes.
These electric bikes all cost less than $2,000 USD
Vintage Vibes Done Right! Weighing in at less than 45 pounds, the aptly-named Ultralight is an electric bike you can carry or load on a standard bike rack with ease, making it a great fit for campers and RVers. With stealthily integrated electronics this classic ride will easily pass for a regular bicycle, meaning you can worry less when locking it up in public places. This is a Class 1 e-bike which means no throttle, but who needs a throttle when you have such a fun-to-ride torque sensor?
Dual batteries on a small folding e-bike? Qualisports says "sure, why not!" Having the dual battery option is nice if you want to maximize your range, but you might not want to ride that far since this is a small bike with no suspension... but even then it's nice to not have to charge up as often. Plus, the battery-hiding seatpost is extra thick which means you can raise it extra high; this combined with the telescoping stem make the Dolphin Plus surprisingly comfortable for what it is. The 500 watt motor feels pleasantly zippy due to the smaller diameter wheels, with a tried-and-true Shimano drivetrain for pedaling.
Value packed is the name of the game for the E-TORQUE, a feature-complete budget-friendly commuter from EUNORAU. "Feature Complete" means it's got everything you need to use it for it's intended purpose of city commuting: Lights, signals, fenders, sturdy rear rack, and basic suspension are all included at no extra cost. You may have guessed from the name that the E-TORQUE is indeed equipped with a satisfyingly responsive torque sensor, which provides a better riding experience than the cadence sensors which are common at this budget price range. Plus EUNORAU has an excellent warranty and hundreds of dealers around the world!
The FAT-AWD stands out from other dual-motor electric bikes as a versatile workhorse that is easily modified to suit just about any use case. On paper it's much less powerful than most dual-motor machines, but (as usual) paper doesn't tell the full story; with both motors engaged this e-bike is still quite peppy and provides satisfying acceleration! It's solid frame gives it a lot of stability and high payload capacity, but also means it lacks comfort, especially on long rides. Truth be told you'd probably have to invest in some comfort and convenience upgrades, but with it's impressively low price point you'd still be coming out ahead compared to how expensive most dual-motor setups are. Plus, EUNORAU has a great warranty and large dealer network, so hopefully you can get in to test ride one before buying!
The Eagle isn't dual battery - unlike some of HAOQI's other offerings - but it still has a beefy 960 watt-hour battery that has more range than your butt does. Available in both high-step and step-through varieties and rocking commuting niceties like fenders and a rear rack, the Eagle is a fairly balanced e-bike that will ride well in a variety of situations. You can even do some off-road exploring thanks to the suspension fork, though it's a pretty basic one so avoid stunt jumps.
The Reindeer is a well balanced utility bike, choosing to be good at a lot of things without putting too many points in one skillset. It is equipped with a sturdy rack, fenders, and integrated lights - plus good visibility from reflective sidewall striping - so it's ready to hit city streets as a commuter. The fat tires combined with a front suspension fork provide good comfort for long rides and exploring trails, but you should invest in some puncture protection as the tires don't include any by default. This is a Class 2/3 hybrid with both throttle and pedal assist with a top speed of 28mph.
Every manufacturer wants their own 20x4 inch fat-tire step-thru "do everything" e-bike this year, and Hiboy is no exception! Their EX6 stands out from the crowd with a skinny cruiser-esque frame, which is undoubtedly more comfortable if not quite as load bearing. The EX6 is also what most people (myself included) would consider suspiciously cheap, currently priced at just $800... but to be fair they might just be trying to clear out inventory before the end of the year. It's got a decent capacity battery, lights and fenders, a sturdy rack, and the stem has a wide adjustable range for dialing in the fit.
It's electric, and it's a mountain bike! A little bit too traditional of a mountain bike for our my tastes, if I'm being honest; it's rocking a 27 speed Shimano drivetrain, but the reality is that no electric bike needs to have that many gears, so it's just extra weight and complexity. The TX19 is rocking a 500 watt rear hub motor, which is undoubtedly fun to cruise around on, but again it's not a great fit for a mountain bike; most MTB trails don't allow a motor that powerful, and hub motors are just not great at climbing, which of course is something mountain bikes have to do frequently. Still, it is full suspension with hydraulic brakes, and should perform pretty well provided you can find good places to ride it.
Lot's of modern e-bikes have a dual battery option for a lot of extra cheddar, but the HAOQI Antelope Cargo has two included by default! That allows for some serious range of between 40 and 80 miles depending on how much you're pushing the motor, but take that with a grain of salt as we haven't actually tested it ourselves yet. The Antelope Cargo is a thick-framed step through with 20x4" fat tires and a full set of commuting must haves; lights, fenders, and all that jazz. This style of e-bike has been wildly popular in 2023, though one thing that sets the Antelope Cargo apart is the very high carrying capacity of 400 pounds, due in part to the extremely sturdy cast alloy wheels. That combined with the dual battery setup will definitely make this an attractive e-bike for delivery drivers!
The Freedom ST is just like the regular Freedom, except it's got an approachable step-through frame so you don't have to swing your leg up-and-over to get on. Other than that it's the standard Wing experience, although the frame doesn't look quite as iconic as the regular version. This is a fairly basic e-bike with Shimano Tourney drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and ships as Class 1 by default, but you can add a throttle for no extra charge! Since the Freedom ST only has a cadence sensor for pedal assistance you're probably going to want that throttle, and why not, since it's free?
This "blast" from the past will make you feel like you're a kid riding your BMX again... except now you can cruise around at 20mph without breaking a sweat! The Soda Bike is fairly small as e-bikes go, prioritizing nimble quickness over comfort, though it will definitely be WAY more comfortable than your old BMX bike was thanks to the beefy fat tires and front suspension fork. This is a Class 2 with both pedal assist and a throttle, and a 624 watt-hour battery for plenty of range.
Wing usually makes lightweight city bikes but they're branching out with the Freedom Fatty 2, rocking giant 4-inch Kenda Krusader tires on their uniquely shaped frames. These frames have lights integrated into the ends of their long top tubes, which looks cool and also helps protect the lights from accidental snag damage. There's no suspension which means you can't go too crazy in your adventuring, but those big tires provide a surprising amount of comfort!
Dual battery and full suspension for under $2,000 might sound too good to be true... but you can get it on the Cheetah! This fat tire e-bike is designed for adventuring both on and off the pavement, and even includes free rack & fenders which will come in handy for commuters. Integrated lights are also present although they aren't super bright, and there aren't any turn signals... but hey, for $1,899 it's tough to complain about that. Plus, this tanky Class 3 can carry up to 400 pounds of weight, making it a great fit for us larger riders.