Electric scooters are convenient, especially if you want to travel on sidewalks and bike paths to avoid traffic jams. If that doesn’t convince you, think about all the gas, parking fees, tickets, tolls, and taxi fares that you will evade if you drive an electric scooter. However, if you’re on a tight budget, can you find cheap electric scooters that are actually good?
Editor’s note: In this roundup of the best electric scooters to pick, we’re looking at electric kick-scooters. Some people refer to mopeds or small motorcycles as scooters. If you’re looking for that, we have a roundup of the best electric mopeds here.
The good news is we’ve curated a list of the best affordable electric scooters on the market. Please keep in mind that when we say “cheap” electric scooters, we mean products that are below $500.
Looking for the best electric kick-scooters overall? Here are our top picks
Without further ado, let’s jump right in!
The top affordable electric scooters: At a glance
Razor E300
The Razor E300 Electric scooter is one of the most affordable electric scooters on the market, yet it comes with features you would expect in mid-range models. For starters, the frame is made up of durable alloy steel and the tires are pneumatic to absorb shock and improve stability.
In addition to that, it’s powered by a 250-watt chain-driven motor that can propel you to a maximum speed of 15 mph. It even comes with a dual suspension, hand-operated front brake, and a retractable kickstand.
See the Razor E300 Electric Scooter
However, it uses a 24-volt lead-acid battery that takes 12 hours to charge; that is too long in our book. Similarly, the 10-mile range is shorter than average. Then again, how many e-scooters can you find for less than $400 that can outperform this model?
What we like about Razor E300
- Lightweight and portable
- Durable steel frame
- Shock absorbing pneumatic tires
- Ideal for kids and adults
- Dual suspension
- Easy to use
What we don’t like about Razor E300
- Short battery range
Razor E300 specs
- Motor power: 250 W
- Range: 10 miles
- Rider weight limit: 220 lbs
- Top speed: 15 mph
- Unit weight: 43 lbs
- Price: $377
Gotrax XR Elite
The XR Elite is not your average low-budget electric scooter; it’s designed with a 38V lithium-ion battery that can deliver up to 18.6 miles on a single charge. Better yet, its 300W motor can push it to a top speed of 15.5 mph.
Unlike most e-scooters that use a standard brake system, this model is fitted with a very efficient disc brake on the rear wheel. What’s more, it comes with a digital display that lets you know the current speed, battery life, headlight status, and cruise control.
See the Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter
Did I mention that it weighs just 31 pounds, and you can easily fold the stem to make it portable? Unfortunately, the 8.5-inch pneumatic tires are too small to be used on off-road terrain.
What we like about Gotrax XR Elite
- Lightweight and portable
- 15 degrees inclination
- Long battery range
- Digital display
- Powerful disc brakes
What we don’t like about Gotrax XR Elite
- Small tires
Gotrax XR Elite specs
- Motor power: 300W
- Range: 6 miles
- Rider weight limit: 220 lbs
- Top speed: 5 mph
- Unit weight: 31 lbs
- Price: $419
Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10
The Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10 is one of the cheapest scooters for children between 8 and 14 years. Of course, since it’s a scooter for kids, don’t expect it to go too fast; the top speed is 10 mph while the range is 6.2 miles.
But what’s impressive about it is the feature that makes it possible to limit the maximum speed; this is important if you don’t want your kid to travel too fast and get injured. In other words, you could lock the maximum speed at 3.1 mph and 6.2 mph.
Besides that, some of the other notable features include thumb throttle, vibrant ambient light, and regenerative braking. It also comes with a spring damping system that makes the ride more comfortable and smoother.
See the Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10
Its biggest drawback? It has a 132 pounds weight limit capacity. It would have been perfect for both kids and adults if it could have been any higher.
What we like about Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10
- Speed limit control
- Easy to ride
- High-performance handbrake
- Lightweight and foldable
- 12 months warranty
- Fast charging time
What we don’t like about Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10
- Not suitable for adults
Segway Ninebot eKickScooter ZING E10 specs
- Motor power: 150 W
- Range: 2 miles
- Rider weight limit: 132 lbs
- Top speed: 10 mph
- Unit weight: 7 lbs
- Price: $259
Gotrax Apex
This is another Gotrax scooter but a slightly different and cheaper model. In fact, the only difference between the Gotrax Apex and XR Elite model is that the latter has a bigger battery and a more powerful 300 watts motor. To be specific, the Gotrax Apex has a top speed of 15.5 mph and a full battery range of 15 miles.
However, it has a 220-pound weight limit similar to the XR Elite mode. Everything else is similar, from the digital display, disc brakes, pneumatic tires, and one-touch folding feature. Not to forget, all Gotrax scooters have a 6-month warranty.
On the downside, we’ve noticed this model has a lower waterproof rating compared to the XR Elite model.
What we like about Gotrax Apex
- One-touch folding feature
- Powerful disc brake
- Long battery range
- Lightweight
- Six months warranty
- Digital display
What we don’t like about Gotrax Apex
- Low waterproof rating
Gotrax Apex specs
- Motor power: 250 W
- Range: 15 miles
- Rider weight limit: 220 lbs
- Top speed: 5 mph
- Unit weight: 32 lbs
- Price: $329
Hiboy S2
What’s cool about the Hiboy S2 electric scooter is that it uses regenerative braking to prolong its battery life. No wonder it has a range of 17 miles, second only to the Gotrax XR Elite and Xiaomi Mi M365 Electric Scooter on our guide.
Another unique thing about the scooter is that you can pair it with your smartphone and adjust the controls remotely via the Hiboy S2 app. For instance, using your smartphone, you can lock the scooter, operate the lights, and customize the cruise control or brake response.
Once you start to ride, you get access to two different speed settings: comfort mode and sport mode. The comfort mode will lock your maximum speed at 13 mph, but the sport mode allows you to achieve up to 18.6 mph. It should be suitable for beginners as long as you don’t exceed the 260 pounds maximum weight.
Its biggest flaw is that it’s equipped with 8.5-inch solid airless tires that don’t perform very well on bumpy off-roads. However, it’s fitted with dual spring suspension to improve ride comfort.
What we like about Hiboy S2
- Dual spring suspension
- Fast charging time
- LED safety lights
- No maintenance tires
- Regenerative braking
- Bluetooth compatibility
What we don’t like about Hiboy S2
- Tires are not designed for off-road
Hiboy S2 specs
- Motor power: 350 W
- Range: 17 miles
- Rider weight limit: 220 lbs
- Top speed: 6 mph
- Unit weight: 9 lbs
- Price: $439
Xiaomi Mi M365
It’s no secret that the Xiaomi Mi M365 is one of the most popular cheap electric kick-scooters on the market, and for good reason. It’s made of aerospace-grade aluminum that helps to shred its weight to about 26 pounds. Of course, the engineers capitalized on that advantage to improve the performance and achieve a maximum speed of 15.5 mph and a battery range of 18.6 miles per charge.
Another clever feature is the double braking system that combines ABS regenerative anti-lock and disc braking mechanisms. To put into perspective, if you’re travelling at the maximum speed and you engage the brakes, you should come to a halt within a distance of 13 feet.
If you’re looking for portability, you would probably enjoy the fold and carry design. And if you want convenience, you can pair the scooter with a smartphone and monitor your performance.
There is just one thing though: the LED lights are somewhat dull at night, and you may need to upgrade or install extra lights.
What we like about Xiaomi Mi M365
- Long-range battery
- Fold and carry design
- Ultra-lightweight
- Double braking system
- Bluetooth compatibility
What we don’t like about Xiaomi Mi M365
- Dull LED light
Xiaomi Mi M365 specs
- Motor power: 250 W
- Range:6 miles
- Rider weight Limit: 220 lbs
- Top speed:5 mph
- Unit weight:9 lbs
- Price: $477
Also read: The best electric mountain bikes you can buy
If we had to pick the best affordable electric scooter, we would choose the Xiaomi Mi M365 because it outperforms most cheap electric scooters in all categories. Nevertheless, you should choose whatever fits your style and budget.