The Best Budget Electric Scooters in 2023

Written By: Daniel Foley

Published on: 4/14/2023

Introduction

Electric scooters are a great way to get around without the hassles of traffic or parking, or the environmental costs of burning fossil fuels.

But how much does a reliable electric scooter cost? Can you get a decent scooter that won’t fall apart for under $1000? What about under $500?

The answer is yes! Or, yes but…. You need to be careful at the budget end of the spectrum, since there are so many poor quality imitations on the market. You don’t want to get stuck with a lemon you can’t get fixed or a scooter you hate riding.

The best electric scooters, even on the budget end of things, are safe, fun to ride, and dependable.

So, what should you look for in an affordable scooter, and how much will a set of decent features cost? To answer these questions, we’ll look at 6 of the best options for economical electric scooters that will stand the test of time and that are fast and fun to ride.

The Best Budget Electric Scooter Brands

Unlike some of the no-name cheap electric scooters for sale on Amazon, these brands are proven winners with customers on a budget andelectric scooter reviewers.

Some of these makes, like Gotrax, TurboAnt, and NIU, have trained their focus on perfecting their formulas for entry level rides.

Others, like Hiboy, make scooters for every rider, from beginner to expert.

Anyhill is a new company that made a strong debut last year with two of the most unique budget scooters on the market, the UM-1 and UM-2.

Our final mention, the Unagi Model One (Classic or Voyager), can fit almost any budget with its subscription model. The Model One breaks down barriers to entry even at the budget end of the market.

There’s no need to drop a few hundred bucks on a scooter when you can get a new Unagi with full warranty and theft protection shipped to you for a small setup fee of $50 and a lease of $50-$60/month.

But whether you own or subscribe, you can find the best electric scooter to fit your needs below if you’re looking for a quality budget option.

Budget Scooter Features

Solid Tires vs Pneumatic Tires

Some budget scooters have solid tires and some have pneumatic (or air filled) tires. The style you prefer comes down to a number of factors, including whether you do almost all city riding or hit the occasional patch of dirt or gravel.

The advantages of solid rubber tires are several: they never go flat, they don't require maintenance or additional equipment; in fact, you generally don't have to think about them at all.

Pneumatic tires, on the other hand, require regular maintenance and a small array of accessories (pump, spare inner tubes if they're tubed tires, tire levers, patch kit, etc.).

There's some know-how and experience required to fix a flat or change a tire. Since most bike shops don't service scooters for adults and scooter service shops are few and far between, these skills are essential to owning a scooter with air filled tires.

On the whole, pneumatic tires offer better ride quality – especially on bumpy roads or off-road conditions – but they require more elbow grease and are at risk getting punctured during a ride.

Source: Electric Scooter Guide

Single vs Dual Motors

At the budget end, nearly every electric scooter you can purchase is a single motor scooter. That means the scooter has one brushless hub-mounted motor, either in the front wheel or the rear, powering the vehicle.

Single motor scooters can be fast and powerful but dual motor power will, in every case, give you more power and torque for better acceleration and hill climbing.

The only scooter on this list with dual motors is the Unagi Model One, and Unagi remains the only dual motor electric scooter you can buy for under $1000.

Portability

One of the most sought-after features in a budget scooter is portability – meaning light weight and ease of folding and carrying.

Since many commuters combine electric scooter travel with public transit or ride sharing, they want a scooter they can lift up a few flights of stairs, carry on a subway, or stow in a car without a struggle.

The most portable scooters weigh around 30 pounds and have simple yet dependable folding mechanisms.

Standard Features

On the whole most electric scooters for adults on the budget end will have some basic features that come standard, including cruise control and safety features like front and rear lights, brake lights, reflectors, a bell or horn, and a slip-resistant deck and rubberized hand grips.

Gotrax G4

$499.99

Source: Gotrax

Gotrax is a large company based in China that has made major inroads in the U.S. market with high quality budget electric scooters and other personal electric vehicles. The G4 is a great alternative to the Xiaomi M365 – one of the most popular entry-level scooters – which is no longer available in many markets, including the U.S.

Usually priced at $649, the Gotrax G4 is currently on sale for only $499, a great deal for this quality entry level electric scooter. The G4 has 10-inch pneumatic tires, a nice feature at this price point.

Speed and Range

With its own style and substance, the Gotrax scooter does everything the M365 did and more. It’s got a high top speed of 20 mph, a tested range of nearly 15 miles (in its fastest mode, with hills), and a weight of 37 pounds.

Power and Portability

With its 500W rear-mounted motor, the G4 is an able hill climber and has zippy acceleration. Its stem latch opens and closes easily in seconds, and while it’s not the lightest scooter on this list, it’s also not particularly hard to carry at close to 37 lbs.

Braking

Brakes on the G4 combine a dual disc brake in the rear for precision with a rear electric brake for stopping power. However, both brakes are located in the rear wheel, which doesn’t make for the strongest braking performance. For better stopping power, look for a scooter with dual brakes, i.e. a brake in each wheel.

Source: Electric Scooter Guide

Additional Features

The G4 has other great features like a built in combination lock. While you probably shouldn’t rely on this as your primary security feature, it’s great for a quick trip in and out of a convenience store, for example, where you won’t be gone long enough for a thief to cut through the cable.

NIU KQi3 Pro

$799

Source: NIU

NIU is an established company with a stellar reputation for building electric mopeds and seated scooters. They bring their expertise to their KQi line of electric scooters, all of which are exceptionally built and great fun to ride.

The KQi3 Pro is a little pricier than many other budget electric scooters for adults, but it's worth it for the ride quality, speed, range, and solid build quality.

If you're looking to save a little more money, the KQi2 Pro costs $200 less than the KQi3 Pro (and it has 10-inch pneumatic tires).

But, the KQi2 Pro also gets much less range (around 15 miles) and has a less powerful motor (300W vs 350W), so it's only designed for riders up to 220 lbs.

Tires

The KQi3 Pro sits right in the middle of NIU’s offerings and delivers all the power and speed you need in a portable, affordable package with 9.5-inch air filled tires that do a great job of cushioning bumps.

Source: Electric Scooter Guide