How to Find the Best Electric Scooter Cheap in 2024
The year is almost half over – 2024 has moved fast, and new budget scooter models seem to pop up all the time. So many claim to be the best budget electric scooters you can buy, and so many companies offer to sell you a quality electric scooter cheap.
How many are worthy of the title? It’s hard for ordinary buyers to evaluate the claim without riding them all. That’s why we do what we do: scientifically testing electric scooters, putting manufacturer claims to the test, and sharing the data with you. We aren’t interested in the flashiest scooters, just the best.
Some of the fiercest competition happens at the “cheap” side of the market, where fly-by-night companies appear and disappear from Amazon and other online sellers (along with their warranties and customer service promises).
We tend to focus on established brands that are well-known for quality and reliability and have delivered consistently good performance at budget prices for years. Some of the scooter makers on our list are new to us – like Swiss company VMAX and the H-1 brand – but they are not new to scooters. VMAX has been around in Europe since 2015, and H-1 scooters are made by Hover 1, a brand already famous for their hoverboards and e-scooters.
Brand isn’t everything, of course – we’ve been hard on scooters by big brands in the past, such as GOTRAX and TurboAnt. Both have stepped it up in the last few years, giving us budget models we can definitely recommend in 2024 and beyond.
2024 Budget Scooter Trends
This year we’ve seen warranties expand across the budget spectrum. NIU and GOTRAX offer two years of coverage on their scooters, with one year on the battery and motors. VMAX also offers a limited 2-year warranty, while Hover-1 and TurboAnt still only offer 1-year or 6-month limited warranties on their scooters.
We’ve seen more tubeless pneumatic tires on budget scooters, something we’d love to see even more of, since tubeless tires improve ride quality and reduce flats. Half the scooters on our list have tubeless tires and half don’t. And there are now a handful of high-quality budget scooters with front suspension, something we did not see in previous years.
Another major trend is an extended focus on reliability. More brands now build vehicle-grade budget e-scooters that last for several years. We’ve given every electric scooter we reviewed this year a reliability score, a number that averages 11 factors like warranty length, tire and battery type, and water resistance.
IP rating and UL Certification have become more important to consumers as guides to how well an electric scooter is protected against weather damage and overheating. We’ve noted certifications, where applicable, for each scooter below. If you live in New York City, any personal electric vehicles you purchase must have a UL certification.
Table of Contents
10 Best ESG-Tested Budget Scooters in 2024
NIU KQi1 Pro – $269
The NIU KQi1 Pro hits a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, as fast as any shared electric scooter goes, and a perfect top speed for teens and beginners.
It’s not winning any races, but the KQi1 Pro doesn’t feel slow: it spins up to 15 mph in 7.9 seconds. And this scooter will cover almost 12 miles on a single charge. Given that most commutes and short trips are around 3-4 miles, 12 miles is usually plenty of range for a daily ride.
The KQi1 Pro isn’t brand new in 2024, but it remains one of the best and cheapest buys we can confidently recommend this year.
- Reliability: 8.8
- IP Rating: IP54
- UL Listing: UL2272
Hover 1 Alpha 2.0 – $348
This is Hover 1’s best-selling electric scooter, and there are good reasons people love it: it’s fast for a 350W scooter, with a tested top speed of 18.2 mph.
It’s also got a fun, skateboard-like ride quality, with 10” tubed tires and a dual braking system: regen up front and a long-lasting, no maintenance drum brake in the rear wheel.
And, the Alpha 2.0 has built-in swag lighting and a Bluetooth speaker for playing turn-by-turn directions or your favorite tunes.
- Reliability: 7.2
- IP Rating: IPX4
- UL Listing: UL2272
TurboAnt M10 Pro – $389
We couldn’t really recommend the original TurboAnt M10 because it wouldn’t climb our test hill. The M10 Pro is a different beast. It’s still not a champion climber – and not the best choice for larger riders or hilly cities.
But its front-mounted 350W motor hit a top speed of almost 19 mph easily, and the scooter’s range of 18.2 miles makes it the best range-per-dollar electric scooter in our database.
- Reliability: 7.1
- IP Rating: IP54
- UL Listing: None
GOTRAX G3 Plus – $399
The GOTRAX G3 Plus set a new bar last year for what a $400 scooter could be, hitting a top speed of 18.1 miles per hour and accelerating to 15 mph in 7.1 seconds.
At 35 pounds, the G3 Plus is also a more portable option than many other budget scooters on the market. It’s not an electric scooter for the range-conscious, at 9.8 miles of tested range per single charge.
- Reliability: 8.7
- IP Rating: IPX5
- UL Listing: UL2272
NIU KQi2 Pro – $479
The NIU KQi2 Pro gets the nod on both our Best Budget Electric Scooters of 2023 and Best Electric Scooters of 2023, and it deserves continued mention here.
The KQi2 Pro remains a perfect scooter for entry-level riders. It’s one of our favorite scooters to recommend to new riders because it’s so versatile and easy to ride.
This is a scooter with features, performance, and specs that rise far above its low price, including 10-inch tubeless tires and rock solid reliability.
- Reliability: 9.0
- IP Rating: IP54
- UL Listing: UL2272
H-1 Ace R350 – $499
The H-1 Ace R350 and R450 are built – and built very well – for the average commuter, and their range and speed suit them for the purpose. They’re also zippy, fun, and reliable electric scooters that can stand up to daily use.
The R350 has the smaller motor of the two and will suit medium-sized riders. Heavier riders should step up to the R450.
- Reliability: 9.0
- IP Rating: IPX4
- UL Listing: UL2272
VMAX VX5 GT – $499
The VX5 GT, from Swiss company VMAX, delivers just the right mix of simplicity and impressive build quality – from seamless cable integration and a sleek finish to an app in an under-40-lb scooter that’s easy to fold and carry.
The design and and build of the VX5 make it an excellent daily use vehicle with exceptional reliability and high water resistance for all-weather riding. This is one of the best budget electric scooters you can buy in 2024.
- Reliability: 9.3
- IP Rating: IPX6
- UL Listing: UL2272
H-1 Ace R450 – $599
The H-1 Ace R350 and R450 are purpose built – and built well – for the average commuter, and their range and speed suit them excellently. They’re also zippy, fun, and reliable electric scooters that can stand up to rigorous daily use.
The R350 has the smaller motor of the two and will suit medium-sized riders. Heavier riders should step up to the R450.
- Reliability: 8.8
- IP Rating: IPX4
- UL Listing: UL2272
Hover 1 Journey Max – $599
The Journey Max blows away most budget scooters with its dual 350W motors that give it fast acceleration and such powerful hill climbing ability that it (just barely!) scaled the steepest hill in San Francisco.
While the top speed is limited to 15.5, you can unlock an over 20 mph max. Ride quality and braking are bare-bones, but pneumatic tires and a steel frame help compensate for bumpier rides. Great reliability and 700W of continuous dual-motor power make this scooter a worthy buy.
- Reliability: 8.4
- IP Rating: IPX4
- UL Listing: UL2272
GOTRAX G5 – $599
The GOTRAX G5 is a well-rounded electric scooter that comes with features you’d only expect to find in higher-end models, and it costs less than $600.
The G5 delivers serious upgrades to previous GOTRAX models with, for the first time ever, front suspension. That’s already amazing, without even factoring features like the 10-inch air-filled pneumatic tires and a tested top speed of up to 18.9 mph.
- Reliability: 8.8
- IP Rating: IP54
- UL Listing: UL2272
Wrapping Up
What does it take to make our Best Budget Electric Scooters list? High reliability, first and foremost, as well as acceleration times and top speeds that are beyond your average rental scooter. We don’t recommend electric scooters that we wouldn’t ride ourselves.
We also try to keep below a price of $600, since these days it’s totally reasonable to expect a high-quality budget scooter, with a range between 10-20 miles and a top speed of 15-20 mph, for this price. Make sure you get what you pay for. Even if you don’t end up going with one of our recommendations, you can use them as a guide for what to look for in alternatives.
What’s next? Look for our Best Electric Scooters Under $1000 for 2024, coming soon.