Supercharge your ride: The best electric bikes under £1,000 in 2024

It is possible to make e-bikes cheaply, as Decathlon shows here with the ELOPS 120e. We particularly like its low step-through frame which makes getting on and off the bike easy, and the 36v brushless motor offers up to 250 watts of additional power and 35Nm of torque. Once again we have V-brakes rather than anything more exotic, but that's fine for normal road use.

The motor offers three different modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Each makes the motor stop working when the bike reaches different speeds, 15km/h, 22km/h and 25km/h. This is different to the way most e-bikes work as they usually offer up various power bands, as opposed to speeds. And it's easy to keep track of everything thanks to the LED console set within easy reach.

The Samsung Lithium-ion battery has a 313Wh capacity, so depending on which mode you use, it can give you up to 20km of range. That makes it a highly practical e-bike with lots of modes to help you on a range of inclines and routes. It's a truly great all-around e-bike that comes in nicely under the £1000 mark.

For us, the beauty of a hybrid e-bike is its flexibility. This Assist Crossbar is an excellent example, with great all-around features of most of the other e-bikes mentioned above. firstly, if you need a good road or city bike, this has a decent max range of 20 miles and has a rear pannier rack for your bag. But if you're biking for leisure and need a bit of light off-road capability, this has powerful V-brakes and front and rear mudguards to keep you out of trouble.

We particularly like the frame design on offer here. It's just what you need from a best-of-all-worlds e-bike, it's a unisex bike with a steel frame and is comparable with most mountain e-bikes at 22kg in weight. Once again, this will reach 15.5mph and the battery system comes from Samsung.

The rear mech is only single-speed speed though, but with various levels of power assist you'll be pedalling less with this e-bike - making it a great e-bike for beginners who need a competent one-size-fits-all ride.

Taking an already low-priced bike and putting a low-priced e-bike motor on is one way to ensure you get a budget option. The Pendleton Somerby doesn’t have the highest specs and that no-frills approach carries through to the e-bike version.

However, we like this one for sheer value for money. For getting about town at a relatively low speed, the Tektro V-brakes aren't the best but they will do the job, and an eight-speed Shimano Acera cassette (13T – 32T) means you won’t be going at high speed anyway, especially when combined with the bike's 22kg weight. You won’t be setting records on too many Strava segments riding it, but the lightweight step-through frame is super-practical.

The Bafang 36V 250W motor is similar to that which you can buy from Amazon, and utilising 317Wh Samsung batteries, it should give you up to 50 miles of range with three different assist levels. Extras like metal mudguards and chainguards plus a luggage rack make this a fantastic e-bike deal.

If there's one type of e-bike that demands a higher budget it's electric mountain bikes. But we think that this one from Apollo manages to deliver a good basic mountain bike standard. Range-wise you can go for a maximum of 20 miles, so more than enough for some light off-road riding and even just getting from A to B.

Once again this is a very lightweight e-bike capable of the legal maximum of 15.5mph, and the six-speed Shimano Tourney gearing is smooth and powerful enough when you need it. A nice, clear Kingmeter LED Display will keep everything in view too.

Motor-wise, this is a front hub model with front suspension, so you'll have a comfy ride and a good amount of rear-wheel control for those uphill rides and rougher routes. The battery is a little less powerful than some of the others here, at 209wh, but given the type of riding that mountain bike fans get up to, this should more than suffice. You will, though, need to plan your trips around the four-to-five-hour battery recharge time. Lastly, we love that this comes with a two-year warranty on all of the electrical components, and one year on everything else, so you can ride with peace of mind.

We think this Axon Rides Pro Lite stands out in the folding e-bike market due to its incredibly lightweight design. Weighing in at just 12.5 kg, it's one of the most easily folded and transported e-bikes to be found. The range is a reasonable 31 miles on its fully charged 252Wh battery too, so commuters and leisure riders will love the added flexibility here. We're particularly glad to see a fast and easy fold-down too, making it ideal for those hopping on and off public transport or taking taxis.

We also appreciate the inclusion of a rear rack and integrated front and rear lights – removing the need to buy more accessories just to get a practical and safe ride. The bike is designed to have a modern, sleek look that will certainly tick the style box, too.

However, we do wish that there were more gearing options here, as this comes with single-speed only. Anyone negotiating slopes or steep roads on their commute will find their speed it a little limited. But, for everyone else, the various levels of power assist make up for the lack of gear choice. Overall, considering its super-lightweight, we think the Axon Rides Pro Lite balances true portability with performance. Its extra features are the cherry on the cake here, making the Axon Rides Pro Lite a fantastic folding e-bike choice.

As hybrid e-bikes go, the Riverside 500 E is a real star at the top end of this price bracket. We love the overall design and build on offer here – it's clearly a high-quality e-bike that lends itself well to commuting in urban settings as well as light off-road routes. The build is comfortable yet robust, featuring a lightweight aluminium frame weighing in at a reasonable 22.5 kg. The 418Wh battery provides enough power to assist you through more challenging terrain, too. Best of all, the maximum range is a generous 50 miles. That's a lot of flexibility for your essential journies and adventurous trips.

With all of that range, we're glad to see that Riverside has focussed on comfort. The 500 E's contoured frame is part of its overall ergonomic design and the padded saddle gives ample support. The front fork has suspension to smooth out any bumps as well, making the ride a bit smoother than many others. Welcome extras include a pannier rack and mudguards, so you'll be ready to ride in a variety of situations right out of the box.

Elsewhere, the integrated and highly readable LED display will keep you updated on battery level, speed and current assistance mode. In terms of power delivery, the rear hub motor is smooth, but you'll need to factor in the six-hour battery recharge time if you're covering longer distances between charges. All that said, we think that the Riverside 500 E is a fantastic hybrid e-bike with lots of ridability and range.

This is your chance to get a fantastic foldable e-bike at well under £1000. Aside from the added flexibility of being foldable – allowing you to hop on and off public transport – we think this is a great little e-bike that's a lot of fun to ride. It's IP54 waterproof as well, so you'll be riding in all weather.

Ideal for those inner-city commutes, or even the odd day out, its 250-watt motor is powerful and quiet enough. The battery pack is removable, giving you the option of having a spare or charging elsewhere. With seven gears to choose from as you pedal it's capable of speeds up to 25km/h, so you're not going to be late to work. We particularly like the sizable 35-90km assist range, although it has to be said that small wheels aren't going to satisfy everyone in terms of the overall look – although they are wider for great stability.

One excellent feature we appreciate on any e-bike is a backlit multifunction display which is nice and easy to read and use. An LED headlight, rear light and horn are great additions for navigating the streets safely too. And lastly, as the name suggests, the tyres are nice and chunky - ideal for all kinds of roads.

As a high-quality mountain e-bike under £1000, the Rockrider E-ST 100 is an impressive option offering lots of ergonomic and technical features. Despite its 380Wh battery delivering a middling range of around 37 miles, it’s still a practical mountain bike for both daily commutes and rougher trails. Thanks to the aluminium frame, it only weighs in at around 21.7kg – that's reasonable for an electric mountain bike with this many features.

Comfort-wise, the front 100mm suspension fork and ergonomic saddle will flatten the major bumps in your ride. An included bottle cage mount is a welcome addition too, as is the three assistance modes to make lighter work of a range of terrains. The mechanical disc brakes work well with the overall build for a highly controlled ride on rougher trails.

We're happy to see that the E-ST 100 comes with sensible accessories, including a bell, lights, and wheel reflectors. Plus, we love that it can connect with the Decathlon Ride app. That allows you to use your smartphone to monitor your ride data. For the money, this e-bike strikes a perfect balance between performance and affordability and will suit mountain biking veterans as well as beginners.

It's refreshing to see the renowned brand Raleigh venturing into the e-bike market with this Stow-e-Way Electric Folding Bike. Naturally, compactness and portability are the name of the game here and it's hard to beat if you need a practical e-bike. With a range of up to 30 miles, battery life is great for a bike in this class, providing lots of reliability when you need it. Typically for Raleigh, we think the overall design and build quality are premium, featuring a lightweight aluminium frame weighing a reasonable 20kg.

But it's the excellent folding design that really stands out here, as this can fit onto public transport or be stowed easily. At 20kg it's not the lightest though, but it's also still light enough and practical for many riders. Folding is both quick and easy too. We're happy to see that essential accessories like mudguards, a kickstand and a rear pannier rack are present – the latter being perfect for taking small bags or items with you.

However, most foldable e-bikes are more limited when it comes to weight and range than other classes of e-bikes. You'll find standard hybrid e-bikes that will go farther, but of course, they won't be as portable as this. That aside, the Raleigh Stow-e-Way does at least offer various levels of power assist, so that extra weight is negated while you ride.

The Apollo Metis Women's Electric Hybrid Bike 2021 does things a little bit differently than the standard hybrid e-bike. While it ticks all of our boxes when it comes to its versatile design and general looks, it is – most importantly – a reliable machine. You also won't find a huge amount of range here compared to some, with a relatively conservative maximum of 20 miles and 209Wh battery. But, this bike is all about those short convenient runs to the local shops or parks, making it a great all-rounder for leisurely rides and short commutes.

Apollo has also tailored this lightweight build to be especially suited for women. Not only is the frame design easy to mount and dismount from, but it's also a comfortable seating position for a smooth ride. Weighing just 22kg – great for this class of e-bike – it's easier to manoeuvre than most. With a six-speed Shimano Tourney gearing system, you won't be stuck for several levels of power assist when you need it.

We do wish the recharge time was a little faster, though. It takes between four-to-five-hours, so make sure you think ahead if you're planning a longer route. That said, one of the standout features are the range of included attachments and accessories like mudguards and a rear pannier rack. That makes this bike both comfortable and practical for everyday cycling needs.