The 6 Best Electric Scooters, According to Gear Editors

NIU’s 300P isn’t the “best” in any one of the categories we tested. It’s not the lightest or the fastest; it doesn’t have the longest range, and it’s not the most affordable. But it does offer a perfectly balanced blend of everything we look for in a foldable electric scooter at an approachable midrange price.

Straight out of the box, our team loved the build quality. For a midrange model, it feels solid, sturdy, and well-built, yet still plenty portable at 45 pounds. We found the 900-watt motor delivers punchy, predictable power on flat grades and even moderate inclines. The front suspension helps smooth out lightly roughed-up terrain, providing a comfy ride on uneven city sidewalks. We also love the oversized headlight, brake light, and working turn signals that make riding in low-light and around traffic feel a bit safer.

Like most of the e-scooters we tested, the setup was relatively painless. Just unbox the 300P, secure the handlebars with a few screws (and the included hex tool), and charge the battery. Our only minor gripe is that NIU requires downloading its proprietary app and registering the scooter before your first ride. It’s a small price to pay, and you never need to open the app again if you don’t want to (though to be honest, it is easy to use and offers a good variety of customization options). Still, it seems like an unnecessary obligation in our opinion.

For first-time buyers or seasoned commuters looking for reliable personal transport around town, the 300P was an easy pick for our team as the best electric scooter overall.

Navee proves you don’t have to spend more than $700 to land a decent foldable electric scooter. Its V50 ticks all our must-have boxes at a more approachable price point than most. It’s compact and lightweight, making it more portable, nimble, and easier to maneuver than its beefier (albeit more powerful) competitors. Nice-to-haves include a fast-charging battery, a bright display, and a solid companion app that allows for things like automatic locking and light feature-tweaking to customize your ride experience.

We found the 700-watt motor decently powerful, although it struggled on moderate inclines. It also lacks a front brake and any kind of suspension, so the ride quality is noticeably lackluster compared to most others we tested. Still, our team agreed the budget-friendly sticker price made this a solid recommendation for anyone shopping for a basic electric scooter with most of the essential features. (Budget tip: Navee’s V40 offers many of the same great features, including a 700-watt motor, for less!)

Big, beefy, and overbuilt in every way, Segway’s all-new ZT3 Pro is a premium model for electric scooter “enthusiasts” looking to splurge. The specs trounce every other scooter our team tested over the past year—indeed making the competition feel like toys in comparison. With a 43-plus-mile range, a nearly 25 mph top speed, dual disc brakes, and a whopping 1,600-watt motor, it’s more than capable of long commutes to and from work with plenty of time between charges. But that’s not all the ZT3 Pro is built for.

What truly sets it apart is its off-road capability. Thanks to a dual (front/rear) suspension, chunky, 11-inch tubeless tires, and a rock-steady stance, it’s equally at home on smooth city streets, climbing steep gravelly inclines (up to 25%!), or cruising moderately rough dirt trails. After putting more than a hundred miles on the odometer, our team found it to be the smoothest riding model we tested both on-road and off-.

Of course, all this scooter tech comes at a price. It’s the most expensive in this guide and probably overkill for 90% of electric scooter buyers. But, as they say, “If only the best will do …“

Where most e-scooters are designed to get you from A to B, Gotrax’s Flex Ultra can transport you and your stuff. The integrated cargo basket makes grocery-getting and other ’round-town errands a breeze, while the included seat and oversized, 14-inch tires make for a more comfy ride over longer distances. While we didn’t have the opportunity to test this model personally, we like it for these reasons. Plus, it checks most of our essential boxes: An adequate, 500-watt motor good for up to 20 mph and a decent (though not great) 20-mile range.

Due to its design and weight, it’s not as portable as our other recommendations. But we think the affordable price tag and unique versatility make up for it. (Gotrax also offers similarly equipped 350-watt and 400-watt alternatives for less.)

Another in Segway’s line-up of solid foldable electric scooters, the Ninebot E22 is a great, entry-level model. While we didn’t have the opportunity to take this one for a spin, the 300-watt motor, 12.4-mph top speed, and 13.7-mile max range are all at the lower end of the model specs we tested but still worthy of recommendation.

What truly sets the E22 apart though is the removable seat. Clamp it on for afternoon errand runs where you’re more focused on long-range comfort, or remove it for a sportier, more nimble ride. It’s a bit pricey, given its specs, but we’re happy to recommend it here due to the premium Segway name and rock-solid build quality.

Should I Buy an Electric Scooter or an Electric Bike?

If you’re on the fence about buying an electric scooter over an electric bike, consider this: An electric scooter can collapse and store in a much smaller space. Electric scooters weigh less than e-bikes too, so if you live in an apartment with stairs or an elevator, you’ll be able to carry your e-scooter more easily; and unlike how you have to find a place to chain up an electric bike, an electric scooter can be folded up and carried wherever you please. Electric bikes are great for traveling longer distances than electric scooters, though.

So if you are looking to put in long rides at the park or seeking a more comfortable method of transport for commuting, then an electric bike might be the better option.

What Is Considered a “Powerful” Electric Scooter?

Powerful electric scooters typically cost more, as brands add more batteries and hardware to guarantee higher top speeds and longer ranges. The most powerful electric scooter we recommend is the Segway ZT3 Pro, with a 1,600-watt motor that delivers a blistering top speed of almost 25 miles per hour.

How Much Should I Expect to Pay for a Foldable Electric Scooter

Depending on your needs, electric scooters range from $250-$2,000. Electric scooters over $1,000 are more of a specialty buy, targeting recreational riders. Our rule of thumb is that you needn’t spend more than a grand, as we believe there’s a ton of value on the market right now in the $700-$1,000 sweet spot. Electric scooters near $1,000 on our list will be better for commuting and tackling varying terrain, while the lower you go in price, the more barebones you get.

A word of caution: Avoid anything less than $250, as we have concerns about long-term durability for scooters that are that cheap.

Do I Need a Driver’s License to Ride an Electric Scooter?

No, unless you’ve bought something with a VIN number, which would likely mean you bought a moped instead of an electric scooter. Anything with a VIN number will need to be registered with the state, likely resulting in you needing a driver’s license to ride.