These are all the folding ebikes we've reviewed and given 4 or 5 stars to from the dozens we've ridden.
Each has been assessed for:
- build quality;
- safety and security;
- handling and performance;
- comfort and practicality.
And remember that just because a bike is foldable, doesn't mean it's easy to carry or take on trains - many bikes are foldable for storage reasons.
Jump to a specific one of our favourites:
Five-star folding bikes
- Estarli e20.7, £1,515: best entry-level for commuters
- ADO Air 20, £999: A best-seller
- ADO Beast A20F, £1,362
- Volt Lite, £2,899: The best folder I've ridden
- ADO Air 20 PRO, £1,599
Four-star folding bikes
- Engwe P20:, £1,299: A great commuter bike
- Engwe Engine X, £1,050: great off-road option
- Axon Pro Lite:, £1,699: ideal for taking on public transport
Estarli e20.7, £1,515: "I love this bike"
Weight: 18kg | Range: 31 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
See the full review of the estarli e20 plus all the ratings and spec info.
The Estarli e20 is a perfect entry-level folding ebike. It’s just over £1,000 but we think it has a lot to offer for its price bracket. We found it light and comfy to ride. The larger tyres than most folding bikes (20 inch rather than 16 inch) mean you get power, comfort and good handling. It's got a 7-speed manual gear and 5 power assist modes. Not only that it looks great, with the battery cleverly hidden in the seat post.
We found it wasn't the most compact bike when folded. And its other drawback is range - 31 miles from the slightly small battery (the price that had to paid for concealing it so well). But these are only minor quibbles - this a great, good value bike and is the one to beat in our tests.
- Pros: Comfy, great off-road performance, larger tyres than rivals, battery cleverly hidden
- Cons: Not the most compact folder, range of 31 miles.
ADO AIR 20, from £1,199
Weight: 18kg | Range: 40-60 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
Read our full review of the Ado Air 20
This eyecatching electric bike features 20-inch wheels for a touch more stability (than the 16 inch wheels found on most folding electric bikes). The single speed, carbon belt drive system (instead of a traditional chain drive) has been designed for minimal maintenance, making this a great bike for people who just want to hop on a bike and ride without any fuss. It’s quick, nimble and weighs in at 18kg.
Whilst this version does not feature suspension - a suspension version of the bike is available (The ADO Air 20 PRO), which features later in this article.
As well as a high-tech carbon belt drive, it also features hydraulic brakes as standard - giving it excellent stopping power and adding to its safety value.
All in all, it’s a very comfortable and smooth ebike to ride. It’s a 5 out of 5 across all criteria, which is why it’s a best-seller in the UK and Europe.
This isn’t just made for folding and carrying - we were REALLY impressed with the ride quality. It gets you up to 15.5mph incredibly quickly and maintains that assist. It’s also got a torque sensor so you can apply more or less power through the pedals as you need, and it will react to that rider.
We found it easy to squeeze through tight gaps – like standstill traffic – thanks to the smaller width handlebars, so you can kiss congestion goodbye.
- Pros: Comfy, powerful, nippy, responsive, good range.
- Cons: No suspension (but suspension version is available), magnetic folding catch is an optional add on
Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:
Engwe P20, £1,299
Weight: 18kg | Range: 40 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
This might just be the best-looking folding electric bike on our list. Engwe's newest electric bike is a chic and sleek folder which is here to take on the likes of ADO and Fiido.
We're very impressed by how smooth the ride is on the P20. Like the ADO Air 20, it features a carbon belt drive, which is a low maintenance alternative to a chain drive, but also creates a beautiful feel to the ride in combination with the torque sensor drive.
The puncture-proof Kendal tyres are a great addition, soaking up a lot of the bumps in the road. Though we should say, this feels very much like a city bike - and it's not really suited to trails or off-road paths.
Engwe claim it can be folded in around 10 seconds, which is true once you get the hang of it. It's a relatively easy bike to fold.
One cool little feature of the P20 is that it has integrated indicators, which is a neat safety feature that we don't see on many electric bikes.
It's a close-run competition between the P20 and the ADO Air 20, ultimately, it probably comes down to which you prefer the look of!
Pros: Smooth ride, easy to maintain, easy to fold
Cons: No suspension
Buy the Engwe P20:
(Use code "influencer50off" at checkout for an extra discount):
Volt Lite, £2,899: "The best folder I've ridden so far"
Weight: 18kg | Range: Up to 50 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
(Words by Eilis Barrett)
I've ridden a LOT of folding electric bikes in the past few years, and this one is the best I've ridden so far.
The central crank/mid-drive Bafang M820 motor delivers smooth power through the carbon belt drive, and an impressive power delivery of 75nM of torque, higher than you'd normally find on a bike of this size.
What does that mean in reality? Well, if you're a heavier rider, or you have a few hills on your commute, then this could be a good option.
I tested the Volt Lite on the hills around Crystal Palace and it performed remarkably well. It's unusual to find gears on a carbon belt bike, but the 3-speed hub gears on the Lite are a great addition and make it easier to climb hills.
All-in-all, this is a very well thought out bike with a high spec across the board on almost every component.
The battery is integrated into the seat post, making it easy to remove and take with you for security reasons, or to charge the battery inside without having to take the whole bike with you.
And importantly for me, this is one of the comfiest saddles I've ever experienced on an ebike. So many bike companies don't consider female riders when it comes to saddles, but this one is great for men and women.
Pros: Great spec, and great performance
Cons: It's not cheap, but the price is fair
My verdict: This is a pricy bike, but with the Volt Lite, you really do get what you pay for.
Check out the Volt website for more info.
ADO Beast A20F, £1,362: "An electric bike with OOMPH"
Weight: 27.3kg | Range: 74.5 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
Read our full review of the ADO Beast A20F
The Beast is another high-spec folding ebike ideal for people who are looking to do some rough terrain riding.
It’s definitely on the heavier side, but we found the powerful 250W motor makes the Beast feel nippy on any terrain due to its impressive 60nm torque. An impressive 74-mile range, 7-speed gear set, lightweight pedals, hydraulic disk brakes and chunky, fat tyres make the Beast a strong contender as one of the best folding electric bikes.
Overall, we loved the Beast and, despite its weight, found it perfect for commuting and leisure rides alike. The Beast is a great choice if you're looking for an electric bike that is powerful, comfortable and has a great range.
Pros: Long range, extremely comfortable, great on and off road, Powerful (...it really is a beast)
Cons: Heavy, large even when folded
Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:
ADO Air 20 PRO, £1,599
Weight: 18kg | Range: 40-60 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
The ADO Air 20 PRO is the upgraded version of the base level Air 20.
But what's the difference? Well, for a start, the PRO version includes front suspension for an even softer and smoother ride.
That makes the Air 20 PRO a good option if you want to ride on bumpier terrain such as trails and towpaths, of if you just live in a city with lots of potholes!
But what we were really impressed with was the automatic 2-speed motor, which is upgraded from the base model.
The Air 20 PRO's Bafang motor automatically detects when you're going up hills and changes gear, effectively making life easier for you and giving you more torque.
So if you live in a particularly hilly area, the Air 20 PRO is a better choice than the base level model.
Pros: Smooth ride, eases up hills, low maintenance
Cons: Costs a lot more than the base model Air 20
Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:
Axon Pro Lite, £1,699: "ideal for public transport"
Weight: 15kg | Range: 25 miles | Wheel Size: 16 inches
The most affordable Axon model has a clever feature where the motor is also a magnet, meaning it holds together well when folded. The Pro Lite is an ultra-lightweight folding electric bike at only 15kg. You pay for the weight reduction with reduced range - at 25 miles we found it has the lowest range out of all the bikes on this list.
But our tests show it’s ideal for city commuting - it handled our journey across the city and back, and it folds down to a compact form that you can carry on trains and buses.
We found the pedal sensor takes a few rotations before the assist kicks in - but you can change this in the settings for a quicker activation. You have to grab the seat post to carry it which we didn’t think was the most comfortable for long distances. On the other hand, the folding system is so easy to do, this is made for carrying on to public transport or to your car.
- Pros: Very light (15kg), easy to fold
- Cons: Short range (25 miles), awkward to carry long distances
Engwe Engine X, £1,050: "best value"
Weight: 32kg | Range: 74 miles | Wheel Size: 20 inches
This is a ridiculously good value folding fat-tyre bike. It has a big battery as well as mechanical disk brakes and fat tyres. In our tests we found it great for cruising on and off road and we really appreciated the full suspension.
It’s the cheapest bike in this list - its main compromise is the weight. At 32kg we found it a beast to drag around when not riding but on the plus side we enjoyed the stability this gives off road.
- Pros: Cheap, comfy.
- Cons: 35 miles range, 32kg weight
Buy the Engwe Engine X:
EU 🇪🇺:
(use code "influencer50off" at checkout for €100 off)UK 🇬🇧:
(use code "influencer50off" at checkout for £100 off)
US 🇺🇸:
(use code "influencer50off" at checkout for $100 off)
Folding bikes compared
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How we test
Our expert testers ride all the bikes we get in to review, and we assess them against a range of criteria on road, off-road and in our testing rooms.
For instance, after practicing the fold of each bike we time how long it takes to do. We wheel the bike along to see how well this works - a lot of bikes fold for storage reasons, not for compact transport. And we point out if there is any sort of latch to keep the bike folded - and also check where the chain ends up (as it can get your clothes dirty if it's on the outside of the fold).
See our full list of best adult electric bikes, all adult electric bikes, and all the folding ebikes we sell. You can also see all our electric folding bike reviews. And here is our guide to lightweight ebikes.
Fact check: Prices, availability and specs for this guide were last checked and updated on 29 January 2024. The estarli e16.7 was removed as it has been discontinued.
