Best Step-Through Electric Bikes: 7 Picks Compared
If you want the short version: the Funhang EB-C2 is the step-through we’d point most people to. It has more owner ratings than any other step-through we found on Amazon, names both UL 2849 and UL 2271, and tops out at 20 mph, which keeps it a Class 2 bike. If you’re shorter than about 5’3″, look at the Vivi MT26GUL instead.
A step-through frame has no top tube to swing a leg over. That sounds like a small thing until you’re carrying groceries, wearing a skirt, riding with a stiff hip, or stopping and starting twenty times on the way to work. Most people who try one don’t go back.
The catch is that “step-through” on Amazon covers everything from a genuine low-step city bike to a fat-tire bike with a slightly dropped tube. We only picked frames where the lowest point is low enough to walk through, and we paid close attention to weight, because a step-through you can’t lift onto a curb or into a car isn’t much easier to live with.
abouteBikes is reader-supported. We research products from their published specifications and owner feedback rather than testing them ourselves, and the links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we choose what to feature.
Best for what
| Best overall | Funhang EB-C2 | See on Amazon |
| Best for hills and loads | Heybike Cityscape 2.0 | See on Amazon |
| Best from a big name | Gotrax Dolphin | See on Amazon |
| Best for shorter riders | Vivi MT26GUL | See on Amazon |
| Best upright comfort | ANCHEER 499Wh Step-Thru | See on Amazon |
| Best paperwork | Qlife Cityone ST | See on Amazon |
| Best adjustable suspension | ACTBEST Core ST 2.0 | See on Amazon |
Three numbers that matter more on a step-through
The spec sheet will lead with peak watts. These three tell you more about whether you’ll get on with the bike.
- Weight. Step-through frames need extra material to stay stiff without a top tube, so they run heavier than they look. Where sellers give a figure, the bikes here run from 55 to 75 lb. If you’ll be lifting it up steps or onto a car rack, the lighter end matters a lot.
- Minimum rider height. A low frame doesn’t help if the saddle can’t drop low enough for you to put a foot down. Most 26″ step-throughs start at about 5’3″. Only one pick here goes much lower.
- Top speed and throttle. A bike with a throttle that stops helping at 20 mph is a Class 2 e-bike and can go most places a bicycle can. Some listings quote 24, 25 or even 28 mph. That usually means the bike falls outside the three classes unless you limit it. Our e-bike classes guide explains why that matters.
The seven picks
01
Best overall
Funhang EB-C2
A 26″ city step-through with fenders, a rear rack and an adjustable stem, backed by 424 ratings at 4.4 stars. It’s the most-rated step-through we found, and the listing states both UL 2849 for the bike and UL 2271 for the battery.
Motor
500W (1,000W peak)
Battery
48V 374Wh
Top speed
20 mph
Weight
62 lb
Key features
- Throttle plus 5 levels of pedal assist, cruise and walk modes
- Adjustable stem and saddle, rider height 5’3″ to 6’1″
- Front suspension fork and dual disc brakes
- 7-speed gears, full fenders and a rear rack
- 1-year warranty on parts
What stands out
- The biggest owner base of any step-through here
- Both UL certifications named
- Fenders and rack come fitted
What to watch
- A 374Wh battery is modest. The 40 to 50 mile claim assumes light assist on flat roads
- Mechanical disc brakes, not hydraulic
- One part of the listing gives the weight as 83 lb. That looks like the shipping weight
02
Best for hills and loads
Heybike Cityscape 2.0
Heybike’s updated city step-through, with 337 ratings at 4.4 stars. It has the biggest battery of our main picks and a rack rated for 264 lb, which makes it the one to look at if you’re heavier, hauling shopping, or live somewhere steep.
Motor
500W (1,200W peak)
Battery
468Wh
Torque
80Nm
Weight
73 lb
Key features
- UL-certified, IPX6-rated removable battery
- Throttle and pedal assist
- 7-speed gears and a front suspension fork
- Dual disc brakes and lights
- 26 x 1.95″ puncture-resistant tires
What stands out
- Strong torque figure for climbing
- Largest owner base after the Funhang
- Rack capacity well above the rest
What to watch
- Heavy at 73 lb, so storage up stairs is hard work
- The listing’s own comparison table says 24 mph. A throttle bike that goes past 20 mph needs limiting to stay Class 2
- “UL-certified battery” without naming the standard
03
Best from a big name
Gotrax Dolphin
Gotrax is one of the bigger US e-bike and scooter brands, and the Dolphin is its low-step 26″ bike. It has 292 ratings at 4.3 stars and a proper UL 2849 certification. It’s the gentlest bike here, which suits a first e-bike.
Motor
350W (500W peak)
Battery
281Wh
Top speed
20 mph
Weight
62.7 lb
Key features
- UL 2849 certified
- Shimano 7-speed
- Front suspension fork and dual disc brakes
- 5 assist levels plus throttle and walk mode
- 365-day parts cover
What stands out
- An established brand with US support
- Softer power suits nervous or new riders
- Easy to assemble, owners say
What to watch
- The smallest battery on this list. Plan on 15 miles on throttle alone
- Recommended rider height starts at 5’3″
- Weighs about the same as bikes with far bigger batteries
04
Best for shorter riders
Vivi MT26GUL
An arched, very low frame that Vivi says fits riders from 4’8″ to 6’2″. Nothing else here goes that low. It’s also the lightest bike on our list, with 117 ratings at 4.2 stars.
Motor
500W
Battery
48V (see below)
Top speed
20 mph
Weight
55 lb
Key features
- Arched low-step frame
- SGS certified to UL 2849
- Cruise control plus throttle and assist modes
- Suspension fork and dual disc brakes
- 1-year warranty
What stands out
- Lowest stated rider height by a distance
- Lightest bike here
- Adjustable handlebar and seat
What to watch
- The listing gives three battery sizes: 374Wh, 360Wh and 288Wh. Ask the seller before you buy
- The spec table says dual suspension. The bullets only mention a fork
- The battery sits in a bag at the front rather than in the frame
05
Best upright comfort
ANCHEER 499Wh Step-Thru
A cruiser-style step-through with swept-back bars and a wide seat, so you sit bolt upright. It has a 499Wh battery with UL 2271 named for the pack, and 75 ratings at 4.3 stars.
Motor
350W (500W peak)
Battery
48V 499Wh
Top speed
19.8 mph
Weight
75.2 lb
Key features
- Low-step aluminum frame
- Swept-back handlebar and wide saddle
- UL 2849 for the bike, UL 2271 for the battery
- Cruise control, throttle and walk mode
- Lights front and rear
What stands out
- The most relaxed riding position here
- Good battery for the price bracket
- Both certifications mentioned
What to watch
- The heaviest bike on this list at over 75 lb
- A 350W motor on a 75 lb bike will feel slow on steep hills
- Mechanical disc brakes
06
Best paperwork
Qlife Cityone ST
The step-through version of Qlife’s Cityone. What sets it apart is the detail on safety testing: TÜV Rheinland is named as the lab for both UL 2849 on the bike and UL 2271 on the battery. It has 92 ratings at 4.3 stars.
Motor
1,000W peak
Battery
48V removable
Top speed
25 mph (claimed)
Frame
Carbon steel
Key features
- Tested by TÜV Rheinland to UL 2849 and UL 2271
- Step-through frame
- Suspension fork and 26″ city tires
- 7-speed gears
- 1-year warranty
What stands out
- The clearest certification statement on this list
- Named test lab, not just a logo
- UL 2271 covers the battery, the part most likely to cause a fire
What to watch
- 25 mph with a throttle puts it outside the three classes as sold. Check it can be set to 20 mph
- Battery capacity isn’t stated
- Steel frame, and no weight given
07
Best adjustable suspension
ACTBEST Core ST 2.0
A newer commuter that comes in step-through and step-over versions. It’s the only bike here with a suspension fork you can tune for preload and lock out, and it has 60 ratings at 4.5 stars.
Motor
500W (1,200W peak)
Battery
48V 499Wh
Charge time
6–7 hours
Warranty
1 year
Key features
- Dual-crown fork with preload and lockout
- Removable, IPX5-rated battery
- Center color display
- Fenders and rear rack
- Choose step-through or step-over
What stands out
- Best fork on the list for rough city streets
- Good battery size
- Highest star rating of our picks
What to watch
- One image claims 28 mph, and several owners report 25 mph or more. Past 20 mph on a throttle isn’t a Class 2 bike
- Pick the step-through (ST) option at checkout
- No weight in the listing
All seven, side by side
| Bike | Best for | Battery | Top speed | Weight | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funhang EB-C2 | Best overall | 374Wh | 20 mph | 62 lb | 424 |
| Heybike Cityscape 2.0 | Hills and loads | 468Wh | 24 mph | 73 lb | 337 |
| Gotrax Dolphin | Big name | 281Wh | 20 mph | 62.7 lb | 292 |
| Vivi MT26GUL | Shorter riders | 288–374Wh | 20 mph | 55 lb | 117 |
| ANCHEER Step-Thru | Upright comfort | 499Wh | 19.8 mph | 75.2 lb | 75 |
| Qlife Cityone ST | Paperwork | Not stated | 25 mph | Not stated | 92 |
| ACTBEST Core ST 2.0 | Suspension | 499Wh | 28 mph (claimed) | Not stated | 60 |
Four things to check before you buy a step-through
Stand over the frame, not just the specs
The number that matters is how high the lowest part of the frame sits off the ground. Listings rarely give it. Look at a side-on photo with a rider in it, and if you have a hip or knee that doesn’t lift well, ask the seller for the step-over height in inches before you order.
Weight is the hidden cost
A 70 lb bike is fine to ride and hard to live with if it has to go up steps, into a car or onto a hitch rack. Plenty of hitch racks are rated for around 60 lb per bike, so check yours. If storage involves lifting, put weight ahead of battery size.
Keep it inside the classes
A Class 2 bike has a throttle and stops helping at 20 mph. That’s what most bike paths and many parks allow. Several bikes here quote higher speeds, which can move them outside the classes altogether and off paths you’d expect to use. Our classes guide covers where each class can go.
Look after the battery from day one
Every bike here has a removable battery, which makes indoor charging easy. That also means it’s charging where you live. Our charging safety guide covers where and how, and choosing a frame goes into whether a step-through is right for you in the first place.
The bottom line
Buy the Funhang EB-C2 if you want the safest bet: plenty of owners, both UL standards named, and a 20 mph limit that keeps it simple. Go for the Heybike Cityscape 2.0 if you need more battery and torque and can live with the weight. If you’re under 5’3″, the Vivi is the one that will fit, but confirm the battery size first.
Whichever you choose, set the saddle so you can get a foot flat on the ground at a stop. That, more than the frame, is what makes a step-through feel easy.
How we choose
We don’t test every product on this site. What we do is read the specification properly (frame, weight, battery, speed class, certification, warranty) and set it against what owners consistently say once the bike has been in use for a while. Where a claim looks optimistic, we say so.
That makes these pages a shortcut through the spec sheets, not a substitute for trying a bike yourself. Buy from somewhere with a returns policy, and use it.
