Milwaukee vs DEWALT Jigsaw 2026: M18 FUEL vs 20V MAX
The DEWALT DCS331B ($135) is the better value cordless jigsaw — compatible with 20V MAX batteries, capable of 3-1/2-inch cuts in wood, and $34 less than Milwaukee's 2737-20 M18 FUEL ($169). Milwaukee's FUEL jigsaw wins on sustained orbital cutting performance and POWERSTATE motor protection for heavy daily use. Buy DEWALT to save money; buy Milwaukee if you cut 8+ hours daily and need motor protection.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-HANDLE JIG S… Milwaukee |
Best Milwaukee Pick | $179 Buy → |
9.0 |
| 2 |  Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2645-20 18-Vo…Milwaukee |
Best Budget Milwaukee | $169 Buy → |
8.5 |
| 3 | Best Value | $123 Buy → |
8.9 |
Milwaukee vs DEWALT Jigsaw Buying Guide
Milwaukee vs DEWALT: Cordless Jigsaw Comparison
Both Milwaukee's 2737-20 M18 FUEL D-Handle ($169) and DEWALT's DCS331B 20V MAX ($135) are brushless cordless jigsaws with comparable blade capacity (3-1/2 inches in wood) and tool-free blade change systems. The $34 price difference reflects Milwaukee's FUEL motor engineering — POWERSTATE brushless motors with active overload protection vs DEWALT's solid but less protected brushless design.
Where DEWALT Wins
DEWALT's DCS331B ($135) saves $34 over Milwaukee's entry-level M18 jigsaw while handling the same cutting tasks for most users. The 20V MAX battery compatibility with DEWALT's complete cordless ecosystem is a meaningful advantage — no additional battery investment if you own DEWALT drills, saws, or impact drivers. For homeowners and occasional contractors, DEWALT's value proposition is hard to beat.
Where Milwaukee Wins
Milwaukee's 2737-20 M18 FUEL ($169) features REDLINK PLUS intelligence that prevents the motor from burning out during aggressive cuts in thick hardwood or metal. The D-Handle ergonomics on Milwaukee's model offer better grip control for extended cutting sessions. Milwaukee's M18 FUEL motors are consistently rated higher by professional carpenters for all-day use where motor heat management matters.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy DEWALT DCS331B ($135) if you already own 20V MAX batteries, cut occasionally to frequently, or want to save $34 without sacrificing core jigsaw performance. Buy Milwaukee 2737-20 ($169) if you're already in the M18 ecosystem, cut 5+ hours daily, or need FUEL motor protection for sustained heavy-duty jigsaw work.
Watch Before You Buy
“POWERSTATE brushless motor — fastest cutting speed in class. 4.8 stars from 2,904 Amazon reviews signal consistent reliability.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- PowerState brushless motor delivers up to 2,600 strokes per minute — the fastest cutting speed in the cordless jig saw category for clean, fast cuts through 2-inch hardwood
- All-metal keyless blade clamp accepts blades without a tool and holds them securely at high strokes without the blade wobble that plastic clamps exhibit under load
- Anti-vibration system reduces transmitted vibration to the handle — extended jig saw sessions are the primary use case for this feature; it reduces fatigue noticeably on cuts exceeding 5 minutes
- RedLink overload protection adjusts power delivery to prevent motor burnout when cutting dense hardwood or metal that triggers overload in standard motors
- M18 battery compatibility covers the full Milwaukee M18 lineup including 200-plus tools for cross-tool battery sharing
Watch out for
- Most expensive cordless pick
- Battery sold separately
Read Full Analysis
The Milwaukee 2737-20 M18 FUEL at $169 is the premium jig saw on this page — PowerState brushless motor at 2,600 SPM delivers the fastest cutting speed in the cordless category, with RedLink overload protection that adjusts power under heavy load rather than burning out. The all-metal keyless blade clamp holds blades securely at high strokes without the wobble that plastic clamps develop over time. Anti-vibration reduces handle fatigue on cuts exceeding five minutes — meaningful for long curved cuts in cabinetry or scroll work. At $169 tool-only, it costs $34 more than the DEWALT DCS331B ($135) and the same as the budget Milwaukee 2645-20, but the FUEL delivers genuinely better performance than both for the same or slightly higher cost. M18 battery compatibility spans 200+ tools for platform users who share batteries across a full toolkit.
“Budget-friendly M18 cordless entry at ~$99. Best suited for milwaukee m18 ecosystem users who need a budget jigsaw entry point without switching battery platforms.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Budget-friendly M18 cordless entry at ~$99
- Variable speed 0-2,500 SPM via trigger
- Orbital action for aggressive wood cutting
- Tool-free blade change system
- Compatible with entire M18 battery ecosystem (200+ tools)
Watch out for
- 2,500 SPM max — lower than DeWalt's 3,000 SPM
- Older M18 platform — some features behind newer M18 FUEL models
- Tool only — M18 battery sold separately
Read Full Analysis
The Milwaukee 2645-20 at $169 is the older M18 jig saw on this page — variable speed 0-2,500 SPM, orbital action for aggressive wood cuts, and tool-free blade change in the M18 platform. At the same price as the Milwaukee M18 FUEL ($169), the primary reason to choose this model is finding it at a meaningful discount below $169, since at equal pricing the FUEL delivers meaningfully better specs. Against the DEWALT DCS331B ($135), it costs $34 more for the same 2,500 SPM max speed but adds orbital cutting action and M18 platform compatibility. For users deeply invested in the M18 ecosystem who find this model significantly discounted, it remains a capable tool; at full $169, the FUEL is the better buy on this page.
“The DEWALT DCS331B 20V MAX Cordless Jigsaw (Bare Tool) features under $100 bare tool price. 4.8 stars from 7,926 Amazon reviews signal consistent reliability.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Under $100 bare tool price
- Compatible with all DeWalt 20V MAX batteries
- 2,500 SPM variable speed
- Keyless blade change
Watch out for
- Brushed motor — lower efficiency and shorter motor life
- Older design lacks DCS334B's build quality improvements
- 2,500 SPM vs DCS334B's 3,000 SPM
Read Full Analysis
The DEWALT DCS331B at $135 is the budget entry on this Milwaukee vs DEWALT jigsaw page — $34 less than either Milwaukee option ($169 each). The 20V MAX battery compatibility covers the full DEWALT cordless platform, making it an obvious addition for existing 20V MAX users who already own batteries and a charger. Variable speed at 2,500 SPM handles most wood-cutting scenarios from thin plywood to 2-inch dimensional lumber. Keyless blade change speeds up swaps without a tool. The honest limitations versus the Milwaukee M18 FUEL ($169): the brushed motor is less efficient with a finite service life, the older design lacks anti-vibration and the all-metal blade clamp of the FUEL, and 2,500 SPM matches the budget Milwaukee but falls below the FUEL at 2,600 SPM. For occasional cutting tasks and existing 20V MAX users, the $34 savings over Milwaukee is a clear call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cordless jigsaw has better orbital settings?
Can jigsaws cut curves?
What is the best jigsaw for cutting laminate flooring?
How We Analyze Products
We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available. The 10,972+ reviews analyzed on this page represent real verified-purchase feedback from Amazon buyers.
Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.
We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.
Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →