10 Best Oscillating Tools of 2023 – Top Picks & Reviews

Oscillating tools are incredibly useful. They are best for making severe cuts in wood or metal that you wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. However, they can be used for various tasks, which is one reason we recommend that any DIY enthusiast choose one.

That being said, not all oscillating tools are suitable for homeowners or even professionals. Some are great, while others are underperforming. Some are better for certain circumstances, while others are perfect for other projects. Choosing the best option for you can be complicated and confusing. To help you make the best decision possible, we wrote reviews of some of the top tools on the market.

A Quick Comparison (updated in 2023)

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		DeWalt DCS355D1 XR Oscillating Tool Kit	Quick-change accessory system LED light included Variable speed trigger	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		PORTER-CABLE PCC710B Oscillating Tool	Tool-free accessory changing system 11 different accessories included Variable speed	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Bosch GOP40-30C Power Tools Oscillating Saw	Tons of different accessories included 1-year warranty 4 amps of power	CHECK PRICE
		Rockwell RK5151K Sonicrafter F80 Oscillating Multi-Tool	2-amp motor Variable speed trigger Ten accessories included	CHECK PRICE
		Dremel MM40-05 Multi-Max Oscillating Tool	8-amp motor Maintains a constant speed Comes with a carrying case	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Oscillating Tools

1. DeWalt DCS355D1 XR Oscillating Tool Kit – Best Overall

Out of all those that we reviewed, we preferred the DeWalt DCS355D1 XR Oscillating Tool Kit. It has 57% more run time than the competition, though the company does not provide the exact run time. (So, you have to take their word for it.) However, based on our experiences and various reports, it does seem to run longer than other options. Plus, it is made by DeWalt, and their batteries are usually made very well.

This kit includes the tool and 28 different accessories. It also comes with a storage box. The attachments include popular cutting and sanding attachments. There is also a universal accessory adaptor included so that you can use plenty of other accessories with this tool. The quick-change accessory system also ensures that the blades and attachments can be changed quickly so that you can spend more time working on your project.

We also liked the variable speed trigger, which provides you with plenty of control over the speed of your tool. The LED light illuminates darker workplaces and works quite well. All in all, we think this is the best oscillating tool on the market today.

2. PORTER-CABLE PCC710B Oscillating Tool – Best Value

The PORTER-CABLE PCC710B Oscillating Tool is an inexpensive option for those who need to save a bit of money. It has a tool-free system that makes adjusting and changing accessories very fast and easy. It comes with a nonstandard battery that is of decent quality. It isn’t as good as some of the other batteries on this list. The run time is a bit lower because of this, but it should still be plenty for most homeowners. It has an LED light that is quite good as well, so you should be able to see in darkened areas.

This tool has 11 different accessories included. This is a bit less than other options but should be plenty for homeowners who do light DIY work around their home. Plus, you can also purchase more accessories if you feel the need to. There are quite a few different ones suitable for this tool, so you have plenty of options if you’re doing a variety of projects.

This tool also has a variable speed, which is a feature you should expect on high-quality tools like this one. It also comes with a 3-year limited warranty. Because of all these features, we consider it to be the best oscillating tool for the money.

3. Bosch Power Tools Oscillating Saw – Premium Choice

For those who have plenty of extra money to spend, the Bosch GOP40-30C Power Tools Oscillating Saw is a solid option. It comes with many different accessories. It comes with 32 different accessories and a carrying case to put everything in. All the accessories easily attach and detach, allowing you to get back to work quickly. This tool also has 4 amps of power, which is enough for most jobs.

This tool is fully compatible with the line of Starlock accessories, which includes just about every accessory you need for any project. If the accessory you need is not included, you can likely purchase it separately. We also liked that this tool has a 30-day quality-guarantee and a 1-year warranty. This is somewhat lower than other tools. However, the warranty is complete – not limited, like most other options.

Truthfully, we liked this saw. The only thing that made us rate it lower than the other options thus far is that it is much more expensive than other options on our list. It is only suitable for professionals or those who just happen to have tons of extra money lying around. Unless you’re going to use this tool all the time, the extra cost isn’t worth it.

4. Rockwell Sonicrafter F80 Oscillating Multi-Tool

The Rockwell RK5151K Sonicrafter F80 Oscillating Multi-Tool is quite expensive as well. However, it is not as high-quality as our last option, which is why we rated it lower. It includes 12 different pieces of equipment, including 10 accessories, a carrying bag, and an oscillating tool. This is a moderate number of accessories, but we felt it should be higher for the cost of this kit.

The tool is very high-quality. It has a variable speed trigger and can do between 10,000 to 19,000 oscillations per minute. It has a powerful 4.2-amp motor, which is more potent than most other options we reviewed. It is great about not stalling under heavy pressure. It is effortless to change the accessories on this tool as well. The accessories stay locked very firmly in place thanks to the 1 ton of clamping force. They will not move, even when under burdensome stress.

The universal fit system accepts all major brands of blades, sanders, and other accessories. This feature allows you to easily choose any accessory needed for your particular job or project. If you need a different accessory, you can use ones from almost any major brand.

5. Dremel MM40-05 Multi-Max Oscillating Tool

While the Dremel MM40-05 Multi-Max Oscillating Tool is not as expensive as other options, it is more expensive than we think it should be. It has a 3.8-amp motor, which makes it decently powerful. It has a quick-lock system for secure accessory changes that don’t require any tools at all. It is designed to maintain a constant speed, even when put up against tough materials. The buttons are placed to use it with one hand, though this is a feature most oscillating tools have today.

This tool also comes with a rigid carrying case. This makes it very easy to keep the tool stored away in a safe location, and prevents you from losing all of the relatively small accessories.

One of the reasons we rated this tool lower than others is because the value just isn’t there. It costs quite a bit, and it isn’t worth the extra money. There are many better tools you can purchase for around the same amount.

6. Makita TM3010CX1 Multi-Tool Kit

Makita is a popular tool brand. However, the Makita TM3010CX1 Multi-Tool Kit was not one of our favorite options. The oscillating tool included has a 3-amp motor, which is somewhat less powerful than other options. It has a variable speed dial. While this is a decent feature, we would have much rather seen a variable speed trigger, as this is easy to use in general. The dial requires a bit of finesse to use, or you have to stop what you’re doing to adjust it.

The electronic speed control does maintain a constant speed, even when you begin to use it on rigid materials. This is an excellent addition, but it is a common feature among most high-quality oscillating tools. The machine is designed at a particular angle to ensure faster cutting and sanding. It also has a reduced vibration, which can lower the odds of your hand wearing out.

Our main problem with this tool is that it is made with a lot of plastic. The upper gearbox is made of plastic directly underneath the rubber shield. This is not very much protection, which makes this tool one of the lower-quality options on this list.

7. BLACK+DECKER Oscillating Multi-Tool

The BLACK+DECKER Oscillating Multi-Tool is much cheaper than other options on this list. In fact, it is a fraction of the price. However, that doesn’t mean you should purchase it. There is a reason it is so much cheaper. Firstly, the motor is only 2.5 amps. This means the tool is much less powerful than most of the other options on this list. Furthermore, it doesn’t come with many accessories. This means you will have to purchase accessories separately to use it in all likelihood, which can drive the cost up by quite a bit.

Besides these factors, this tool is pretty decent. It features tool-free accessory changes, which makes it very easy to change accessories as you need to. The variable speed dial is decent (but, again, we prefer a variable speed trigger). The comfort grip works pretty well, though this is not the most comfortable item we’ve used by any means.

Overall, we thought this tool was alright. You can likely find a better option for about the same price or a bit more. We highly recommend investing the money in a better option if you have it.

8. CRAFTSMAN CMCE500D1 Oscillating Tool

Craftsman usually makes pretty good tools. However, we were disappointed with the CRAFTSMAN CMCE500D1 Oscillating Tool. It is decent, but we really don’t recommend it to most people. It does come with multiple accessory attachments – 10 different accessories, in fact. It has a variable speed from 8,000 to 18,000 oscillations per minute. It also has a tool-free attachment system (though this could be said for practically every model on the market).

It has an LED light to illuminate darker spaces and has a storage bag to help you keep everything together. The storage bag is decent, but it is not the best. You may want to consider purchasing a separate one if you decide to go with this tool.

We did like that this tool is cordless, but this does make it a bit less potent than corded options. In the end, it really just depends on what is more important to you – portability or power? The accessories are also low-quality. There are better ones on the market.

9. Avid Power MW146 Oscillating Tool

The Avid Power MW146 Oscillating Tool is very inexpensive, so we were very excited to review it. We were hoping this would turn out to be a solid budget tool, but that wasn’t the case. This tool is very light-duty. It is not designed to last very long. Therefore, it may be good for a few one-and-done projects. However, don’t expect to use it too far in the future. Their customer service is good if the tool does break, though. Still, no one liked dealing with un-durable and defective tools.

This set also doesn’t include many of the accessories we felt like it should. This can quickly drive up the price. It likely does not include the blade you need for your job (it only includes small blades for very small jobs). Plan on purchasing a separate accessory. This will drive your cost up and ruins the purpose of this being an inexpensive tool.

Of course, there were a few things we liked. It has a quick tool change system and variable speed. However, these are very common features, and we really couldn’t give it extra points for including them.

Overall, this is a very so-so tool. Not the worst out there, but very far from the best.

10. TACKLIFE PMT03B Oscillating Tool

The TACKLIFE PMT03B Oscillating Tool is one of the worst oscillating tools we reviewed. It is moderately priced; not the most expensive, but not something we would consider a budget option either. It is designed mostly for small and simple projects, though it doesn’t do these amazingly well like you would expect. Spare batteries are also unavailable, so you’ll have to stop what you’re doing to recharge the battery whenever it dies. The battery life isn’t very good either, so it can be quite frustrating.

This tool also is a bit heavier than others. While we don’t have an exact weight (it depends on the battery), there are many reports that it is heavier than users were expecting. Because the battery isn’t very large, this can only be a design flaw. This makes it a bit clunky to use, especially in tight places. We also found that it gets hot if you use it for an extended period of time.

Basically, this tool is made for very small projects. There isn’t anything wrong with that necessarily. But you can get a better tool for the same price as this one.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Select the Best Oscillating Tool

There are many different oscillating tools on the market. These tools are very versatile by their nature. Because of this, there are tons of varieties out there. Many of these may share standard features, like some variable speed. However, they can also be very different.

Choosing the perfect one for your project is essential. To help you figure out which tool you need, we’ve written this complete buyer’s guide. It contains all the information you need to make a tool choice like a professional.

Accessories Included

Because oscillating tools have many different uses, they can come with many different accessories. The accessories you have limit the number of uses your tool has. If you want to sand something, you have to have the correct accessory, for instance. Because of this, the tool you choose must come with a lot of accessories. The more accessories it comes with, the more functions it can have.

Some companies try to cut corners by providing very few accessories. This can make the price tag of the tool lower, but you may end up spending more in the long run because you’ll be forced to purchase the accessories separately. Don’t just assume a tool is cheaper until you check to see how many accessories it has. You might not actually be saving money!

Of course, the quality of the included accessories matters as well. Most are of decent quality, though, so this is less of a problem to worry about. The number of accessories is a more important metric to look at.

Corded vs. Cordless

All of these tools run on electricity. However, some are corded and others run on batteries. There is a significant difference between the two, so it is essential to choose the option that is best for your situation.

Corded oscillating tools are usually more powerful. They can be used continuously since you don’t have to worry about the battery dying. Furthermore, they are often cheaper as well, since you don’t have to purchase a battery.

On the other hand, cordless tools rely on a battery for their power. This drives your cost up quite a bit. Batteries can be expensive, and you may have to purchase multiples to keep them charged. However, you won’t be tied to an outlet and can use the tool everywhere. As long as you have the battery, you’re good!

These tools are a bit less powerful, however. It is just difficult to make batteries provide the same oomph as an outlet can.

Universal Fit System

Some of the oscillating tools on the market can universally fit most accessories. This is a fantastic feature since it means you can use more accessories on your tool. More accessories mean more versatility – and might just save you a bit of money in the long run.

However, many of the “leading” tools on the market entirely skip this feature. (This may be because the companies are expecting you to purchase more accessories and want you to purchase from them.) We highly recommend purchasing a tool with a universal fit system if possible. You’ll thank yourself later.

Power

There are a few ways to measure the power of an oscillating tool. You can go by the amperage of the motor, or the number of oscillations per minute the tool does. In general, you want as much power as possible. This will help you handle more materials and will ensure that you get your projects done faster.

Power was one of the main components we used to rank our tools, since it does vary quite widely between models.

Conclusion

For all of those we reviewed, the DeWalt DCS355D1 XR Oscillating Tool Kit is the best. It comes with multiple high-quality accessories and is quite powerful. It is decently inexpensive as well, so you won’t be spending too much.

If you need a cheaper option, we do recommend the PORTER-CABLE PCC710B Oscillating Tool. It comes with slightly fewer accessories, but it has all the other features you need. For example, it has a variable speed option.

Hopefully, this article helped you figure out the best oscillating tool you need for your needs. Our reviews should have provided you with a clear overview of your current options, and our buyer’s guide hopefully helped you sort out which features you need.

More buying guides:

• A close look at the Rockwell F80 Sonicrafter
• A close look at the Rockwell F50 Sonicrafter model
• Rockwell F80 vs. F50 – Which one is right for you?