Still buying Milwaukee? 3 signs you invested in the wrong power tool brand

Published Oct 3, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. Milwaukee didn't become one of the most popular tool brands by accident—its M12 and M18 lines dominate jobsites and trades everywhere, and for good reason. There's no denying the appeal, but just because they're one of the best doesn't mean they're right for you. Between dropping $279 on a single high-output battery and watching an M18 impact driver gather dust between occasional DIY projects or repairs, the reality starts to set in. Maybe you invested in the wrong brand. Here are a few things to consider. More affordable options exist Don't get me wrong, Milwaukee tools are great and absolutely have their place and customers. But depending on your needs, budget, profession, or project at hand, it might have been the wrong move. Aside from a few basics like a drill, driver, impact wrench, and other DIY items, everything else starts to add up quickly. It's not the drill that's expensive; it's everything you buy later. In general, its tools are substantially more expensive than those from RIDGID, Ryobi, and, oftentimes, DeWalt. Professionals are willing to pay that premium because they know they're getting tons of power, torque, and quality tools that can handle the daily grind. That said, I still find it crazy how much more expensive some items are when compared to DeWalt or Ryobi. I can get a solid cordless pole saw from several brands for way less than Milwaukee's price, and that's just one example. Now I know Ryobi is the "budget" brand, but still. Milwaukee's initial main tools and combo packs lock you in, and then all those niche tools start to really add up. The red tax is real, and it hurts. The ecosystem is split between M12 and M18 And it's not as big as the competition Credit: Milwaukee As we all know, once you buy into a power tool brand (or battery platform), you're sort of stuck. Milwaukee makes hundreds of tools compatible with its M18 battery platform, and once you get started, you won't want to buy from another brand. No one wants different battery types, multiple chargers, and different tools that don't work together. That's why your first power tool purchase is more important than you think. But unfortunately, many Milwaukee users will eventually end up buying a different platform. Whether that's the smaller M12 line for compact yet highly useful tools, or something from Ryobi that makes more sense for lawn care or DIY jobs. With Ryobi, there are over 320 products that all run on the same 18V ONE+ battery, then a small selection of more powerful items and outdoor equipment for its 40V line. However, Milwaukee's main power tool lineup for DIYers, homeowners, professionals, and tradespeople is split between the compact M12 and the larger M18 platform. Even if you don't want to switch to another brand or buy a different battery and a second charging system, you might have to with Milwaukee. The company does an excellent job of convincing M18 owners to join the M12 family, whether that's tools exclusive to M12 or by blurring the lines. At the end of the day, no one wants tools, batteries, and chargers that are all incompatible with each other. The second part of the ecosystem debate centers around DIYers, homeowners, and the endless supply of neat products offered by Ryobi. I have a few family members and a neighbor who all started with Milwaukee, but eventually switched to Ryobi for its dizzying supply of products. Ryobi has excellent (and affordable) tools, fans, lights, camping equipment, yard care tools, winter products, heaters, pressure washers, battery-powered coolers, tire inflators, stick vacuums, and so much more. Sure, Milwaukee makes some of that, but not nearly as many, and not at the wallet-friendly price tag most people want. If you're eyeing Ryobi products while you wander through Home Depot, that's another sign you chose wrong. Sorry. Milwaukee's "jobsite tax" More money and power than you need There's a running joke online and in specific trades about paying the Milwaukee jobsite tax. Similar to how Apple products are generally more expensive because it's Apple, the same often rings true for Team Red. Don't get me wrong, you mostly get what you pay for, but oftentimes, that's more than most people need. You're not just paying more for Milwaukee tools because they're better than a Ryobi or whatever you'll find at Harbor Freight, you're also paying for the name. And eventually, that might start to get old for those on a budget. And sure, that Milwaukee 1/2 inch high torque impact wrench is an absolute beast, but for many, that's more power than you'll ever need, and I doubt you ever fully cycle that 5Ah battery in a weekend. Milwaukee tools deliver power for big jobs, and if your job is around your home, it's more than you need. The right tool for certain people At the end of the day, if your garage looks like a commercial contractor's truck but your workload doesn't match the price tag, you might have locked yourself into the wrong platform. If you're occasionally tackling projects or repairs around the house, putting together some IKEA furniture, or puttering around in the garage, continuing to pay the Milwaukee premium won't be all that fun.