We compared five current cordless jigsaws on stroke length, SPM, orbital settings, and bevel range to find real standouts from DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Craftsman, and Ryobi.
For most buyers already invested in a 20V MAX battery system, the DeWalt DCS334B is the strongest all-around pick: a 4-position orbital dial, a 3,200 SPM ceiling, a metal tool-free blade clamp, and one of the largest cordless ecosystems on the market to back it up. If raw cutting speed matters more than platform size, the Makita XVJ02Z edges it out with an 800-3,500 SPM range and a reputation for smooth, chatter-free cuts, though it costs more and, like every tool here, is sold bare (no battery or charger). Ryobi's PBLJS01B is the value play if you're already on the 18V ONE+ platform, since that ecosystem spans 175+ tools on one battery. None of these are drop-in replacements for each other's batteries — brand lock-in is real, and every listing below is a bare tool unless we say otherwise.
DeWalt
Why we like it
Craftsman
Why we like it
Bosch
Why we like it
Ryobi
Why we like itMakita
Why we like it| Product | Rank | Brand | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT 20V MAX XR Jig Saw, 3,200 Blade Sp... | #1 | DeWalt | Best Balance of Power and Control | 9.8 |
| CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Jig Saw, 3 Orbital... | #2 | Craftsman | Best Lightweight, Budget-Friendly Pick | 9.6 |
| BOSCH GST18V-47N 18V Barrel-Grip Jig Saw ... | #3 | Bosch | Best Barrel-Grip Control for Detail Cuts | 9.4 |
| RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Jig ... | #4 | Ryobi | Best Value for ONE+ Battery Owners | 9.3 |
| Makita XVJ02Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Bru... | #5 | Makita | Fastest Cutting Speed | 9.1 |
Buyer checklist
We cross-checked each jigsaw's stroke length, strokes-per-minute range, number of orbital-action settings, blade-change mechanism, and bevel capacity against the manufacturer's own product page and current Amazon listing, then looked for any independent reviews or spec mismatches worth flagging. Two of the five products in the original candidate list turned out to be dead ends for an Amazon affiliate link: Milwaukee no longer sells tools through Amazon or any authorized reseller there (confirmed via ToolGuyd and Pro Tool Reviews reporting), and the specific Bosch model requested, the JS572EBK, is a corded barrel-grip saw, not cordless. We substituted a real, currently-listed cordless tool from each brand's own lineup in both cases and disclose that below.
Orbital action controls whether the blade moves in a straight up-and-down line or in a small forward-and-back ellipse as it cuts. At the 0 setting the blade moves straight up and down, like a sewing machine needle, which gives the cleanest, most controlled cut and is what you want for tight curves, scroll work, or cutting metal. As you dial up through the higher settings (most saws here offer 3 to 4 levels), the blade's elliptical motion becomes more aggressive, clearing chips faster and cutting straight lines in wood more quickly, but at the cost of a rougher edge and less control on curves. As a rule: lowest setting for curves, metal, and finish cuts; highest setting for fast, straight rip cuts in wood where edge quality doesn't matter.
Not any blade — jigsaw blades come in two shank styles, T-shank and U-shank, and they are not interchangeable. All five tools in this guide use T-shank blades and tool-free clamps, which is the more common standard today and lets you swap blades without a hex key. U-shank blades (which require a screw-and-clamp system) are mostly found on older or budget corded saws. Beyond shank type, blades are also matched to material (wood, metal, laminate) by tooth count and set, so the right blade matters as much as the right saw.
Yes, but with a different purpose. Every jigsaw in this guide has a pivoting shoe that tilts to make bevel cuts, typically 0-45 degrees left and right, similar in range to a circular saw. The difference is that a jigsaw's thin, narrow blade is built for curved and detail cuts, so bevel capability on a jigsaw is mainly used for angled trim, miters on curved pieces, or finishing cuts, not for ripping full sheets of plywood the way a circular saw or track saw would.