Ryobi vs Milwaukee: Which Brand Wins?
Project Farm has put Ryobi and Milwaukee products into the same head-to-head test 37 times in this index. Counting each brand's best finisher, Milwaukee came out ahead in 23 of those 37 matchups and Ryobi in 14. Neither brand sweeps: the lead changes with the tool category, so the grid below shows every matchup, category by category, with each brand's exact finishing position and a link to the full test results.
Ryobi
14 / 37
matchups finished ahead · 2 outright test wins
Milwaukee
23 / 37
matchups finished ahead · 6 outright test wins
“Finished ahead” compares each brand's best-placed product in a test. “Outright test win” means the test itself declared that brand's product the overall winner.
Ryobi vs Milwaukee, category by category
Every test below included at least one genuine product from each brand. Positions are the order the products finished in the test; knockoff and counterfeit entries never score.
Power Tools17 tests
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Wrench2025 · 13 products | #6 of 13Ryobi 1+ HP | #1 of 13Milwaukee M12 Fuel | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Hammer Drill2025 · 11 products | #7 of 11Ryobi OnePlus HP | #9 of 11Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Impact Drivers2025 · 12 products | #7 of 12Ryobi One+ HP | #2 of 12Milwaukee M18 Fuel | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Screwdriver2024 · 17 products | #15 of 17Ryobi | #11 of 17Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Corded Angle Grinder2023 · 11 products | #9 of 11Ryobi | #3 of 11Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Right Angle Drill2022 · 10 products · Ryobi won the test outright | #1 of 10Ryobi ONE+ HP | #6 of 10Milwaukee M18 | Ryobi |
| Battery-powered Sanders2022 · 12 products | #2 of 12Ryobi | #9 of 12Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Cordless Circular Saws2022 · 10 products | #9 of 10Ryobi One+ HP | #2 of 10Milwaukee Fuel | Milwaukee |
| Angle Grinder2022 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #9 of 10Ryobi One+ HP 18V | #1 of 10Milwaukee M18 Fuel | Milwaukee |
| Oscillating Multi-tool2022 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #4 of 10Ryobi 18V 1+ HP | #1 of 10Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Ratchets2021 · 6 products · Ryobi won the test outright | #2 of 6Ryobi | #5 of 6Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Cordless Drill2021 · 8 products | #5 of 8Ryobi | #1 of 8Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Compact Battery Screwdriver2021 · 15 products | #12 of 15Ryobi | #15 of 15Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Cordless Reciprocating Saw2021 · 9 products | #4 of 9Ryobi | #2 of 9Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless) | Milwaukee |
| Hammer Drills2021 · 6 products | #4 of 6Ryobi One+ HP | #1 of 6Milwaukee FUEL 2804-20 | Milwaukee |
| Cordless (battery Powered) Wet/dry Shop Vacs2021 · 7 products | #7 of 7Ryobi One+ 3 gallon wet/dry project vacuum | #2 of 7Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Battery Grease Gun2020 · 5 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #3 of 5Ryobi Ryobi One+ | #1 of 5Milwaukee M18 cordless two-speed grease gun | Milwaukee |
Outdoor Power Equipment8 tests
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Chainsaw2025 · 13 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #12 of 13Ryobi | #1 of 13Milwaukee M18 FUEL | Milwaukee |
| String Trimmers2025 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #6 of 10Ryobi 40V string trimmer | #1 of 10Milwaukee 17 inch dual battery straight shaft trimmer | Milwaukee |
| Battery Powered Chainsaw2025 · 10 products | #4 of 10Ryobi | #6 of 10Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Chainsaw2022 · 12 products | #11 of 12Ryobi ONE+ 18V, 10in bar chainsaw | #1 of 12Milwaukee M12 FUEL Hatchet 6-inch pruning saw | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Leaf Blower2022 · 10 products | #3 of 10Ryobi 40V, Whisper Series | #4 of 10Milwaukee 2824-20, 36V | Ryobi |
| String Trimmer2022 · 9 products | #5 of 9Ryobi | #2 of 9Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Pole Saw2022 · 10 products | #6 of 10Ryobi | #10 of 10Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Chainsaw2020 · 6 products | #2 of 6Ryobi | #5 of 6Milwaukee M18 FUEL | Ryobi |
Blades, Bits & Abrasives6 tests
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Bit2024 · 14 products | #14 of 14Ryobi Titanium | #9 of 14Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Circular Saw Blades2022 · 15 products | #3 of 15Ryobi | #6 of 15Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Bit Holders2022 · 19 products | #1 of 19Ryobi medium length | #7 of 19Milwaukee | Ryobi |
| Torx Bit2021 · 12 products | #12 of 12Ryobi | #2 of 12Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Masonry Drill Bit2021 · 10 products | #5 of 10Ryobi | #2 of 10Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty | Milwaukee |
| Twist Drill Bit2019 · 12 products | #9 of 12Ryobi black oxide, 21 piece set | #4 of 12Milwaukee titanium split tip, Shockwave, 15 piece set | Milwaukee |
Jump Starters & Car Power2 tests
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Inflators2023 · 13 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #8 of 13Ryobi ONE+ | #1 of 13Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| Portable Tire Inflator2019 · 8 products | #3 of 8Ryobi One+ 18V inflator | #1 of 8Milwaukee M12 Compact Inflator | Milwaukee |
Hand Tools1 test
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Socket Adapter2020 · 18 products | #18 of 18Ryobi | #14 of 18Milwaukee Shockwave | Milwaukee |
Home & Cleaning1 test
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stapler2022 · 15 products | #2 of 15Ryobi 18V ONE+ | #3 of 15Milwaukee | Ryobi |
Home Appliances1 test
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld Vacuum2024 · 14 products | #2 of 14Ryobi One+ (18-V, less expensive at Home Depot) | #12 of 14Milwaukee genuine (M18) | Ryobi |
Power Tool Batteries1 test
| Test | Ryobi best finish | Milwaukee best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Tool Batteries2023 · 10 products | #1 of 10Ryobi One+ (regular, 4 amp hour) | #3 of 10Milwaukee M18 XC 3.0 (regular) | Ryobi |
Where Ryobi finished ahead
How this scoreboard works
Every row comes from one Project Farm head-to-head test that fielded genuine products from both Ryobi and Milwaukee. For each test we take each brand's best-finishing product, in the order the test ranked them, and score which one placed higher; the test's own declared winner is reported separately as an outright win. We did not run any of this testing ourselves, and no number on this page exists outside the underlying test data. Click any test to see the full measured results and the link to the original video.
The products behind these results
The best finisher each brand fielded in the tests above. We link what the tests named, not our own pick, and we have not tested anything ourselves.
Power Tools · test winner
Ryobi ONE+ HP
Power Tools
Ryobi OnePlus HP
Outdoor Power Equipment · test winner
Milwaukee M18 FUEL
Outdoor Power Equipment · test winner
Milwaukee 17 inch dual battery straight shaft trimmer
Amazon search links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
Is Ryobi better than Milwaukee?
Neither brand sweeps. Across the 37 independent Project Farm tests in this index that included both brands, Milwaukee's best product finished ahead in 23 matchups and Ryobi's in 14. The result varies by tool category, so check the grid above for the product you are actually buying.
How many tests did Ryobi win outright?
Ryobi took the test's declared overall win in 2 of the 37 shared tests, including right angle drill, cordless ratchets. An outright win means the test itself named a Ryobi product the winner; finishing ahead of Milwaukee happened more often than that.
How many tests did Milwaukee win outright?
Milwaukee took the test's declared overall win in 6 of the 37 shared tests, including compact chainsaw, string trimmers, tire inflators. An outright win means the test itself named a Milwaukee product the winner; finishing ahead of Ryobi happened more often than that.
Who wins in power tools?
Power Tools is the pair's biggest battleground here: 17 shared tests. Milwaukee's best product finished ahead in 12 of them. Every one of those tests is linked in the grid above so you can check the measured results.
Did Which Brand Wins run these tests?
No. Every measurement and finishing order on this page comes from Project Farm's independent test videos. We index the results and compute the scoreboard; each row links to our write-up of the underlying test, which links the original video so you can check the numbers yourself.