The Best BUDGET Impact Driver + GIVEAWAY!

Friday, December 15, 2017 -
The best budget impact driver for a DIYer or power tool fan Ryobi brushless impact product review



*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I chose my blog name, Pneumatic Addict, after being inspired by my favorite power tool, the brad nailer. A very close second is the impact driver. I love those little guys! I can honestly say I use an impact driver on almost every project. If you're interested in learning what's the difference between an impact driver and a power drill, check out this blog post all about drills

I currently own 5 different impact drivers, all from different manufacturers. If you are on a budget, I'd hands down recommend the new brushless impact from Ryobi.


My father-in-law is a general contractor and he has given me the same advice I've heard regarding most purchases: don't take the cheapest offer. Take the bid (or buy the tool) one or two steps up from the bottom. At $99, the Ryobi impact certainly isn't the cheapest option, but it's nowhere near the top, and it's worth every penny. I've made a list of what sets my new impact driver apart from the competition and what makes it the best choice on a budget. One of you lucky friends will actually win this exact tool! 

1. It's Brushless

A couple of years ago I started seeing the term "brushless" stamped on tool boxes, usually with a much higher pricetag than those without. What exactly is a brush and why don't you want them? 

Conventional electrical motors had spinning carbon bundles or "brushes" that worked with magnets to create momentum. Brushless motors have spinning magnets that move around an armature. Ignore the technical mumbo jumbo and just know that it means a brushless motor has more power and more control. They last longer and have the ability to make tools "smart" by having variable power.  



2. LED Lights

Just like storage, you can never have enough lighting when you work! My old impact driver had a light as well, but a single bulb underneath the driver bit created so many shadows it sometimes made it even harder to see what I was doing. Whoever designed the Ryobi impact was pretty smart and put three different LEDs around the chuck, so the business end is always well illuminated. 




3. Magnetic Holder

I have a few different impact drivers and believe it or not, a couple don't even have a place to hold a spare driver bit. It's super annoying when I want to switch from a flat to a Phillips or from a nut setter to a square drive. The Ryobi brushless impact driver has a holder clip in the front, but it also has this sweet area called a Magtray. It's a little magnetic dish that can hold extra bits, as well as screws or nuts. I use it on almost every project. 




4. Variable Speed

The problem when the first impact drivers came on the market was people started using them for everything 

*quietly raises hand  

It doesn't take too many stripped screw heads or broken light switch plates to learn you don't always need tons of power and speed. However,  with three different speed settings, it's okay to use this impact for almost any situation or material.



I found the adjustable speed settings really useful when starting screws. I start on the slower speed to get the threads engaged, then I speed up to drive the screw in.




5. The ONE+ Battery Platform

You guys know I don't work with one tool brand exclusively. If you look at my process shots from past projects, you'll see DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Ridgid - all of them. Each brand has their pro's and con's. 

Ryobi's biggest claim to fame is their One+ battery platform. You can take the exact same 18-volt battery from your cordless drill, and use it to power a floodlight or hedge trimmer. That was a smart move. Lithium batteries aren't cheap, so once you make a commitment to a product line, it's nice when that line carries a large variety of compatible tools. I think there are over 70 now. 



Ready to get your hands on your own Ryobi Brushless Impact Driver? Fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of the page for chances to win. I will send this exact tool! Want to save this idea for later? Feel free to pin the image below!

how to cheap inexpensive the best for the money brushless Ryobi impact driver review guide tutorial DIY

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38 comments

  1. I like my orbital sander.

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  2. Got to say my favorite tool is my impact driver but I need to upgrade to a brushless one for more power and torque.

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  3. It's a tie between my scroll saw and my cordless nailer.

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  4. Scroll saw is my most used tool, however I am still rocking corded. Don't have the current funds to upgrade.

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  5. My favorite tool is my sawzall, but the impact driver is a close second :-)

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  6. I love my Ryobi miter saw and my Makita jigsaw. Both were Christmas gifts from my dad and completely unlocked what I could accomplish in a small place. I’ve literally set up on the front porch of my apartment building and made a bed frame, a headboard, oversized poster frames, a corner desk, countless shelving units, crates for under bed storage and gifting. (An impact driver would have made the bed frame a helluva lot easier.)

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  7. I love All my ryobi tools!!!!! Great give away!! Thanks!!

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  8. I love all of my Ryobi tools but the Brad nailer is the most fun to use!

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  9. Ryobi makes some great products with nice features. Not always the brand I’ll go for. I am also not loyal to any one brand. Just pick the best option in the price range i want.

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  10. I wouldn't survive without my miter saw!

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  11. Wow, this impact driver looks amazing. I can see using this regularly for all kinds of projects. Love Ryobi tools!

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  12. I love all my Ryobi Tools. Literally, the only brand I'll buy.

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  13. I use my Ryobi miter saw for everything. I am not strong and it provides strength for me.

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  14. Great giveaway, thanks! My favorite is the airstrik Ryobi brad nailer. I would love to own a brush-less impact driver that has power and torque!

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  15. oh, dear....I feel like I'm way over my head seeing everyone else's answers! My favorite tool is a dremel. But I also like my pliers and screw driver. How sad is that? When I need something done with a power tool I usually get hubby to help me since he can do anything. I've never had to learn to use tools myself. But I want to. I can't always wait until he's home. I'd love to win this to have for myself and start doing more on my own. thank you for the chance!

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  16. The Airstrike nailer is my favorite. So handy and no noisy compressor or clumsy air hose.

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  17. I love using my pneumatic brad nailer. I like the lighting on this drill. The one I use, currently, only has a light underneath.

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  18. I like the whole brushless series

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  19. I love them all. Drill, airstrike, table saw are among the favorites.

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  20. This looks awesome. I love when they have the LED lights

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  21. My good ol drill :)

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  22. I have a lot of Ryobi tools, and more are coming with the Xmas season. I use them all daily, and they've never failed me. The brushless angle grinder is being added to my collection of over 25 Ryobi tools, and the brushless impact would be a great fit with all of my other Ryobi tools. While I love all of my Ryobi stuff, the 18ga brad nailer is my absolute favorite, I love using that gun!!

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  23. My miter saw is something I use on almost every project.

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