tldr; DeWalt's compact value champion. Brushless motor at budget price, plenty of power for DIY and light pro work.
Check pricesEach axis shows what % of Reddit comments are positive about that topic. Higher = more praise.
Best praise vs top criticism for DeWalt 20V MAX Atomic Brushless 1/4" Impact Driver (DCF809)
“Milwaukee m12 fuel drill and driver set is currently my favorite. It's great to have both options. Be methodical when choosing a battery platform because you may need more battery tools in the future. Ryobi brushless is another good option and they have a ton of no-frills tools that just get the job done without high prices or drama. Dewalt atomic impact driver is also very good and is 20v. It has an audible warning when reaching the torque limit of the current setting and is handy for delicate work like drawer slides. Having all 3, I can't recommend the m12 fuel enough, though. Just buy them on sale if that is your decision. They can be a bit spendy but there is almost always a good deal out there.”
“Had the same dilemma, the dewalt ones are just way too expensive to justify getting both so I was really leaning toward 16ga dewalt. I ended up getting metabo hpt 18ga and metabo angled 15ga instead. Lowe's was selling them with extra battery and the metabo hpt nailers are seemingly some of the best nailers on the market anyway for almost half the cost of the Dewalts.”
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3 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/5/2026