The 9 Best Budget Chainsaws Money Can Buy, According To Satisfied Shoppers

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A reliable chainsaw is a must-buy power tool for first-time homeowners, but in a sea of options, it can be hard to know where to start your search. This versatile and essential tool is considered a staple in most households, but it's no secret they can get pricey. Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly chainsaws that won't break the bank. 

It's not uncommon to find chainsaws with price tags over a thousand dollars, but for most homeowners, cheaper alternatives can still get the job done while being kind to your wallet. It's likely you won't need to spend several hundred dollars, like a professional would, to find the tool for you. Instead, you can choose the right chainsaw for firewood, yard work, and gardening at a fraction of the price. 

For this list, we chose chainsaws under $200 with a minimum of 4 out of 5 stars in customer satisfaction. These options can save you hundreds compared to other, more expensive brands, yet don't sacrifice quality or performance. Here are nine top-rated chainsaws that are actually worth buying, according to buyers' firsthand reviews.

The Proyama 62CC 2-Cycle Gas Powered Chainsaw from Amazon boasts a 22-inch chain and is priced at $199. It is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars across more than 1,900 reviews, and buyers appreciate that the larger size is ideal for taking on bigger jobs. "This is a fantastic saw for homestead use, we are maintaining 10 acres with it, and find it works great, the bigger bar makes taking down the larger trees safer, along with the extra power, all at a really good price," one five-star reviewer shared. 

The Oregon CS1500 18-inch electric chainsaw on Amazon is priced modestly at $97.74. The affordable value, convenient self-sharpening feature, and surprising level of power has earned it a 4.4 out of 5-star rating and more than 8,000 reviews. In a review titled "this chainsaw is a great value for money," a reviewer explains, "The integrated PowerSharp self-sharpening system is a standout feature, allowing for quick and easy chain sharpening in just a few seconds without the need for additional tools. This ensures consistent cutting performance throughout the job."

A major draw to Hart's 14-inch chainsaw is the ease of use. The design is compact, cordless, and lightweight. The Hart battery-operated chainsaw is available on Walmart's website for $196, where it's rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. "I cannot say enough good about this chainsaw. With just a push of the switch, it starts. It's not very loud either. No gas or spark plugs ever needed. This is handy to keep anywhere ... The bar is 14" long so plenty long enough for most jobs." one reviewer shared.

The SKIL PWR CORE 14-inch chainsaw is another affordable cordless option. Despite weighing only 11.5 pounds, users appreciate the saw's speed and durability. You can find it on Amazon for $149. One reviewer explains "Living in a city I wanted a quiet cordless, but was concerned about cutting ability and battery life. This one was $50 less than models with bigger batteries and I don't mind having to recharge occasionally. To sum it up, it was nearly perfect." Most reviewers don't feel it is powerful enough for large trees.

For some homeowners, there's no need for a huge chainsaw if you're just doing stuff around your property. The RYOBI 14-inch gas-powered chainsaw is easy to handle, and ideal for knocking out quick chores. It's at Home Depot for $169. One reviewer shared "I originally purchased it strictly for trimming ... After using this saw for a while I started using it more and more ... This saw starts right up without a problem every time and is much lighter and easy to use."

The Craftsman electric 16-inch chainsaw is the most affordable option on this list, priced at just $89.99 on Amazon. It's rated 4.4 out of 5 stars, and buyers are impressed by the product's power, despite the cheap price. "Was not expecting much out of this cheap chainsaw, but was pleasantly [surprised] at how well it functions." one 5-star reviewer confessed. "It did a great job and saved us a bunch of money," shared another reviewer that used it to cut down large tree limbs.

Priced at $149.99 at Harbor Freight, it would be easy to assume the Atlas 80V 18-inch chainsaw packs less of a punch than more expensive competitors. But satisfied buyers report this chainsaw is shockingly powerful for the price. "If you're on the fence about a battery-powered saw, this thing is a beast. You will not be disappointed, I kept thinking 18" blade (no way it'll have enough power) I WAS WRONG I PUT IT TO THE TEST. It didn't let me down!" one reviewer revealed.

Satisfied customers report that DEREAL's 20-inch gas chainsaw from Amazon works exactly like it's supposed to. The reliable tool is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars and is priced at $139.99. One buyer wrote, "I picked this up to do a little light cutting in the yard and it started on the first pull after 3 or 4 pulls with the choke on, exactly how it was supposed to start. Assembly was a breeze. It cut through my wood like butter and it wasn't too heavy to use."

EGO's 16-inch battery-powered chainsaw is powerful and energy-efficient, and doesn't make too much noise. Priced at $199 at Lowe's, this saw boasts a near perfect 4.7 out of 5 stars,with almost 4,000 reviews. "This chainsaw is terrific! I've been using a gas-powered chainsaw for 20 years and this EGO is so impressive that I may end up using this electric chainsaw exclusively. It will easily saw through 16" diameter logs with no problem. It's really nice to use in the backyard because it is relatively quiet." one buyer shared.