Who Is The Better Buy, Harbor Freight Or Northern Tool? Here's What Consumers Say

With over 1,600 locations across the United States, Harbor Freight is one of the biggest names in budget-friendly tools. Northern Tool + Equipment (usually just Northern Tool) may be modest by comparison, with 120 stores, but it also offers a comprehensive range of affordable gear for the DIY enthusiast. Both have huge websites anyway, so even if you don't have a store in the area, you should have no problem getting what you need.

One of the main reasons that both can offer such competitive prices is they have their own branded tools. So whether you're looking for those must-buy power tools for first-time homeowners, a welder for fixing up that classic auto, or a string trimmer to tidy the yard, both can save you money. The big question then is, who is the better buy? There's nothing like consumer feedback to get a real-world view, so we visited a number of popular websites and forums to see what people had to say. It depends on what you're looking for, but it seems Harbor Freight is the preferred option for DIY tools.

On Reddit, opinions were mixed. Where one commenter thought Northern Tool could be overpriced, another praised it for having tools they couldn't get anywhere else. Although Harbor Freight's quality has been criticized in the past, it is recognized as having improved. In general, comments seemed to balance out. One shopper said, "I'll go to either store if they have what I need."

Over at Quora, people leaned much more toward Harbor Freight, although one person pointed out it was "kind of an apples and oranges comparison," as each has its strengths depending on the type of tools you want to buy. Another thought that Harbor Freight had "less junk," reflecting the low cost of many products at both stores. Convenience was an issue for some, who liked to shop in person rather than online; clearly, there are fewer Northern Tool stores around.

One key difference was pointed out on the forum Garage Journal. Harbor Freight sells only its own brand tools, whereas if you're looking to trade up to some of the best power tool brands, Northern Tool also offers DeWalt, Milwaukee, and others. However, it was also pointed out that in the budget lines, you could sometimes find what appeared to be exactly the same tool with a different label at either.

Generally speaking, Harbor Freight is thought to be the better buy for DIY tools, particularly if you know how to get the best deals on Harbor Freight tools. Northern Tool is often considered to be more focused on farm and acreage. One commenter on Reddit perhaps summed it up best when they said they wouldn't get attached to either. It's more important to focus on the specification of the tool you want and then see which store has it at the best price.