Buying power tools gets tricky when the choices are not all built for the same job. In this group, two Milwaukee options are cordless 3/8-inch ratchets, while the Craftsman and Makita choices are two-tool drill/driver-style combo kits. The right pick depends less on one universal "best" tool and more on whether you need a ratchet for fastening in tight mechanical spaces, a drill and impact driver pair, or a kit that already includes batteries.
Quick take
- Choose the Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2567-20 if you want the higher-speed Milwaukee ratchet format with a compact head profile and brushless motor language in the product description.
- Choose the Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 if you want a lower-priced Milwaukee M12 3/8-inch cordless ratchet and already have the needed M12 battery setup.
- Choose the Craftsman Combo Kit CMCD700 Drill/Driver & CMCF800 Driver if you want two Craftsman V20 tools at the lowest listed price in this comparison.
- Choose the Makita XT281S-R 18V LXT HammerDrill/ImpDriver Combo Kit if you want the broadest included kit here, since it includes two tools, two 18V LXT batteries, a charger, and a bag.
Listed price comparison
The listed price range runs from USD 74.99 to USD 179.99, with the lowest listed option 58% below the highest. That spread matters because the lowest-priced Craftsman kit is a tools-only open-box bundle, while the highest-priced Makita kit is a certified-refurbished combo kit with batteries and charger included.
| Product | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2567-20 12-Volt Cordless High Speed 3/8 in Ratchet Bare Tool | USD 130.99 | |
| Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 12V 3/8" Inch Cordless Ratchet (Tool Only | USD 85.99 | |
| Craftsman Combo Kit CMCD700 Drill/Driver & CMCF800 Driver, 20V (tools Only | USD 74.99 | |
| Makita XT281S-R 18V LXT HammerDrill/ImpDriver Combo Kit Certified Refurbished | USD 179.99 |
Decision matrix
For automotive, mechanical, and service fastening: Start with the two Milwaukee ratchets. Both are 12V M12 3/8-inch cordless ratchet options, and both are listed as tool-only with no battery included. The M12 FUEL 2567-20 emphasizes up to 450 RPM, while the 2457-20 description names up to 250 RPM.
For a two-tool drilling and driving setup: Look at Craftsman or Makita. The Craftsman bundle includes a drill/driver and impact driver as tools only. The Makita kit includes a driver-drill and impact driver along with batteries, charger, and tool bag.
For battery situation: If you already own compatible batteries, a tool-only option may make sense. If you want the included battery and charger package among these four, the Makita is the only one marked with battery included.
For condition preference: The Milwaukee ratchets are listed as new. The Craftsman kit is open box. The Makita kit is certified refurbished. That distinction may be just as important as tool type because the comparison mixes bare tools, tools-only kits, and a battery-included refurbished kit.
Concise product notes
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2567-20 12-Volt Cordless High Speed 3/8 in Ratchet Bare Tool
This Milwaukee ratchet is the stronger fit if your priority is the high-speed 3/8-inch ratchet format rather than a drill/driver kit. The product description highlights up to 450 RPM, up to 35 ft-lbs of max torque, a 0.75-inch head profile, steel yoke housing, LED light, on-board battery fuel gauge, and POWERSTATE brushless motor language. It is also described as a bare tool, and the attributes mark battery included as no, so it is best matched to shoppers who are already working around the Milwaukee M12 battery platform. At its listed price, it sits well above the other Milwaukee ratchet but below the Makita combo kit.
Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 12V 3/8" Inch Cordless Ratchet (Tool Only
The Milwaukee 2457-20 is the lower-priced Milwaukee ratchet in this set and keeps the same broad M12 12V, 3/8-inch cordless ratchet idea. The description points to up to 35 ft-lbs of torque, up to 250 RPM, a 10-3/4-inch length, 1.9-lb weight, low-profile head design, variable-speed metal trigger, built-in LED light, and on-board fuel gauge. Its limitation is built into the title and description: it is a tool-only ratchet, with batteries and charger not included. That makes it most appealing when you want the cordless ratchet form at a lower listed price than the M12 FUEL model and do not need a drill/driver pair.
Craftsman Combo Kit CMCD700 Drill/Driver & CMCF800 Driver, 20V (tools Only
The Craftsman kit is the lowest-priced option here and the only Craftsman V20 two-tool bundle in the group. It includes the CMCD700 1/2-inch drill/driver and CMCF800 1/4-inch impact driver, plus the original Craftsman tool bag, owner's manuals, Phillips driver bit, and original retail box. The drill/driver is described with a 2-speed gearbox, while the impact driver is described with a quick-release 1/4-inch hex chuck. The tradeoff is clear: it is open box and tools only, with no battery and no charger. It suits shoppers who want both drilling and impact-driving tools more than a cordless ratchet.
Makita XT281S-R 18V LXT HammerDrill/ImpDriver Combo Kit Certified Refurbished
The Makita XT281S-R is the most complete kit in this comparison because it includes an 18V LXT brushless impact driver, an 18V LXT compact brushless 1/2-inch driver-drill, two 18V LXT 3 Ah batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. The description names a driver-drill with variable 2-speed ranges and 440 in-lbs of max torque, plus an impact driver with 1500 in-lbs of max torque. Its limitation is that it has the highest listed price and is marked certified refurbished, not new. For shoppers deciding between tools-only and a more inclusive kit, the battery-included status is the key separator.
Final recommendation
If you need a cordless 3/8-inch ratchet, choose between the two Milwaukee tools first. The Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 is the more economical ratchet choice at USD 85.99, with the same listed maximum torque figure as the higher-priced Milwaukee model. The Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2567-20 is the step-up ratchet pick at USD 130.99 if the high-speed description, brushless motor language, and compact 0.75-inch head profile are the reasons you are shopping.
If you need a drill/driver and impact driver combo, the choice shifts. The Craftsman Combo Kit CMCD700 Drill/Driver & CMCF800 Driver is the lowest listed price in the group at USD 74.99, but it is open box and tools only. The Makita XT281S-R 18V LXT HammerDrill/ImpDriver Combo Kit Certified Refurbished costs the most at USD 179.99, yet it is also the only option here that includes batteries and charger.
For most shoppers, the simplest decision is by job type: pick Milwaukee for ratchet work, Craftsman for the lowest-cost two-tool drill/driver bundle, and Makita when you want the combo kit format with batteries included.