The Best Multi-Bit Screwdriver | Reviews by Wirecutter

Top pick

This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.

In side-by-side tests, the Channellock and Megapro performed identically. Other than the color, they’re exactly the same tools. Get whichever costs less.

The Megapro 13-in-1 (and the identical Channellock 13-in-1) is the one screwdriver we found that does everything right. There are other tools that have additional features or a finer ratchet, but for the best combination of a solid ratcheting action, fantastic bit storage, a useful selection of bits, and an oddly comfortable handle, the Megapro 13-in-1 is the one to beat. It has been our pick since 2013, and has maintained this top spot after multiple rounds of new testing against over 20 screwdrivers.

The bit storage is exceptional and is one of the many areas where the tool stands apart from the pack. The butt end of the handle pops out and slides straight back revealing a stem surrounded by six bit holders, each of which houses a double-sided bit, sort of like a six-shooter. The carousel spins, and there is plenty of room around the bits to easily find the right one and remove it. Even though it extends out of the rear of the handle, the carousel itself has hardly any wobble to it and the bits stayed secure even when we dropped the tool, something we can’t say about many similar competitors.. When closed, the carousel mechanism holds tight, yet can be easily opened with one hand using the thumb and forefinger.

The rear cap spins independently from the rest of the body. With this feature, you can press the tool into the screw with your palm and still easily rotate the screwdriver with your other hand. This is particularly useful when dealing with partially stripped screws.
Because the cap spins, the pressure from your palm won’t be fighting against the twist of the handle. Also, because your palm is pressing against a stationary piece instead of a twisting one, you won’t “rug-burn” a fiery hole into your palm.

The handle of the Megapro 13-in-1 is another high point. Even with the roomy storage capacity for the six bits (which really are 12 different driver tips), the comfort of the grip far exceeded that of any of the other screwdrivers, even those that cost more than twice as much. The teardrop shape tapers at the neck, providing a nice groove for the thumb and forefinger. The gripping area of the handle is mostly rubberized and has a series of nubs in it for better purchase. It’s a very comfortable design, and it felt natural no matter how we held it.

The ratcheting mechanism of the Megapro 13-in-1 has 28 teeth, which is about in the middle range of the screwdrivers we tested. Some had as low as 10 teeth, while most of the better ones had around 40, yet some had as many as 72. So the Megapro 13-in-1 may not have the subtlest most responsive ratchet, but it’s very quiet and we think the high-quality feel to it is undeniable. In all of our years using it, we’ve never had it slip once.

The Megapro 13-in-1 has a comprehensive bit selection. It comes with six double-headed driver bits, totaling 12 bits and should be able to handle just about every standard screwdriving task in a home. The 13th function is the ¼-inch hex end of the stem. This can be used for hex-headed screws like the kind you might find holding the rear panel of your washing machine or on a pipe band clamp.

The bits included with the Megapro 13-in-1:

• Phillips #0, 1, 2, 3
• Slotted #4, 6
• Robertson (square drive) #1, 2
• Torx #10, 15, 20, 25

It’s available in two versions. We found through our research that MegaPro also manufactures Channellock’s 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver on a private-label basis. The two tools are identical except for the color pattern, with Channellock’s being more of a blue and red superhero combination. We recommend whichever is least expensive.

Long-term test notes

I’ve been using the same Megapro 13-in-1 for the past 13 years, four of which I spent in a construction site setting. It served as my main screwdriver through a full house gut and renovation, as well as a house move and the screwdriver-heavy tasks that are involved with getting settled into a new home.

After years of constant use, the tool still works great, and aside from a couple of paint splatters and a scratch here and there, the Megapro is exactly as it was when it came out of the packaging. I’m still using the original bits, which show zero deterioration. Even the Phillips #2, the most-used tip, has maintained its shape with no rounding over of the edges.

I’ve found that the success of the storage system makes it very difficult to lose a bit. With the convenient storage carousel of the 13-in-1, there is a spot for each one of the bits. A lot of screwdrivers use the screwdriver tip as one of the storage spaces, meaning that one of the bits is going to live in the tip of the screwdriver. This isn’t ideal because they’re more easily lost this way, for example, if you have to set a bit down somewhere to use the empty end of the tool as a nut driver.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Many of the screwdrivers we tested are compatible with standard 1-inch driver bits that magnetically sit in the end of the stem. These bits are widely available at hardware stores and home centers, and if one gets damaged, it can be replaced with minimal difficulty. The Megapro 13-in-1 uses double-sided bits with a spring-loaded ball bearing at the middle of the shaft to lock them into the stem, which are proprietary and distinct to the tool. We mentioned that the storage system makes it easy to avoid losing bits—but if that happens, there’s no question they’re more difficult to replace and more expensive. For what it’s worth, a commenter, Patrick, in ToolGuyd’s review claims that when he needed a replacement bit, he called Megapro “and they sent me a bit for free.” If you lose a bit, try MegaPro’s lost bit replacement form.