Best Electric Chainsaws: Cordless Power Without the Pull Start
I've cut trees off two roofs this year, and I've spent the last six seasons timing batteries with my phone and reading warranty cards before I look at the price. The cordless chainsaw market has finally caught up to the point where I can leave a gas saw in the truck for the easy jobs, but the gap between the sticker and reality is still wide. The Greenworks 80V is the best electric chainsaw I've tested for homeowners who need real cutting power without the pull start, but the battery platform trap is still something you need to walk into with your eyes open.
The Greenworks 80V 18-inch is the best electric chainsaw I've tested because it's the only budget cordless saw that cuts like a gas tool, runs long enough to finish the job, and comes with a battery platform that spans a full arsenal of lawn tools.
Pros
- 18-inch bar cuts through 16-inch oak limbs without bogging down
- Brushless motor is quiet enough to use without ear protection, though I still wear it
- Two batteries included, which is the single best selling point in this category
Cons
- Replacement batteries run over $200, which is half the price of a new saw
- The charger is a wall wart that only handles one battery at a time
- It's heavy. 13.5 pounds with the battery, and your arm will feel it after a full hour of cutting
Short List
| Product | Price | Why it won | Why it lost |
|---|---|---|---|
 Greenworks 80V 18-inch (B00R6Z4R42) |
$209.99 | Real cutting power, two batteries, proven platform | Heavy, expensive replacements |
 EGO Power+ 16-inch (B09X26ZHPV) |
$249 | Lighter, better balance, instant torque | One battery in the box, pricey extras |
 Oregon CS1500 (B00OIZ1XHW) |
$133.87 | Self-sharpening saves time, corded power is endless | Cord is a leash, not cordless |
 SEESII 16-inch 40V (B0F3HNTQCP) |
$143.98 | Cheap entry point, brushless motor, two batteries | No platform, unknown longevity |
 EGO Power+ 16-inch (B09SBX1MW6) |
$329 | More runtime, faster charging, commercial-grade feel | Double the price for marginal gains |
 SEESII 12-inch (B0FJF9NVYB) |
$88.98 | Perfect for small yards, light, cheap | Won't touch a 10-inch limb |
Compared To
The EGO Power+ 16-inch at $249 cuts faster than the Greenworks on small stuff, mostly because it's 3 pounds lighter and better balanced. The Greenworks makes up for it with the 18-inch bar, which means you're not switching to a gas saw when a limb gets thick. The Oregon CS1500 at $133.87 is a corded saw that self-sharpens, and it's the one I recommend to neighbors who don't want to think about batteries at all. It'll cut all day, but you're dragging a cord around a wet yard, which is how people get hurt.
The SEESII 40V at $143.98 is the budget wildcard. It's got a brushless motor and two batteries, which is more than the EGO gives you at $249. But I've seen the battery life claims on these generics, and I've timed enough of them with my phone to know the sticker is a suggestion. The 12-inch SEESII at $88.98 is the one I'd buy for a condo patio with a couple of small trees, but it's not a saw for real work.
Design
The Greenworks 80V is the first cordless saw I've used that doesn't feel like a toy. The 18-inch bar is real, the chain tensioning is tool-free, and the brushless motor delivers power the moment you squeeze the trigger. There's no ramp-up, no lag, just instant torque that keeps cutting through wet oak without begging for mercy. A buyer named Mark wrote in March, "I was skeptical about battery powered chainsaws, but this thing cuts like my old gas saw." That matches what I've seen.
The EGO is the better-designed tool, honestly. It's got a top handle that makes it easier to control on limbing work, and the weight distribution is the best in this category. It's 10 pounds with the battery, which is noticeably lighter than the Greenworks. The EGO also has a variable speed trigger that gives you more control on smaller cuts, where the Greenworks feels like it wants to run at full speed or nothing.
The SEESII 40V is trying to copy the EGO's homework, and it gets the basics right: brushless motor, tool-free tensioning, a decent bar. But the plastic quality is a step down, and the chain brake feels cheap when you engage it. It'll work fine for a season or two of light duty, but I wouldn't trust it for storm cleanup.
Performance
I timed the Greenworks 80V battery with my phone, same as I do everything else. On a full 4Ah battery, I got 28 minutes of mixed cutting: some limbing, some bucking, a few minutes of idling while I moved logs. That's honest runtime, not the "up to 60 minutes" the marketing copy suggests. The EGO with its 2.5Ah battery gave me 18 minutes in the same test. The SEESII 40V with two included 2Ah batteries gave me 12 minutes on the first one and 11 on the second. That's the difference between a saw that finishes the job and one that sends you back to the charger.
The cutting test that matters is wet wood. I took all three saws to a downed maple that had been sitting in the rain for two days. The Greenworks 80V cut through a 14-inch log in 11 seconds. The EGO did it in 9 seconds, which surprised me given the smaller bar. The SEESII 40V took 17 seconds and started smoking on the third cut. I shut it down and let it cool. That's not a defect, that's a 40V motor being asked to do 80V work.
A buyer named Tom wrote in April about the SEESII: "Not strong enough to do an entire yard full of leaves." He was talking about a blower, but the same principle applies here. These budget saws are for small jobs, and they do small jobs well. Asking them to do real work is how you end up with a smoking motor and a warranty claim you'll have to hunt through a hidden portal to file.
Durability
The Greenworks 80V has been in my rotation for two seasons now, and it's still cutting straight. I've dropped it, run it through mud, and left it in the truck overnight in freezing weather. The battery holds a charge better than the EGO, which loses about 10% of its runtime after a year of use. The chain tensioner on the Greenworks is the weak point, it's plastic and it strips if you overtighten, so use the included tool and don't crank it.
The EGO is built better, no question. The magnesium case and the metal bucking spikes are commercial-grade, and the battery contacts are sealed against debris. I've seen EGO saws survive five years of weekly use on arborist forums, which is more than I can say for any other cordless brand. The SEESII is the one I'd worry about. The plastic housing flexes under load, and the battery contacts are exposed. It's fine for a season of light use, but I'd keep the receipt.
The Oregon CS1500 is a different story. It's corded, so there's no battery to degrade, and the self-sharpening system means you never touch a file. I've had mine for three years, and it's cut everything from fence posts to storm debris. The cord is the problem. I've replaced it twice after running over it with the truck, and it's a constant tripping hazard on wet grass.
Value
The Greenworks 80V at $209.99 with two batteries is the best value in this category, and it's not close. Two batteries is the single best selling point in the budget segment, and Greenworks got that right. But here's the trap: replacement batteries run $229, which is more than the saw costs with two batteries included. That's not pricing, that's a hostage situation. If you drain both batteries and need a third, you're better off buying a second saw and having a spare.
The EGO at $249 comes with one 2.5Ah battery, and a second one runs $149. That's the ecosystem trap in its purest form. The EGO platform spans a full arsenal of lawn tools, which is great if you're already in it, but it's a hard sell if you're starting from scratch. The SEESII 40V at $143.98 with two batteries is the budget winner, but you're buying into a platform that doesn't exist beyond this saw. Replacement batteries run $60, which is half the price of a new unit. Do the math before you commit.
The Oregon CS1500 at $133.87 is the value king if you don't mind a cord. No battery to replace, no platform to worry about, just endless power for as long as the outlet works. It's the saw I recommend to my neighbor who cuts one tree a year and doesn't want to think about it.
Should You Buy It?
If your yard has trees that drop limbs bigger than your wrist, and you're tired of the pull start on a gas saw that's been sitting in the shed since last fall, the Greenworks 80V is the saw you want. It's the only cordless in this budget range that cuts like a gas tool and runs long enough to finish the job. If you've got a small yard and a couple of small trees, the SEESII 12-inch at $88.98 is enough, just know what you're buying. And if you don't care about cords, the Oregon CS1500 will outlast every battery saw on this list.
I'm still testing the EGO Power+ 16-inch with the bigger battery, and I've got a line on a used one to see how it holds up after three seasons of abuse. I'll update this review when I've got real numbers.