Garden & Outdoor Living · Head-to-head
EGO Power+ 18" Chain Saw 50cc (CS1815) vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw (2727-21HD)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Chainsaws for Homeowners: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The EGO Power+ CS1815 is the best default homeowner chainsaw: an 18-inch bar, cutting EGO rates as equal to a 50cc gas saw from a single 56V battery, tool-free tensioning, and a digital display at a mid-range price. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" is the pick if you already own M18 tools and want serious battery cutting power.
EGO Power+ 18" Chain Saw 50cc (CS1815)
Buy itThe best all-round homeowner chainsaw: 50cc-class cutting from a single 56V battery, an 18-inch bar, and genuinely tool-free tensioning.
- Long 18-inch bar handles bigger logs and small felling that shorter saws can't
- Runs on one 56V battery, so there's no fuel to mix, no pull-starting, and instant on/off
- Tool-free chain tensioning by dial, plus a digital display with speed modes, battery status and a safety brake on/off indicator
- Ships as a kit with a 6.0Ah battery and charger, rated by EGO for up to 330 cuts on a 4x4 per charge
- One battery only powers so much continuous cutting; heavy users will want a spare
- The longer 18-inch bar carries more weight out front than a 16-inch saw
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw (2727-21HD)
Buy itA pro-grade 16-inch battery saw that cuts hard and fast, and a no-brainer if you already live on the M18 platform.
- Brushless motor and a HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0 pack, which Milwaukee rates at the performance of a gas engine up to 40cc
- 16-inch bar, all-metal bucking spikes, and a variable-speed trigger give real control in firewood and bucking
- Shares one battery with a huge M18 tool lineup, so owners avoid buying into a second platform
- Automatic chain oiler with a factory-set flow rate
- Premium price, and the big high-output battery it needs adds cost and weight
- Overkill if you don't already own M18 tools and only cut a few times a year
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| EGO Power+ 18" Chain Saw 50cc (CS1815) Our pick | Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw (2727-21HD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Homeowners who want one saw for firewood, cleanup, and occasional felling without touching gas. | Owners already invested in Milwaukee M18 who want serious cutting power in a battery saw. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Power source | 56V battery (6.0Ah kit) | M18 battery (high-output kit) |
| Bar length | 18 in | 16 in (also 14 in) |
| Chain tensioning | Tool-free dial | Tensioner with onboard scrench |
| Chain brake & kickback | Safety brake with on/off indicator | Chain brake |
| Auto-oiler | Not stated on maker page | Automatic, factory-set flow |
| Weight, ready to cut | Not listed on maker page | Not listed on maker page |
| Refuel / recharge | Swap one 56V pack | Swap one M18 pack |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the EGO Power+ 18" Chain Saw 50cc (CS1815) if
homeowners who want one saw for firewood, cleanup, and occasional felling without touching gas.
Know before buying: one battery only powers so much continuous cutting; heavy users will want a spare.
Pick the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw (2727-21HD) if
owners already invested in Milwaukee M18 who want serious cutting power in a battery saw.
Know before buying: premium price, and the big high-output battery it needs adds cost and weight.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the EGO Power+ 18" Chain Saw 50cc (CS1815) - The best all-round homeowner chainsaw: 50cc-class cutting from a single 56V battery, an 18-inch bar, and genuinely tool-free tensioning. Choose the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw (2727-21HD) instead if owners already invested in Milwaukee M18 who want serious cutting power in a battery saw.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Chainsaws for Homeowners: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).