This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Please read our Affiliate Disclosure for more.
Multi-tools have been around for many years now, as these small all-in-one tools become more and more popular among people. They eventually managed to help people in their everyday tasks to the extent that some even carry them in their backpack or keychain. Each multi-tool has its features and also its price. Some might consider buying the cheapest multi-tool available, wanting to see what a multi-tool is capable of. In this article, we will help you chose the best multi-tool for your budget, comparing the most important features of each one to make sure you will end up with your desired multi-tool.
Best Budget Multi-Tool – Top 10 Reviewed
Leatherman Micra
Key Features
- 10 Available Tools
- Lightweight
- Leatherman Warranty
- Made of High-Quality Materials
- Perfect for everyday carry
Micra is a unique keychain multi-tool equipped with essential tools, some best for personal care, such as tweezers, nail files, or nail cleaners. Leatherman Micra is among the smallest multi-tools manufactured by Leatherman, having a closed length of 2.5 inches being just a little bit bigger than the Squirt PS4.
Because Micra is such a small multi-tool, it is equipped with a keyring, so you can easily carry it around with you on your keychain. Micra can come in handy in many situations; not only is it capable of helping you with your nails, but you can also use its scissors or blade to cut some threads or ropes. Because of its size, Micra is also very lightweight, weighing 1.8 ounces.
Read complete review: Leatherman Micra
Gerber Dime
Key Features
- 12 Tools available
- Compactness
- Gerber Warranty
- Stainless steel construction
- Very good for everyday carry
Dime is compact light duty multi-tool manufacturer by Gerber. Because of its compactness, this multi-tool can fit among the best mini multi-tools. Gerber Dime has spring-loaded pliers ready to fulfill its duty when needed; it also has a butterfly-like opening style just like many other multi-tools in its category.
Dime has a closed length of 2.75-inch; it is among the smallest multi-tools made by Gerber; this multi-tool is most likely manufactured in China using high-quality materials. Dime features some other essential tools such as wire cutter, box opener, bottle opener, file, scissors, medium flat, and crosshead screwdrivers. Dime weighs just 2.2 ounces, meaning it is easy to carry around and very lightweight. Many enthusiasts have compared Gerber Dime with Leatherman Micra as to which one is the best portable multi-tool available. The debate is still going on as both multi-tools are very similar in features and the number of tools available.
Read complete review: Gerber Dime
Victorinox Classic SD
Key Features
- It has 7 Tools
- It is very portable and lightweight
- Made of high-quality materials
- Victorinox Warranty
- It has a dimension of just 2.3in
Classic SD is a standard swiss army knife with a few essential tools designed to be attached to your keychain. While it has only seven tools incorporated, this small swiss army knife should be more than enough for your small daily tasks. Victorinox Classic SD has a length of 2.3 inches and a weight of 0.7 ounces, making it among the most portable multi-tools available on the market. The most important tools available in the Classic SD are blade, nail file, scissors, toothpick, tweezers, keyring, and a 2.5mm screwdriver. Victorinox provides a warranty for all of its swiss army knives; if your pocket knife has any kind of defect under this warranty, you should get it fixed. We highly recommend Victorinox Classic SD for anyone who wants a multi-tool with just a few common tools that also don’t feel heavy in your pocket.
SOG Snippet
Key Features
- It has nine essential tools
- It weighs just 1.59 ounces
- It is covered by SOG Warranty
Snippet is a tiny multi-tool designed by SOG to be their most portable and lightweight pocket multi-tool available. Having a weight of just 1.59 ounces, SOG Snippet is very lightweight so that you can carry it with you in your daily life. It packs just nine main essential tools; because of its size, it is more than enough for its purpose. SOG Snippet has some of the best scissors available in a multi-tool of its size. Another good feature Snippet has is that you can easily take the screw that holds the tools together off to sharpen or just clean them. SOG Snippet is a perfect companion for your daily activities; it does not matter if you are an office worker or a student; this multi-tool is ideal for your small tasks.
Aitsite 18-in-1 Snowflake Multitool
Key Features
- Has 18 functions
- It comes with a case and key ring
- Perfect Christmas gift
This small snowflake multi-tool is the perfect Christmas gift; you can also hang it on your tree as an ornament. This tool is made of stainless steel to prevent corrosion and to give the user a durable experience. Aitsite snowflake tool has a rounded design and polished surface; it is perfect for throwing it in your car to help you with a quick fix. Aitsite 18 in 1 multi-tool has a length of 2.5-inch and a weight of 2.88 ounces. Although it’s kind of heavy for this size, it comes in a nice case and has a key ring to attach to your keychain. This multi-tool should come in handy if you go to the mountains on your bike or just enjoy your winter vacation snowboarding.
Gerber Shard
Key features
- Airline safe
- Corrosion resistance
- Perfect for keychain
Shard has a unique design for its size; this small piece of metal is perfect for your keychain; it has a lanyard hole, so you can easily have it with you wherever you go. The main functionalities of Gerber Shard are fundamental tasks such as opening bottles or just driving a screw back on your laptop. Shard weighs just 0.59 ounces; this multi-tool has a titanium nitride coating to give a pleasant and durable experience. Shard has been regarded as a TSA-friendly multi-tool by many multi-tool enthusiasts. While it is pretty small, be very careful if you are carrying it in your pocket; as the tip of this tool can rip your pockets, it’s best to have it on your keychain. We can say that Gerber Shard is an essential multi-tool with a clever design which, at this price, it’s a no-brainer.
Leatherman Sidekick
Key features
- 14 Tools available
- Leatherman warranty
- It comes with a leather sheath
Sidekick is a 14 in 1 pocket-sized multi-tool made to fit your need for essential tools and your budget. Leatherman Sidekick weighs 6.9 ounces, making it not so lightweight, but considering the number of tools available, we can see this as a good thing. Tools incorporated in Sidekick include Saw, Spring actioned pliers and wire cutters, blade, can and bottle opener, and some screwdrivers. Leatherman is well known to respect its 25-year warranty for all of its multi-tools; if you get any problem with your multi-tool, they will help you out. Sidekick has a perfect balance between functionality and price to serve your needs at a low cost. The body is made of stainless steel with a polished and shiny look. Leatherman Sidekick is a medium-sized spring-actioned multi-tool perfect for performing any task.
Read complete review: Leatherman Sidekick
Gerber MP400 Compact Sport
Key features
- 12 Tools available
- Gerber Warranty
- Lightweight
- Perfect for EDC
- Good choice for women
Gerber MP400 CS is a medium-sized multi-tool designed to be easy to carry around while going outside or at work. Its compact size fits perfectly in your hand, is equipped with lots of tools to tackle any problematic tasks you will face in your daily life; this multi-tool lives up to its name. Gerber MP400 is also a good choice for women who don’t like to carry around heavy and bulky tools around. Some downsize of this multi-tool might be the pliers that are not spring-actioned; you need to reopen the pliers after each use. Among the best functionalities of MP400 is the knife so sharp that you can easily cut any rope with it. Other tools include: small, medium, and large flat blade screwdrivers, can, and bottle opener, among others. This multi-tool is highly regarded as a perfect combination of utility, price, and durability.
Read complete review: Gerber MP400 Compact Sport
RoverTac 12 in 1
Key features
- 12 Tools available
- Price is decent
- It is built to resist
RoverTac Multitool is a basic 12 in 1 multi-tool designed to complete even the most challenging tasks. It’s durable, and by the look of it, it can take a lot of damage without getting ripped apart. It includes 12 essential tools ranging from plier, blade, and can opener to saw and screwdrivers. This multi-tool is very well priced, being placed in the category of budget/entry-level multi-tools. Rovertac weights over 10 ounces; this multi-tool is definitely among the heaviest multi-tools in the market. RoverTac 12 in 1 is made in China out of high-quality materials with its only purpose to fully your needs. It also comes with a nylon pouch to carry around your belt. This multi-tool is an example of how quality, price, and design go hand in hand to provide the user with the ultimate satisfaction of a well-made tool.
Read complete review: RoverTac 12 in 1 Multitool
Poeland Multitool
Key Features
- 14 Tools
- It comes with a leather sheath
- Extra screwdriver bit set
Poeland multi-tool is just a basic 14 in 1 multi-tool with average tools like plier, knife, scissors, can opener, and screwdrivers. It’s made in China out of stainless steel; while this is designed to be rust-free, you still need to clean and oil it; doing so, you will increase its lifetime. Together with the multi-tool, you also get a leather sheath and 11 screwdriver bits. Because of its price, this multi-tool is the perfect solution to newbies in the world of multi-tools and people who don’t want to pay too much for a more expensive Leatherman or Gerber. Poeland multi-tool can be an excellent gift for your dad or friends; being inexpensive, you can make them happy by gifting them one such tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools should a budget multi-tool have?
Because you don’t want to spend too much on a multi-tool, these tools are limited in functionality.
Who makes good multi-tools?
Some top brands of multi-tools are Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, Victorinox.
What should I look for in a budget multi-tool?
First, you need to look at the materials used in building these tools, the number of tools available, and the warranty.
Conclusion
As a conclusion of our buying guide, we can say that Leatherman Micra is the best budget multi-tool because of its balance between price and functionalities. Micra is based on scissors while our second choice, Gerber Dime, is based on pliers, as the main feature we are looking for is a lower price, the pliers at this budget might not be the best quality. In the end, the decision is up to you which multi-tool you want to buy.
Hi, I’m Johnny, the chief editor at Svetools.com. Since I was a kid, DIY has been my thing – playing around with all sorts of tools, from power tools to classic wrenches. I started the Svetools blog to share my love for DIY and all things a house Handyman should know. Whether it’s product reviews or essential how-to’s articles, I cover it all. Need assistance or have a question? Hit me up using the details on our contact us page.