I had been planning to buy an electric and cordless screwdriver for a long time, so when I finally pulled the trigger, let’s just say it was way past the deadline. And nothing can prepare you for that first time you get your hands on one. If you’ve ever used a traditional elbow-grease-powered screwdriver at any time in your life, you’ll immediately understand the value of an electric one.

The first thing you’ll probably ask, if you’ve never used one, is how a small electric screwdriver like this is any different than a drill. Let me preface that by saying I have drills, too, and I use those regularly, especially my hammer drill. But what sets something like the Worx cordless screwdriver apart from those tools is the size.

It’s also so much more accessible and convenient for small projects, like putting together ready-to-assemble furniture, decorations, hanging smaller pictures and items, and similar tasks. In fact, I recently used my Worx cordless screwdriver to put together my new East Oak Ridgewood Smoker. It made the job so much easier and faster, I can’t imagine going backwards to a time when I self-powered screwdrivers like a dolt.

What is an electric cordless screwdriver?

Picture a screwdriver. Just your average, plastic-handled screwdriver that you would twist, using your own strength, to tighten or loosen, well, a screw. Now, imagine if you had an electric motor that powered the tightening and loosening, like a power drill. That’s a cordless electric screwdriver in a nutshell.

The Worx WX240L comes with a neat little carrying case that has a storage space for all of your bits and gadgets. Plus, you get an excellent but mighty selection of drill bits, and a couple of accessories, like a magnetic bit holder. The screwdriver itself has three speeds, slow, medium, and fast. When you turn it on or engage the motor, two LED lamps illuminate the area in front of you, like modern drills do. That makes it easier to see what you’re working on, especially if you’re in a tight, dark space. It’s lightweight and compact, so you can use it for a lot of different jobs, including many you can’t really use a standard drill on.

It charges via USB-C, and comes with the charger. Moreover, a low battery indicator well tell you when it’s time to charge it up. But I have yet to charge mine and I’ve had it, and been using it, for months.

I’d like to point out that the drill bits use the standard dimensions. So, if you have any drill bits lying around, they should be compatible with this. Even though it comes with 12 different bits, you’re not going to have everything you need. Most are the Philips head bits, but you also get slotted, torque and square, albeit limited. If you need odd sizes, you’ll need to dig into any bit collections you have elsewhere, which is not a problem at all, unless you have absolutely no tools — then what are you doing here, anyway?

What can you use it for, exactly?

As for where and when you can use the Worx cordless screwdriver, or virtually any comparable model, it’s not a cop-out to say almost any project you’d need a screwdriver or a drill for. You can use it to install or tighten fixtures, to hang decorations or frames, assemble furniture or toys, build various components, you name it.

It’s slightly thicker than a screwdriver head, so if you need something long and skinny to get into a tight space, you might still need your regular old screwdriver. But even with its bulkier size, the Worx cordless screwdriver is fairly manageable in most conditions. To give you a better idea, I’ve used it to repair items under my sinks, in a vehicle chassis or engine, to install components around the house like doorknobs or locks, to hang smart home security cameras, and, as mentioned, to assemble furniture and gear like my East Oak smoker.

The Worx cordless screwdriver has proved invaluable to me, primarily because it saves my hands from getting tired and sore. If you’ve ever worked on a project that requires substantial screwdriver action, you know exactly what I mean. It’s a lot of work and your hands start to hurt after a while. Sure, you could always use a drill, but sometimes they can’t reach into limited, smaller spaces and that’s where something like this screwdriver comes into play. Not to mention, sometimes you just don’t want to deal with drills, whether that’s charging a battery, finding or collecting your bits, and so on. If it’s a quick task, the Worx cordless screwdriver is an excellent alternative.

What about the tough jobs?

For really tough jobs, like drilling into concrete, stone, or even sometimes hardwood, you’re still going to need a drill. Even at its highest setting, when a lot of torque is necessary, this little guy is not your best tool. The full-size drill is the best way to go in that situation. You could drill a guide hole at first, but there’s no point in using both when you already have the drill out. So, unfortunately, if you have a lot of tough drilling or screw-jobs — that word makes me laugh — a cordless electric screwdriver like this won’t get you by. Unless you grab one that’s much more powerful, and they do exist.

It’s not a replacement for a power drill or even the odd screwdriver, but it is an excellent alternative when the conditions and project are suitable for it.

What’s the verdict, and the price?

Overall, the Worx WX240L cordless screwdriver is lightweight, easy-to-use and intuitive. There’s a single button control on the front. You press the up button to tighten and the down button to loosen. That’s it. You connect your drill bits in the port at the top and they secure magnetically. You can use a variety of bits with this device, including others you may have around your home, but if you don’t have anything, you’re still good. It comes with everything you need, including the charger, a case, and drill bits.

While Worx has the price at a reasonable $50 (MSRP), I have seen this particular model cheaper in several places, including Amazon. Even at full price, it’s well worth the cost. If you can find it cheaper, then it’s a definite buy, I would say.

So, would I recommend the Worx WX240L 3-speed cordless screwdriver? Yes, absolutely. I’ve had it for quite some time now and it works well. I’ve had no issues and have no complaints. That doesn’t mean everyone will have a perfect experience. But I continue to use it for a wide variety of projects around my home. I see it as a major tool, for me, in the foreseeable future. Of course, if that changes for some reason, I will update this review.

• Recommended Buy: Yes.
• For Who: Everyone, not just DIY-ers. If you need a screwdriver, you can make use of this one.
• MSRP: $50