Five Ryobi ONE+ 18V Tools Worth a Second Look

Introduction

Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ platform keeps expanding, and holiday season pricing makes it one of the easiest ways to build a cordless tool collection without overspending. The current lineup covers everything from brushless drilling and driving to niche tools like a powered caulk gun and a portable inflator, all sharing the same battery family. Newer amp-hour batteries now include a charge gauge, so you are no longer guessing how much runtime is left.

Here are five tools from the current range that earn their spot, along with what to check before buying.

Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Drill Kit

The HP brushless drill kit is one of the strongest value plays on the shelf. At $89 you get the drill, an impact driver, two 1.5Ah batteries, a charger, and a bag, which is a lot of kit for the money. HP stands for high performance compact, and the brushless motors give you better efficiency and runtime than the brushed equivalents.

If you only buy one kit to anchor a new Ryobi collection, this is a sensible starting point. It covers most drilling and driving tasks a homeowner or DIYer will realistically encounter, and the included batteries work across the entire ONE+ platform.

Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Combo Kit

For a slightly bigger step up, the HP brushless combo kit bundles the brushless drill driver and impact driver with two 1.5Ah-class batteries, a charger, and a tool bag for $139. The brushless versions bring more power and runtime, and the platform depth means you can keep adding bare tools later at low cost.

There are also larger combo options if you want to stock up in one go: a two-tool entry combo at $99, a four-tool combo at $159, and a six-tool combo at $199. None of the larger combos include extra free tools, but they make sense if you prefer to buy your batteries and charger separately as starter kits.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Caulk Gun

The powered caulk gun at $59.97 is one of those tools you rarely see on other battery platforms, and it solves a genuinely tiring task. Anyone who has squeezed a manual caulk gun through a long bead of sealant knows the forearm burn. This one runs on quart tubes and does the squeezing for you.

It is a niche purchase, but for anyone who does regular sealing, glazing, or bathroom work, the comfort difference is significant over the course of a project.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V High Pressure Inflator

At $24.97, the high pressure inflator is one of the cheapest useful additions to an existing ONE+ collection. It is sold as a tool-only unit, so you will need a battery you already own. For topping up tires, sports equipment, and other high pressure items without a cord or a gas station trip, it is a simple, low-risk buy.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Compact Glue Gun

The compact glue gun is tool-only as well, but with a battery on hand it works very well for craft and light repair jobs. There is one design detail to understand before buying: the battery does not attach to the tool itself. The glue gun sits in a heated base that both warms the glue and connects to the battery, so it is not a tool you can wander far from for extended sessions. You can do a good stretch of continuous work, but you will be returning it to the base between uses.

If you want true cordless freedom for glue work, Ryobi also makes a hot glue gun with the battery mounted directly on the tool. Both models have their fans, and the right choice depends on whether you value the compact size or untethered use more.

Buying Advice

Timing matters with Ryobi. Around the holidays, retailers frequently run buy-one-get-one style promotions. A $99 starter kit with two 4Ah batteries and a charger has qualified for a free bare tool, with choices historically including a grinder, one-handed reciprocating saw, oscillating multi-tool, pruning chainsaw, brushless jet fan blower, jigsaw, orbital sander, trim router, hybrid work light, or inflator/deflator. Stepping up to the $199 HP brushless combo kit can earn two free tools, and for a homeowner DIYer the oscillating multi-tool and circular saw are the most versatile picks.

Battery strategy is worth a moment of thought too. A 2Ah starter kit runs $69, two 4Ah batteries with a charger run $99, and HP 2Ah batteries cost $89 for a two-pack if you want more output from the same footprint.

Conclusion

Ryobi’s strength is breadth: one battery family covering everyday drills, specialty tools like the caulk gun, and small conveniences like the inflator and glue gun. Pick the drill or combo kit that matches your project list, add the tool-only extras once you own batteries, and keep an eye on seasonal promotions to stretch the budget further.