Disclosure: PowerToolsUS is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Specs are manufacturer ratings, not tests we ran.
The DeWalt DCS335 and DCS356 are not two versions of the same remodel saw. The DCS335B is a 20V MAX XR brushless barrel-grip jigsaw for curves, sink cutouts, and plunge lines — and the Amazon carton is tool-only. The DCS356C1 is a brushless 3-speed oscillating multi-tool kit for flush cuts, plunge patches, scrape, and grout work, with a 20V MAX pack and DCB107 charger in the box.
Short answer: Buy the DCS356C1 if this will be your first cordless oscillating purchase, or if the job is flush-cutting a jamb, plunging an outlet hole, scraping, or grout. Buy the DCS335B if you already own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries and specifically need a T-shank jigsaw blade on a shoe for curves and cutouts.
DeWalt DCS335 vs DCS356 at a glance
| DeWalt DCS335B | DeWalt DCS356C1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tool type | Barrel-grip jigsaw | Oscillating multi-tool |
| Best for | Curves, sink cutouts, plunge lines, plywood scrolls | Flush cuts, plunge patches, scrape, grout, under-door trim |
| Motor / platform | Brushless, DeWalt 20V MAX XR | Brushless, DeWalt 20V MAX XR |
| Speed (DeWalt) | Variable-speed trigger and dial up to 3,200 SPM; 4-position orbital action | Up to 20,000 OPM no-load; 3-speed selector + Dual-Grip variable-speed trigger |
| Blade / clamp (DeWalt) | T-shank; all-metal keyless lever clamp; keyless shoe bevel 0° / 15° / 30° detents + 45° stop | Quick-Change accessory system; universal accessory adaptor |
| Extras (DeWalt) | LED; integrated dust blower; no-mar shoe cover | LED; lock-ON/OFF switch |
| Amazon carton | Bare tool: DCS335 jigsaw + one blade; battery and charger sold separately | Kit: DCS356 tool, 20V MAX Li-ion battery, DCB107 charger, wood blade, wood/metal blade, universal adaptor |
| Best choice if… | The workpiece needs a jigsaw blade and a shoe on the line | The workpiece needs an oscillating blade for flush / plunge / scrape |
The real difference: jigsaw blade vs oscillating blade
The DCS335 hangs a T-shank jigsaw blade in a barrel-grip body and tracks a line. DeWalt rates a variable-speed trigger and dial up to 3,200 SPM, 4-position orbital action, an all-metal keyless T-shank clamp, a keyless bevel shoe with 0° / 15° / 30° detents and a 45° stop, LED, and an integrated dust blower. That is the curve-and-cutout job: sink openings, plywood scrolls, and plunge cutouts where a circular shoe and an oscillating blade do not belong.
The DCS356 oscillates a small accessory against the work. DeWalt rates up to 20,000 OPM no-load, a 3-speed selector, a Dual-Grip variable-speed trigger, Quick-Change accessories, a universal adaptor for most oscillating brands, a lock-ON/OFF switch, and LED. That is the flush-cut / plunge-patch / scrape / grout job: under a door jamb, around an outlet, or along a tile line where a jigsaw shoe will not fit.
Do not choose by the larger SPM or OPM number. 3,200 SPM is not a faster oscillating tool, and 20,000 OPM is not a better jigsaw. Blade geometry and the workpiece decide this comparison. These are adjacent remodel tools, not substitutes.
Battery and carton differences change the value calculation
The Amazon links here compare a DCS335B bare tool against a DCS356C1 kit, so any price gap is not an apples-to-apples tool price. The oscillating kit is the more complete setup.
The DCS356C1 listing includes the 3-speed XR oscillating tool, a 20V MAX Li-ion battery, a DCB107 charger, a wood cutting blade, a wood/metal blade, and a universal accessory adaptor. It can cut after charging even if you are starting 20V MAX cold. DeWalt.com does not print the pack’s Ah on this kit page — treat the included pack as the kit’s runtime pack, not a high-output session battery.
The DCS335B includes the barrel-grip jigsaw and one blade only. It does not include a battery or charger. It is the better-value carton mainly for someone who already owns compatible DeWalt 20V MAX packs. Price an orphan jigsaw plus a separate pack and charger against this oscillating kit before you buy.
Which DeWalt should you buy?
Buy the DCS356C1 if the job needs an oscillating blade
For most remodel punch-list buyers, the DCS356C1 is the answer. Flush jamb cuts, outlet plunge patches, scrape work, and grout are the more common one-tool jobs, and this specific carton includes the battery and charger. Choose it when a Quick-Change oscillating accessory fits the work.
Read the full DeWalt DCS356 oscillating multi-tool guide.
Buy the DCS335B if the cut needs a jigsaw blade
Choose the DCS335B when the work is curves, sink cutouts, scored plunge lines, or plywood scrolls that need a shoe on the line and a T-shank blade. It also makes sense if you specifically want the barrel-grip XR body for a lower sight line — and you already have DeWalt 20V MAX packs on the shelf. It is not a flush-cut oscillating tool, and it is not a complete kit.
Read the full DeWalt DCS335 barrel-grip jigsaw guide.
Decisive verdict
Buy the DCS356C1 for most remodel punch-list work, and for any first-time DeWalt cordless oscillating purchase. Its oscillating format is the more common one-tool setup for flush cuts and plunge patches, and the C1 carton includes a pack and DCB107 charger, which the bare jigsaw does not.
Buy the DCS335B instead only when its T-shank jigsaw blade and shoe are the features you need and you already own compatible packs. It is not a complete setup on its own, and it will not flush-cut a door jamb the way an oscillating blade will.
If you still need to confirm which aisle the job is in, start with Best Oscillating Multi-Tools 2026 for flush cuts and plunge patches, or Best Jigsaws 2026 for curves and cutouts. Many 20V MAX remodel kits eventually own both. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.
FAQ
Is the DCS335 better because it hits 3,200 SPM?
No. SPM does not erase the difference between a T-shank jigsaw blade on a shoe and an oscillating accessory. Buy the DCS335 for curves and cutouts. Buy the DCS356 for flush cuts, plunge patches, scrape, and grout.
Can the DCS356 replace a jigsaw on a sink cutout?
That is not its job. An oscillating tool plunges and flush-cuts in tight spots; it does not track a long curve the way a jigsaw shoe and T-shank blade are designed to. Use the jigsaw for the cutout line, then the oscillating tool for flush and finish details.
Do both tools use the same DeWalt batteries?
Both are DeWalt 20V MAX tools. The compared DCS356C1 carton includes a 20V MAX Li-ion pack and DCB107 charger; the DCS335B carton does not.
Is this the same as a reciprocating saw?
No. A compact recip (like the DCS367) hangs a long reciprocating blade for demo and nails-in-wood. That is a different aisle from both the jigsaw and the oscillating multi-tool.
Which is better if I am starting 20V MAX from zero?
The DCS356C1, because it is a complete kit. The DCS335B is tool-only; you would still need a pack and charger before it cuts anything.