A lighter, better-equipped barrel-grip saw at 4.85 lb. It has an LED work light, a Precision Control II double-roller blade guide, and tool-free bevel adjustment. The kit includes 3 T-shank blades and a carrying case.
A solid corded saw with a slightly deeper softwood cut (5-7/8") and a higher top speed (3,100 SPM). It has a fully counterbalanced low-vibration mechanism and a dust blower. It comes with 1 blade, a bevel wrench, and a carrying case.
Introduction
2 months ago when I bought these saws I googled which one is better and every single article I found did the same thing: dropped a spec table, called the JS572EBK “better,” said “it depends on your needs”.
I left knowing more specs but no clearer on what to actually buy.
But when I compared both saws side by side, I was shocked by the spec that actually determines how deep a jigsaw can cut through solid wood:
JS470EB: 5-7/8″ wood cutting depth. JS572EBK: 5-1/2″ wood cutting depth.
The cheaper saw cuts deeper. By more than half an inch.
If the expensive one were genuinely built for heavier-duty work, that number would be reversed.
It isn’t. So the framing every competitor uses — “upgrade to the JS572EBK for tougher jobs” — is simply backward.
Understanding why this is the case is what actually helps you make the right call.
Table of Contents
TL;DR
The JS470EB and JS572EBK run the same motor, same speed, and handle the same general cutting tasks. The entire price gap buys you one thing: a double-roller blade guide that prevents drift on precision cuts.
At-a-glance: Bosch JS470EB vs JS572EBK
| Features | JS470EB | JS572EBK (kit) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | 7.0 A | 7.2 A |
| No-load strokes/min | 500–3,100 | 800–3,000 |
| Stroke length | 1" | 1" |
| Orbital settings | 4 | 4 |
| Max bevel | 45° | 45° |
| Bevel adjustment | Bevel wrench (included) | Tool-free |
| Cutting capacity, softwood | 5-7/8" | 5-1/2" |
| Cutting capacity, aluminum / mild steel | 7/8" / 3/8" | 7/8" / 3/8" |
| Weight | 5.9 lb | 4.85 lb |
| Length | 10.4" | 9.938" |
| Where To Buy? | Check On Amazon | Check On Amazon |
What These Two Saws Actually Are? (And Why Bosch Built Both)
Before diving into differences, the most useful context is: these two saws aren’t just different trim levels of the same product.
They come from different strategic lines within Bosch’s product philosophy.
The JS470EB belongs to a line Bosch developed for the big-box retail market.
It’s designed to be robust, capable, and accessible.
It’s not a “beginner” saw. Experienced contractors reach for it regularly.
The JS572EBK is from Bosch’s professional and specialty-channel tier.
It’s designed for the woodworker or installer who has a specific problem — the kind that shows up repeatedly on professional job sites and in fine woodworking shops.
That problem is blade drift.
Once you understand that the JS572EBK exists to solve one precise problem — not to be “more powerful” or “more durable” — the entire decision becomes simple.
The One Real Difference: What the Double Roller Actually Solves?
I was cutting MDF with my JS470EB for a book shelve.
I had to cut straight line but almost wasted 3 feet long wood when the line came out zig zag.
Them after 2 hours of research I came to know that it was not my fault.
I used the wrong tool.
With the JS572EBK the line came out straight: thanks to it’s “Precision Control II Double-Roller Blade Guide System.“
Here’s how this works:
A jigsaw blade cuts by moving up and down rapidly.
The blade is only held at the top — the cut end is essentially free-floating inside the material.
On aggressive cuts, tight curves, or harder materials, that free-floating end wants to flex.
It deflects slightly away from where you’re steering it.
The result: your cut line curves when you didn’t mean it to, inside corners aren’t clean, and on thicker material, the bottom of the cut isn’t exactly vertical even when the top looks right.
The JS470EB uses a single roller to guide the blade.
It works. For most cuts — straight lines, gentle curves, decking, rough carpentry, framing — it’s completely sufficient.
The blade stays where you put it.
The JS572EBK uses two rollers, positioned on opposite sides of the blade.
This dramatically reduces that flex and deflection.
The blade stays much more precisely on your line, especially on tight scroll cuts, curves through thicker stock, and precision work like kitchen installs or cabinet scribing.
The Specs That Are Actually The Same (Most of Them)
Part of what makes this comparison confusing is that these saws are genuinely similar in most respects.
Both saws run a 7.0–7.2 amp motor — effectively identical performance in real-world cutting.
Both top out at nearly 3,000/3,100 strokes per minute.
Both offer four orbital settings. Both use the same tool-free One-Touch blade change system that takes under five seconds.
Both have Bosch’s Constant Response circuitry, which maintains consistent speed under load.
Both use the same T-shank blade standard, meaning your existing blade collection works in either saw.
Where they meaningfully differ beyond the blade guide system: the JS572EBK has a switchable LED work light (genuinely useful whenever I have to do finish work where shadows matter)
A die-cast aluminum footplate rather than stamped steel (more precise bevel adjustments, holds setting better over time), and at 4.85 lbs versus 5.9 lbs, it’s actually a pound lighter — a real difference on a full day of installs.
It also comes with a case that helps me to carry it easily and is compatible with my JA1013 steel overshoe accessory, which the JS470EB is not.
The JS470EB, for its part, includes 3 blades in the box.
The Weight Thing Deserves a Moment
The JS572EBK is almost a pound lighter.
On a spec sheet it reads as minor.
But, after hour six of a kitchen install, cutting through hardwood flooring or cabinet toe kicks repeatedly, a pound less in my dominant hand isn’t minor at all.
Hand and wrist fatigue is a real productivity factor on professional jobs.
This isn’t a reason on its own to pay more.
But for professional users comparing these two saws, the weight difference stacks on top of the precision advantage rather than being a separate, isolated consideration.
What Would I Say After 2 Months?
The most repeated issue with JS470EB I found in 2 months wasn’t power, it wasn’t durability, it wasn’t features. It was the blade wandering on tight work.
The pattern is remarkably consistent.
Whenever I use this saw the final cut line either comes out zig zag or curved.
I tried to solve this problem by aligning my arm with a meter stick but it takes a lot of effort.
So, for cutting long straight lines I would blindly pick the JS572EBK.
A Note on the Cutting Depth Reversal (Because It Keeps Confusing People)
The JS470EB’s greater wood cutting depth (5-7/8″ vs 5-1/2″) is a result of its design priorities, not a flaw in the JS572EBK.
The JS572EBK’s die-cast aluminum footplate, dual-roller blade guide assembly, and overall construction geometry result in a marginally reduced maximum depth.
For virtually all work either saw is used for, this difference is irrelevant — how often are you jigsawing through six-inch timber?
But for the rare case where it matters (thick reclaimed lumber, post cuts, structural work), the JS470EB actually wins.
The takeaway: depth is not a meaningful differentiator in most real-world use.
But it does completely torpedo the framing most competitors use — that the JS572EBK is the “more capable” saw. It’s more precise. Capable is a different thing.
Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the Bosch JS572EBK if you want the better all-around saw. It’s about a pound lighter (4.85 lb vs. 5.9 lb) and adds an LED work light, tool-free bevel adjustment, and a double-roller blade guide that Bosch says reduces blade deflection. The kit also comes with 3 blades instead of 1, so you can start cutting right away. For most DIYers, remodelers, and kitchen and bath installers, that mix of comfort, visibility, and convenience is worth the extra cost.
A lighter, better-equipped barrel-grip saw at 4.85 lb. It has an LED work light, a Precision Control II double-roller blade guide, and tool-free bevel adjustment. The kit includes 3 T-shank blades and a carrying case.
Buy the Bosch JS470EB if you cut thick stock or want to spend less. It cuts slightly deeper in softwood (5-7/8″ vs. 5-1/2″) and can run slower (500 vs. 800 strokes per minute at the low end). You give up the LED light, the tool-free bevel adjustment, and the extra blades. It’s a solid choice if you already own blades and don’t mind using the included bevel wrench.
A solid corded saw with a slightly deeper softwood cut (5-7/8") and a higher top speed (3,100 SPM). It has a fully counterbalanced low-vibration mechanism and a dust blower. It comes with 1 blade, a bevel wrench, and a carrying case.
The Bottom Line
The Bosch JS470EB vs JS572EBK are not a “good vs. better” pairing.
They’re a “precision vs. depth” trade-off built for two different kinds of work.
The JS572EBK is the right saw for anyone who regularly makes visible precision cuts.
The JS470EB is the right saw for everyone else — and that’s a lot of people, including many serious and experienced woodworkers who simply don’t need what the double roller offers.
Know your work. Buy accordingly.
Related Articles:
FAQs
Is the JS572EBK really worth more than the JS470EB?
Only if you regularly make precision cuts on visible surfaces — cabinetry, kitchen installs, tight scrollwork. For rough cutting and general DIY, no.
Which one cuts deeper in wood?
The cheaper JS470EB — it cuts 5-7/8″ vs the JS572EBK’s 5-1/2″. Counterintuitive but true.
Are the blades interchangeable between both saws?
Yes. Both use the standard T-shank blade system, so any T-shank blade fits either saw.
Which saw is lighter?
The JS572EBK at 4.85 lbs vs the JS470EB at 5.9 lbs — a full pound difference that matters on long jobs.
Does the JS470EB come with a carrying case?
No. The JS572EBK kit includes a carrying case; the JS470EB does not.
Can I use the JA1013 steel overshoe on both saws?
No — it’s only compatible with the JS572EBK, not the JS470EB.