5 Pry Tools Under $20 for Jobs Your Pocket Knife Shouldn’t Do

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A stubborn staple, paint can lid, or package that refuses to open can send you reaching for your pocket knife. Using a knife tip to pry something loose can damage it, and a small pry bar gives you a dedicated tool for those jobs. You don’t need to spend much to keep one within reach.

Compact pry tools are easy to carry on your keys, clipped to a pocket, or tucked into a bag. Some include screwdrivers and bottle openers, while others focus on lifting and scraping. These five options cost less than $20, with different sizes, materials, and carry methods to fit your everyday needs.

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1. Nite Ize DoohicKey+: Eight Tools on Your Keychain

A loose screw, stubborn staple, or package that needs opening doesn’t always justify digging through a toolbox. Nite Ize packs eight functions into the DoohicKey+, a stainless steel keychain multitool that keeps basic tools close whenever you need them.

Its functions include Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, a ruler, wrench, bottle opener, serrated edge, scoring point, and a nail puller that doubles as a staple remover. You can tighten a loose screw, open packaging, or remove an exposed staple with the same compact tool.

Price: $6.49
Where to Buy: Amazon

A built-in carabiner clip attaches to your keys, bag, or strap. Nite Ize also includes a textured gripping edge for better finger placement when using the tool. Everything is integrated into one piece, so there are no separate bits or attachments to keep track of.

Its small size makes it convenient to carry, but you get less gripping space and leverage than a longer pry bar. The integrated screwdriver tips are intended for minor adjustments, not demanding repairs.

At $6.49, this is the cheapest option here and the one to buy if you want several useful functions on your keys. Skip it if you need a dedicated pry edge with more room to grip.

2. Cruxor Titanium EDC Pry Bar: Five Functions in One Compact Tool

A paint can lid, stubborn packaging, or a screw that needs a quick adjustment doesn’t always require a full toolbox. Cruxor combines five functions in a single piece of titanium, giving you a compact tool for small jobs around the house or on the go.

Measuring 3.9 inches long, 0.6 inches wide, and 0.3 inches thick, it fits into an EDC pouch while providing more length to grip than a miniature keychain accessory. At 1.4 ounces, it adds relatively little weight to your gear. Titanium construction also provides corrosion resistance for regular carry.

Price: $16.99
Where to Buy: Amazon

Its functions include a scraper, flathead screwdriver, paint can opener, box opener, and bottle opener. You can lift small lids, scrape away residue, open packages, or turn an accessible slotted screw. Each function is integrated into the same piece of metal, so there’s nothing to assemble before using it.

A built-in lanyard slot lets you attach paracord or secure the tool to a gear bag. Cruxor specifies that it isn’t designed for direct keychain attachment, making it a better fit for a pocket organizer or bag-based setup.

At $16.99, this is the choice for someone who wants a titanium pry bar with several everyday functions. If direct keychain attachment is a priority, the Nite Ize offers that convenience at a lower price.

3. TISGOOG Titanium Pocket Pry Bar: Lightweight Carry With a Secure Clip

A pry bar buried at the bottom of your bag isn’t convenient when you need it quickly. TISGOOG addresses that problem with a titanium clip that attaches to your pocket, backpack, or tool belt, keeping the tool in a consistent place.

Made from Grade 5 titanium alloy, it weighs 0.63 ounces. That keeps the added weight low if you already carry a pocket knife, flashlight, and other gear. Its corrosion-resistant material also makes sense for a tool that spends time in a pocket or attached to a bag.

Price: $18.98
Where to Buy: Amazon

An ergonomic handle provides a defined gripping area, while precision-ground pry points are designed for lifting and separating objects. TISGOOG also uses rounded working edges intended to reduce scratches on surfaces. Those features are intended for opening packages, handling small repairs, and lifting edges.

The clip is the main reason to choose this model over a loose pocket tool. You can keep it attached to your clothing or bag instead of storing it among other accessories. Its focused design also makes sense if you already have screwdrivers and bottle openers covered by another multitool.

At $18.98, this is the choice for someone who wants a lightweight titanium pry bar with clip-on carry. Skip it if you need several integrated functions, since the Cruxor includes more tools for less money.

4. Gerber Shard XL: A Larger Pry Bar With Multiple Functions

A small pry bar becomes more useful when you can also reach for it to remove a nail, open a bottle, or turn a flathead screw. Gerber combines those jobs in the Shard XL, a stainless steel multitool with a larger body than the brand’s smaller Shard.

Its listed functions include a pry bar, nail puller, two flathead screwdriver sizes, and bottle opener. Having two screwdriver sizes gives you options for different slotted screw heads, while the nail puller provides a dedicated edge for pulling exposed nails.

Price: $17
Where to Buy: Amazon

Gerber describes it as a 4-inch pry bar, giving you more length to grip than a miniature keychain accessory. A deep-carry pocket clip and keyring attachment point provide two ways to keep it accessible.

The larger body and built-in tools make it useful for occasional maintenance jobs. You can lift a small lid, remove an exposed nail, or make a quick screwdriver adjustment using the same tool. Its fixed screwdriver tips won’t replace a driver with interchangeable bits, but they cover basic slotted screws.

At $17, this is the choice for someone who wants a larger pry bar with several secondary functions. If you only need an inexpensive keychain multitool for occasional jobs, the Nite Ize covers more basic functions at a much lower price.

5. Knafs Sancho Titanium Pry Bar: A Tiny Tool for Your Keychain

A paint can lid, stubborn sticker, or loose tripod screw can tempt you to use your pocket knife for something it wasn’t designed to do. Knafs offers a dedicated alternative with the Sancho, a titanium pry bar small enough to stay on your keys.

Measuring 2.35 inches long, 0.31 inches wide, and 0.09 inches thick, it weighs just 0.15 ounces. That’s less than a fifth of an ounce added to your keychain or pocket, making it the lightest option in this group. Titanium construction provides corrosion resistance, while its compact dimensions keep it from taking up much space.

Price: $19.99
Where to Buy: Amazon

Knafs lists opening boxes, lifting paint can lids, tightening tripod heads, and scraping stickers among its intended uses. Its blade-free construction gives you a separate tool for jobs that involve lifting or twisting. An included leather lanyard makes it easy to attach to your keys or retrieve from your pocket.

Its small size is also its main limitation. At 2.35 inches long, you don’t get much gripping space or leverage, so it belongs in a setup focused on light everyday tasks.

At $19.99, this is the one to buy if minimal size and weight are your priorities. If you need a larger grip or more built-in functions, the Cruxor or Gerber gives you more utility for less money.

Which One-Piece Pry Tool Should You Buy?

A small pry bar gives you a dedicated option for lifting, scraping, and opening things that don’t call for a knife blade. Your choice comes down to how you carry it and which additional functions you’ll actually use.

For the lowest price, the Nite Ize DoohicKey+ gives you eight functions in a keychain-friendly design. Gerber’s Shard XL offers a larger pry bar, two flathead screwdriver sizes, and flexible carry options. TISGOOG keeps weight down and adds a pocket clip, while Cruxor combines five functions in a compact titanium body.

Knafs makes the most sense if you want the smallest and lightest tool here. For general everyday carry, I’d choose the Gerber for its combination of prying and secondary functions. If you only need something inexpensive for occasional jobs, the Nite Ize is the better buy.

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