With anvil pruners, the blade cuts through the material with a drawing cut. The effort required for cutting is reduced. Anvil pruners allow for use on old, dry, or hard wood, as well as on larger branch diameters. A significant advantage of the anvil cutting principle is the protection of hand motor skills. The typical impact cut associated with bypass pruners is avoided here.

With bypass pruners, the blade glides past the counter blade during cutting. This results in minimal friction between the blade and the counter blade. The bypass pruner is particularly well-suited for fibrous or delicate woody plants. Due to its tapered design, it is highly suitable for precision tasks that require less cutting force. Its construction enables cuts flush with the point of emergence or a clean cut at the branch collar.