At first glance, the main difference between a flathead screwdriver, or more properly called a slotted screwdriver or flat blade screwdriver, and a Phillips screwdriver should be patently obvious. A flathead screwdriver has a single blade, and a Phillips screwdriver has two blades in the shape of a cross. Attempts to use a flathead screwdriver on a screw designed for a Phillips usually won't be successful, and a Phillips screwdriver could never be used on a slotted screw. Both are considered "driver" tools, which means they are used to force bolts or screws through various types of material.

There are differences beyond the blade shapes, however. The flathead screwdriver has been in use far longer than the Phillips screwdriver. When screws began to replace hammer-driven nails in the manufacturing process, the single slot screwhead was almost universal. A flathead screwdriver became an indispensable tool for woodworkers and other commercial artists. The flathead version of the screwdriver is still considered the default model to this day, even with its inherent problems.

The Phillips screwdriver, by comparison, is still a rather new tool option. Invented by Henry Phillips, a tool company owner working in the 1930s, the Phillips screwdriver and accompanying Phillips head screws were intended to provide a safer alternative to the traditional flathead screwdriver. Henry Phillips wanted a screwdriver that would prevent a damaging process called overtorquing.

Traditional screwdrivers at the time often allowed the user to put too much twisting force, or torque, on the slotted screws. By designing a cross-shaped blade and corresponding cross-shaped screws with a slight depression, Phillips could apply more torque than with a flathead screwdriver. This mechanical advantage allows users to use their twisting strength more efficiently. The depressions in the screws, however, forced the blades of the Phillips screwdriver to slip out before any damaging overtorquing could occur.

One flaw in the flathead screwdriver design is the relative strength of the blade, or bit. When a flathead screwdriver bit is attached to a powered driver, the added force can cause a weaker blade to snap off. In addition, the slotted screw may become stripped if too much torque is applied. This is why the use of the flathead screwdriver is generally limited to woodworking and other light-to-medium industrial applications. Only the strongest flathead screwdriving bits are used for high-torque manufacturing processes.

By comparison, a Phillips screwdriver is very well-suited for industrial processes. Once the Phillips screwdriver bit is seated securely in the Phillips head screw, the operator can apply much more torque for fastening. Since the screw will force out the screwdriver bit at the first sign of overtorquing, there is less risk of damage to the product or the bit.

Some modern screws accept both flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, although some experts suggest using a Phillips screwdriver for tightening and a flathead for loosening the screw. The Phillips screwdriver provides more torque without the risk of stripping the screw. One advantage a flathead screwdriver has over a Phillips screwdriver, however, is universality. In case of emergency, a number of other flat metal objects, such as coins, butter knives or keys, can be use as flathead screwdrivers. It is much more difficult to duplicate the fit of a Phillips screwdriver.