Getting a saw to cut metal to size should probably be pretty high on the list when setting up for metal fabrication. There are many types available, and the right one for you will depend on the specific type of work you are doing as well as your workspace. Here are some of the most common options to consider.

Chop Saw
Chop saws come in a few varieties. The most common two are the abrasive chop saw and the dry cut saw. Abrasive chop saws use a large abrasive disc. These produce a lot of sparks and heat as well as a large burr on the material.

Dry cut saws use a blade with teeth, which looks a lot like a woodworking saw blade. These are my choice for cutting long material to length because they cut fast, don't heat the material and give a nice cut edge without much of a burr to remove. Dry cut saws do, however, produce a lot of small metal chips that can get spread around. Never put a toothed dry cut saw blade on an abrasive chop saw because the two types of saws spin at different speeds.

Portable Bandsaw
A portable bandsaw is a handheld tool with a blade that is a flexible metal band with teeth to cut the material. They are a significant upgrade from an angle grinder for cutting metal to length that is still very portable and easy to store. As a handheld tool, getting a straight cut depends on the skill of the user and it can become tiring to make a large number of cuts.

Vertical Bandsaw
A vertical bandsaw is very useful for cutting notches and shapes in sheet and plate. My vertical bandsaw is actually a portable bandsaw put in a stand to hold the blade in a a vertical position.

Horizontal Bandsaw
A horizontal bandsaw functions in a similar way to a chop saw, with a bandsaw swinging down to cut through material that is clamped in place. They are available in a wide variety of sizes ranging from bench top units to large industrial machines.