Glowforge Lasers Comparsion – Which Model Laser Cutter is For You?
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Detailed comparison of my Glowforge printers to see whether the Glowforge Plus, Glowforge Pro, or Glowforge Aura is right for you!
As a crafter, you can never have too many tools! While I love my cutting machine, I have a new love in my life! My Glowforge Laser Printers. They are my latest obsession!
Through my partnership with Glowforge, I’m now the proud owner of a Glowforge Aura and Glowforge Pro and I’ve been putting them through every test I can think of! Don’t believe me? Check out my growing YouTube playlist to see everything I’ve been trying or join my Glowforge FB group and Glowforge Aura FB group!
If you have ever wanted to know if laser crafting is a fit for you, and which machine is best for your needs and budget, then this post is for you!
First, let’s talk about all the things a Glowforge Laser Printer can do, then we’ll compare them and finally, I’ll let you know which printer I think is best for the most common scenarios!!
And when you’re ready to make your purchase, don’t forget to use my link to save up to $500 EXTRA off your printer of choice! That even stacks with any Glowforge sale!
Quick Links to Information in this Post
What Can a Laser Printer Do?
Laser printers like the Glowforge allow you to bring your vision to life by cutting or engraving a digital image into a physical item with unbelievable accuracy and fine detail. I’ve cut many things out of wood that my old blade cutters struggled to do out of paper! The level of intricacy you can accomplish is amazing!
[IMAGE OF REALLY INTRICATE CUT]
You may see Glowforge machines marketed as 3D laser printers. Despite being called a laser printer, the Glowforge isn’t a printer like an inkjet or traditional laser printer. It doesn’t use any ink. They are more like a CNC laser cutter and engraver, in that it’s a computer-operated tool that uses light to cut or carve an image onto hundreds of materials. Though it CAN also print text onto paper if you wanted!
They also function differently than 3D printers. Plain 3D printers create objects by layering material over and over again until it creates a desired shape. Glowforge laser printers on the other hand remove material to carve away a shape. They are very different applications. My oldest son has a 3D printer and we love to debate which is better but at the end of the day, they’re truly different.
[SIDE BY SIDE IMAGE OF A 3D PRINTER AND A LASER PRINTER]
I like to say that my laser printers are better because of the wide variety of things I can make including 2D and 3D projects while his 3D printer is really limited when it comes to 2D applications. But hey, everyone has their preference!
When it comes to Glowforge Laser Printers, all of their models can cut hundreds of materials, engrave, and score hundreds of materials in a wide variety of sizes!
What Kind of Materials Can a Glowforge Print On?
I’ve been putting my Glowforge Aura and Pro to the test! In my Glowforge Aura FB group and library, I share over 100 material settings for the Glowforge Aura and the list keeps growing!
Here are just a few of the amazing materials you can cut with a Glowforge!
- Wood
- Acrylic
- Paper
- Rubber (yay stamps!)
- Fabric
- Leather
- Food (but only if you designate a dedicated machine for it!)
- Canvas
- Cork
- Sandpaper
- Cardboard
- Mylar
- Draftboard
- And tons more!
Although Glowforge can cut a lot of materials, there are also materials that it cannot cut but can engrave and score! Here are some materials that you can engrave or score but not cut:
- Glass
- Titanium
- Marble
- Ceramic tiles
- Stone
- Anodized aluminum
- Corian
There are even preset settings to engrave electronics like laptops, phones, and tablets on the Glowforge Plus and Glowforge Pro!
Then there are some things you should never use in your laser machine because they aren’t laser-safe. Here are just a few examples (but this is not a complete list):
- Pleather
- Vinyl (Unless it clearly says that it’s laser-safe)
- ABS
- Polystyrene foam
- Fiberglass
- Milk bottle plastic
- Polypropylene foam
- HDPE
- and others too
Material that isn’t laser safe can emit toxic fumes and/or break your machine.
Proofgrade Materials
While you can find materials to print on with your Glowforge almost anywhere, Glowforge has their own brand of extremely high quality materials called Proofgrade.
Proofgrade materials are thoroughly tested by Glowforge to ensure that prints using them are consistent. Glowforge has also done all the testing for you to determine the best settings for lots of different operations. In fact, sometimes they will even provide multiple engraving settings to choose from for a material. That way you can pick the best setting depending on what you intend to do with it!
When using Proofgrade materials, you simply place the material in the machine and let the Glowforge do the rest! Your Glowforge’s internal camera will read the barcode on the Proofgrade material to identify it and automatically set all the settings for you! You just have to pick the operation (cut, score, or engrave).
If you’re looking for top-quality material that is super easy to use, you really can’t beat Proofgrade materials!
In fact, I highly recommend that new Glowforge users use Proofgrade materials (at least) in the beginning because it makes getting started as foolproof and easy as possible!
Where to Find Settings
When using Proofgrade materials, it’s totally plug ‘n play and you don’t need to worry about settings. But what if you want to cut or engrave something that you can’t get from Proofgrade? You’ll need to manually enter in those settings!
Figuring out how to determine the best settings can be challenging at first, but I’ve been on a mission to figure that out since day one of getting my first Glowforge Machine!
If you have a Glowforge Pro or Plus, there are already many settings available online that can help! If you’re using a Glowforge Aura which was just released in July 2023, you’ll want access to my list of settings. I’ve tested hundreds of materials which I share in my Facebook Group and on my Website to help you hit the ground running with 100+ cut, engrave and score settings for your Glowforge Aura!
I also share how to find and tweak your own settings on my site and in my group to help you get started with just about any laser-safe material!
Why Choose a Glowforge Over Other Brands
There are many laser printer brands on the market, so why choose Glowforge? I could write an entire post on just this topic but I’ll do my best to keep it brief here.
- Size: The Glowforge Machines are considerably more compact than other comparable machines on the market I’ve researched for similar capability
- Enclosure: Glowforge machines are a completely enclosed box. This is a huge safety feature in my opinion. Lasers are serious business and you don’t want to risk your eyes being exposed to the laser or breathing in the fumes – being completely enclosed really helps keep you safe from that! Plus, as a mom of young kids, making sure that they’re in a safe environment and can’t get hurt by the laser, is key.
- All-in-One: Everything you need is all inside the enclosure without any extra pieces to add-on that could easily break (except for the optional filter of course!). There’s no external air assist fan that you have to attach on the outside or a rotary tool that you have to take on and off etc. There are no gears that move the machine up and down either. Less moving parts, means less breaking and fewer tangled cords.
- Price: When I tried to build up a laser with the same features and components of the Glowforge models, I found that they would cost about the same or more – plus they’d be more complicated. To get the best price, don’t forget to use my link and get up to $500 extra off!!
- Ease-of-Use: I have heard from people who have multiple brands of lasers, that the Glowforge app is much easier to use so they now default to their Glowforge Aura. There also seems to be many more settings and bigger user communities for the Glowforge making it so much easier to get help and settings.
In my opinion, Glowforge is at the top of the list as the best laser cutters for small business owners or crafters eager to explore laser crafting who want to be able to cut, engrave, and score hundreds of materials, in a safe enclosed machine, at a great value.
Let’s go into more detail on a few of the benefits of Glowforge machines…
Plug ‘n Play / Ease of Use
The Glowforge product line is super user-friendly. With just a few clicks on your computer and the push of one button, you can start amazing jaw-dropping projects.
With the free web interface, you can send your designs to these laser printers from PC, Mac, Android, Chromebook, iPhone, or tablet too! You can also shop their catalog of laser designs to print all within the same app.
If you choose to upgrade to their paid Premium App, you’ll get many of the catalog designs for free and be able to create your own projects in the app. They even have an AI image creator called Magic Canvas that will let you generate all sorts of amazing designs quickly! Upgrading is totally optional though.
All Glowforge machines also have an internal camera that lets you see the material in your machine from the app. This lets you know exactly where on your material you’re going to be cutting or engraving. This feature makes engraving cutting boards, key chains, and so much more so easy and precise!
Passthrough Slot
The Glowforge Aura and Pro models have passthrough slots that allow you to use “infinitely” long materials (Yes in theory it’s infinite, but you’re probably not going to do more than a few feet…).
Most machines on the market that are fully enclosed like the Glowforge machines, only allow you to place your material inside the machine which limits the size of your projects. With the Glowforge, you can slide really long material through the machine extending the size project you can do!
With the passthrough slots you pass your material through one side of the machine and it comes out the other so that you can print any length. With the Pro, the app helps you line up the parts of your print as you pass the material through the machine. With the Aura you manually line everything up but once you know how it’s pretty easy to do. This feature is AMAZING and I’ve loved being able to make really large designs with it!
User-friendly Glowforge Software
In order to send a design to the Glowforge Printer, you need to use their free or paid app.
The Glowforge app also has a paid version called Premium and there are several key differences between the free and paid app versions. With the Premium subscription, you get the following which you don’t have with the free version:
- Catalog of designs and library of images you can use for free (There are a few designs not included with the free subscription but most are included)
- “Fast Lane” access on the Glowforge servers so that you can send designs to your printer even faster!
- Access to the text, shape, outline, and other creative tools from inside the app.
- Unlimited storage!
- Magic Canvas (an AI image generator!)
- Ability to upload larger files
I personally recommend the Premium subscription to all new users (especially in the beginning) since it’s really nice to have access to a catalog of free projects that you can print with just the click of a button. If you use Glowforge catalog projects and Proofgrade material, then you don’t have to do ANY modification when it comes to material settings or even design settings. Just pick your project, insert your material, click print in the app and then press the button on your machine! Then it prints! Couldn’t be any easier!
Wide Angle Lenses
All Glowforge machines have cameras with a camera built into the head that helps the laser head determine the thickness of the material in the machine and auto-focus!
These lenses also help you see what’s inside your machine when you’re using the app. If you want to engrave on something like a keychain for example, you can see the keychain in the app and place your image or text in the right spot! No more guesswork (like I used to have with my cutting machine!) and you can easily minimize material waste!
Safety Features
Glowforge has taken multiple precautions to ensure your machine can operate safely in your home or office. Advanced features for safety include meeting UL standards of safety sensors that react to bumps, unplanned movements, over-temperature conditions, and fan performance changes.
Here is an in-depth look at some of the other safety features of this great machine.
Enclosed Container
The Glowforge Aura machines all come fully enclosed which was really key for me. Yes, you can buy much cheaper laser engravers that leave the leaser and material fully exposed and I have never been comfortable with this.
I have little kids at home and the idea of them accidentally looking at the laser the wrong way, getting their fingers in places they shouldn’t, or inhaling the fumes that result from laser cutting and engraving is just too scary. It’s worth the extra money to have a fully enclosed laser machine like the Glowforge.
When operating the Glowforge, you raise the lid and put your material in and then close it before you can start printing. In fact, if the machine is open, it won’t operate until you close it.
In fact, even when you use the passthrough function on the Glowforge Pro, the machine is still enclosed. That’s because there’s a flap that covers the passthrough opening when the passthrough is in use.
Emergency Stop
The Glowforge machines have an intuitive stop function. If for any reason you need to quickly stop the machine, simply crack the lid open slightly. The safety feature in the design that doesn’t let the machine run with the lid open will immediately stop your print!
Built-in Surge Protector on Plus/Pro
The Glowforge Plus and Pro machines have a built-in surge protector to ensure your machine will be safe!
You can plug your machine directly into a wall outlet without worrying that your machine will experience a power surge that causes damage.
In fact, Glowforge recommends that you do NOT plug your Plus or Pro into a surge protector because that would be like daisy-chaining surge protectors!
Glowforge Printer Models
There are three Glowforge Printer Models so that you can find the perfect laser machine to meet your needs and budget! Use this detailed comparison section to determine which laser product will be the best machine to take your hobby or business to the next level.
In the following sections, I’ll describe each printer and share my opinion on who each is best for.
Glowforge Aura
The Glowforge Aura is a “craft laser” designed for your everyday crafter! If you’ve been using a cutting machine and want to expand into things like wood and vinyl then this is a great option for you!. I’ve been having a blast exploring all the crafts I can do with my Aura. Check out my YouTube channel and private Glowforge Aura Facebook group to see projects from me and our 4,000+ members.
I’m constantly shocked and impressed at what our community has made with the Aura!
What makes the Aura unique, smaller and more cost efficient, is that it’s a Diode laser rather than a CO2 laser like the other Glowforge machines. It’s a different type of laser and has some limitations that the CO2 laser doesn’t have.
What makes the Glowforge Aura Great:
- Small compact laser that’s just 22” wide by 20.5” deep and 5” high. That’s really small for an enclosed laser!
- Can cut up to 12”x12”x1/4” without the passthrough slots
- When the passthrough slots are open, you can cut or engrave material that is 12” wide, by (virtually) infinitely long and 3/16” thick.
- You can engrave materials up to 12” x 12” x ¾”
- Works with Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, and more
- Has an internal camera that lets you precisely place your designs on your material
- Can cut and engrave tons of materials including wood, acrylic, leather, cardstock, laser-safe vinyl, slate, coated metal and so much more.
- There’s no need for a sticky cutting mat like with most cutting machines so it’s a breeze once the cutting is done! In fact, the pieces usually literally fall away which is very satisfying!
- Priced at under $1200!
- Has a 12 month comprehensive warranty
Glowforge Aura Limitations:
Since the Glowforge Aura is a Diode laser, it does have some limitations that other laser types (like the CO2 lasers) won’t have. Here are some things to keep in mind when using any Diode laser like the Glowforge Aura.
- Diode lasers cannot cut clear acrylic but there are hacks to engrave some clear acrylic materials.
- Diode lasers cannot cut or engrave most shades of blue acrylic and those that can cut/engrave take many passes so it’s very slow. A great option if you want to cut a shade of blue that doesn’t cut with a Diode, is to find a 2-tone acrylic that has the color you want as the outside color!
- Similarly, Diode lasers cannot cut or engrave transparent acrylic – a few of us have been able to get the occasional transparent to cut but it’s very hard and hit or miss. Not recommended.
- Diode lasers cannot cut white acrylic but if you really need a white looking acrylic, you can use a 2 tone acrylic that has a black core with white on the edge like this one.
- Diode lasers cannot cut mirror acrylic but there are some workarounds. In my list of Glowforge Aura settings, you’ll find basswood coated with mirror looking material for a faux mirror acrylic look!
For a full list of the materials I’ve tested and used with the Glowforge Aura, settings for each material, and even some great coupon codes, fill out the form here!
Also, since the Glowforge Aura is a compact 6w Diode Laser, it won’t cut and engrave as fast as something like a 40W CO2 laser but it’s still plenty fast for the average crafter! In fact, when I use it to cut cardstock (my favorite material with my cutting machine), it cuts insanely fast and with so much more precision! Even if I planned to stick with cardstock, the Aura would have been such an upgrade!
Is the Glowforge Aura best for you?
So, is the Glowforge Aura right for you?
That depends! To determine if a laser is right for you, we need to consider your goals and budget.
If your budget is $1200 and under, then yes!
The Glowforge Aura may be right for you. In that price range, the Glowforge Aura is definitely a top contender and I’d say it’s in the #1 spot! You can’t beat the passthrough slot, safety features, community and customer support etc in that price range.
If you’re looking to dip your toe into laser crafting, want to use it for hobby crafting, or want to add a few small laser cut items to your small business catalog, then yes!
The Glowforge Aura was designed for hobby crafters and is a really great machine for making things for yourself, friends, as gifts, and the occasional item to sell.
If, however, you want to run it all day churning out hundreds of laser items or exceptionally large items to sell, then you’ll probably need a bigger machine.
The Glowforge Aura isn’t designed for businesses but the Plus and Pro are so if you need it for that, read on!
If you MUST be able to cut clear, white, transparent or blue acrylic and the workarounds I mentioned don’t work for you, then you’ll need a CO2 laser.
These are unfortunately limitations that come with a Diode laser, so if these are really important to you, read on to learn about the Glowforge Plus and Pro. Unfortunately, you won’t find a laser in the same price range as the Aura that can cut these acrylic colors.
Glowforge Plus
Next up is the Glowforge Plus, great for small businesses. The Plus models have a two-times faster speed than the Aura with a CO2 laser tube and a 40-watt laser.
Note that while the wattage for the Plus may seem like it’s about 7x the wattage of the Aura, they aren’t actually comparable this way because the Plus is a CO2 laser and the Aura is a Diode laser. In many ways, the Plus’ 40 watt laser is significantly more effective than the Aura’s Diode laser because of the differences in how the lasers work.
What makes the Glowforge Plus so great:
- You get a 19.5” x 11” printable area (which is 1” less in height than the Aura but 7.5” wider)
- You can cut up to ½” thick materials (twice the thickness of the Aura)
- Can engrave materials up to 2” thick
- Relatively small enclosed laser that’s just 20.75” deep, 39” wide and 8.25” high
- Works with Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, and more just like the Aura
- Has an internal camera that lets you precisely place your designs on your material like the Aura but also has another Macro Camera! This Macro Camera is mounted to the laser head which gives the machine extremely precise data to help it focus more accurately (within 0.004”!!!)
- Has additional lighting inside the machine so you can see your material even better from the app!
- Has closed loop self contained internal cooling letting you run the machine for longer stretches of time without it overheating.
- Can cut and engrave tons of materials including clear, white and blue materials!
- There’s no need for a sticky cutting mat like with most cutting machines so it’s a breeze once the cutting is done! In fact, the pieces usually literally fall away which is very satisfying!
- Has a 12 month comprehensive warranty
- Priced at under $4,500!
Is the Glowforge Plus best for you?
The Glowforge Plus is best for anyone who must be able to do one or more of the following:
- Cut, engrave or score clear, blue, white, mirror or transparent acrylic
- Engrave materials up to 2” thick
- Cut materials up to 0.5” thick
- Churn out many many projects quickly throughout the day
Who the Glowforge Plus isn’t right for…
If the above all sounds great to you, there’s one last thing to consider. The Glowforge Plus does not have a passthrough slot. This means that the Plus is only a fit if you plan to print projects 11”x19.5” and smaller. If you need to be able to print larger projects, then you’ll want the Glowforge Pro instead so keep on reading!
Glowforge Pro
While the Glowforge Plus and Glowforge Pro look very similar and the machines are the same size, there are some key differences that really makes the Glowforge Pro the #1 choice if it fits your budget. Here are the improved features you get with the Pro:
- The Glowforge Pro is a 45W CO2 laser instead of a 40W CO2
- It has upgraded solid state thermoelectric cooling so it can truly run ALL DAY!
- It has a Passthrough slot that lets you cut materials that are ¼” thick, 20” wide and as long as you like!
- The Glowforge Pro can cut up to 1.2x faster than the Glowforge Plus
- It can print up to 1.5x faster overall
Between the faster speed, Passthrough slot, and improved cooling, there’s no question that the Glowforge Pro is the better option for small businesses looking to make many projects in a variety of sizes as quickly as possible.
The Glowforge Pro retails for just under $6,000, but with my link you can get $500 off!
Glowforge Air Filters
We can’t talk about Glowforge Printers without also talking about their air filters!
Earlier in this post I shared how I absolutely love that all Glowforge Printers are fully enclosed. I see this as a key non-negotiable feature to ensure my and my kid’s safety when using the laser. Because it’s fully enclosed, the fumes get directed out of the machine through a hose.
Some people choose to vent this hose out a window, and that’s definitely an option.
Fortunately, though, Glowforge also makes it super easy to vent the hose into an air filter so that you can run your machine safely from anywhere – even a basement with no window!
The Glowforge Aura has its own filter called a Glowforge Personal Filter. This filter will connect to your Glowforge Aura and automatically turn on and off for you as needed! I love how totally hands-free this filter is!
If you get the Glowforge Pro or Plus, and want to vent into an air-filter instead of out a window, you’ll get the Glowforge Air Filter. The filters are not interchangeable – so if you have Glowforge Pro for example, you should not try to attach the Glowforge Personal Filter to it. It won’t be powerful enough.
The Glowforge Air Filter for the Pro and Plus machines is different from the Glowforge Personal Filter in that this one comes on wheels, and needs to be turned on and off with each print. You’re also able to turn a knob on the filter as the filter cartridge fills up to help it run more efficiently!
While the air filters are an investment, I’m fortunate to have them for my Glowforge Aura and my Glowforge Pro. I like the flexibility of having my machines wherever I want and not having to put them near a window.
In fact, I have my Glowforge Aura on a Create Room Dreamcart and routinely wheel the Aura and its filter around the house with me as I do other things!
Buying a Glowforge
How to Pay for Your Glowforge
The Glowforge machines are definitely an investment but they’re the ultimate crafting tool whether you want to sell your own products or not! I’ve used my machines nearly every day since I’ve gotten them and often run them for hours at a time!
To help you afford a Glowforge, they have great payment options that include a monthly payment plan!
How to Save on Your Glowforge
While Glowforge very rarely does sales, they do occasionally have them. It’s just really hard to know when the next one will be or if they’ll do another one because for years, they didn’t do sales at all!
Luckily though, you get $250 off a Glowforge Plus or $500 off a Glowforge Pro when you use my link! And this discount has stacked with sales in the past – so will get these ON TOP OF a sale if there is one!
Click here to save up to $500 off a Glowforge with my link
My Favorite Glowforge Projects to Date!
Eager to get started with your own Glowforge? Check out some of my favorite projects. And be sure you join my Facebook group for Live Q&As, tips and tutorials, and a community of like-minded crafters.
And check out my Youtube channel for lots of great Glowforge and Inkscape tutorials!
Let’s get started with your crafting adventure. Now is the perfect time to buy if you haven’t gotten a Glowforge machine yet. Use this link to get a discount on your purchase! Then join my Glowforge Aura Facebook group or General Glowforge Facebook group, and introduce yourself! Both groups are so supportive and I’m in there every day to help!
