10 Best Glowforge Alternatives 2025

The Glowforge is a popular series of laser printers.

Unlike traditional 3D printers, which use an additive process to print items, the Glowforge uses a subtractive process, utilizing lasers to cut into materials and create designs.

It’s a versatile laser cutter that can cut into and create designs on wood, acrylic, metal, stone, leather, and virtually any material. You can even use it on chocolate!

A lot of people have started small businesses selling engravings, wood carvings, and products they have created using a Glowforge.

However, the Glowforge has a big disadvantage. It does not have any mechanism to physically connect to the printer; there are no USB or Ethernet ports.

Instead, Wi-Fi connectivity is required for you to print something. If your Wi-Fi connection is slow, or if the app experiences problems or lags, it will lead to frustrations.

If that weren’t bad enough, the entire software on which Glowforge printers operate is based in the cloud.

This software is closed and proprietary. You must upload your designs to the Glowforge cloud software for the printer to print them.

While it’s free (there is a premium version, but it is optional), a lot of people are wary of this reliance on Glowforge’s cloud servers. It gives Glowforge full control over your business, in a sense.

If Glowforge goes out of business, your printer will be useless. However, that’s probably the least of your concerns, since Glowforge is doing pretty well.

Instead, the concern is that you are at the whim of Glowforge. If it decides to eliminate the free version and require everyone to pay a premium subscription fee, you will have no choice but to comply if you want to keep using the printer.

If it decides that you violated its user agreement, it could ban you as well.

Also, if you enjoy using LightBurn, a popular layout and editing software for laser cutters, you won’t be able to use it with your Glowforge. That’s because its proprietary software leaves no room for LightBurn compatibility.

Another disadvantage of the Glowforge is that it doesn’t support rotary engraving, and if you want to keep up with the latest engraving trends, this is a serious drawback.

Given all this and more, it makes sense to look for Glowforge alternatives.

If you are looking for an alternative that doesn’t rely on a proprietary cloud service, or if you are simply interested in what else might be out there, you’re in luck.

Today, I will be showing you some of the best Glowforge alternatives.

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10 Best Glowforge Alternatives

1. xTool

xTool is a company that produces laser cutters. It has a wider range of models than Glowforge for a wider range of needs.

For example, the P2 55W CO2 laser cutter is perfect for professionals and businesses, and it is a lot more powerful than any Glowforge printer. It comes with features like automatic pass-through and dual 16 MP cameras.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re a hobbyist or want to start a small business on Etsy, you can opt for the xTool S1 20W diode laser cutter, which is very affordable and a great entry-level laser cutter. It offers a maximum cutting thickness of 10 mm.

The xTool F1, for on-the-go cutting, might also be a good choice, with a maximum cutting thickness of 6 mm. It is even cheaper than the S1 20W and designed to be portable.

Another reason you might opt for an xTool instead of a Glowforge is if you want to do rotary engraving. The Glowforge doesn’t allow for that possibility.

The xTool D1 Pro, for example, can do rotary engraving with the xTool RA2 Pro rotary attachment, which you can buy separately. The D1 Pro is also compatible with LightBurn.

xTool does offer an optional cloud storage option, which allows you to back up your files, access them from any device, and transfer them wirelessly with ease. However, it’s not a must to use it; it’s simply there for your convenience.

All in all, xTool is your #1 go-to alternative to Glowforge, regardless of your needs: professional or hobbyist.

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2. Roly LaserMATIC

Roly Automation is a newer company. Based in China, its mission is to create user-friendly laser cutters.

In particular, the Roly LaserMATIC Mk2 is a great choice. This diode laser comes in 10W, 20W, and 30W versions, and it starts at just $899 (price subject to change), which is actually cheaper than the Glowforge Aura, Glowforge’s cheapest model, which comes with a 6W diode laser.

Not only that, but unlike the Glowforge, it supports rotary engraving with the optional chuck rotary, which will only set you back an extra $150-200.

Since it’s a small company, stock is limited. You can check available stock on the product page; as of this writing, it only had 15 of the LaserMATIC 10 (the cheapest 10W model) without the chuck rotary attachment and 24 with the rotary attachment.

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3. Full Spectrum Laser

Full Spectrum Laser, often abbreviated as FSL, is an American company that produces laser cutters. From UV lasers to CO2 lasers to fiber lasers, you have a wider range to select from compared to Glowforge, regardless of the material you plan on cutting.

It comes with the big benefit of not being forced to use proprietary cloud-based software.

Nevertheless, a specialized software is available for macOS, PCs, and Linux devices; it is entirely browser based and stored in your machine’s local web server.

It provides an intuitive user interface with which to control your printer, and it is powered by AI for features such as object segmentation.

Hobbyists will probably opt for the Muse Desktop CO2 laser series, a powerful alternative to the Glowforge that comes with a 3D camera, autofocus, and a touchscreen. A rotary attachment, while a bit pricey, is available for all FSL lasers.

There are also the MC Series Industrial Laser Systems if you need an industrial grade cutter, and there are plenty of models in between these two ends of the spectrum.

While Glowforge offers financing through a third-party company (Affirm), Full Spectrum Laser offers in-house financing with rates as low as 0% interest for up to six months and as low as 3% interest for 12-month payment plans.

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4. OMTech Laser

OMTech, an American company based in California, produces affordable laser cutters that are faster than Glowforge and offer thicker cutting capabilities. They also don’t require an internet connection to work, instead offering an easy-to-use digital controller.

It offers a wide range of lasers, and all CO2 lasers of 50W and up from OMTech are compatible with LightBurn.

If you’re on a budget, you will like that OMTech offers pre-owned laser cutters for up to 30% off the price of new lasers.

Since you’re buying them directly from the manufacturer, you can be sure these pre-owned laser cutters have been properly tested to meet quality standards as opposed to buying a pre-owned laser cutter on eBay.

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5. Thunder Laser USA

Thunder Laser USA sells a wide range of laser cutting machines.

In particular, the Thunder Bolt is popular among hobbyists and entry-level laser cutters. Its 30W CO2 RF laser is the perfect desktop laser cutter, with a weight of just 77 kg, a maximum speed of 1000 mm/s, and rotary engraving and LightBurn support (unlike Glowforge).

The laser has a built-in LED touchscreen display.

Another option is the Thunder Nova, which comes in several models and can be used by hobbyists and professionals alike. The Nova 24, the cheapest and smallest model of the four Nova models, is also popular among hobbyists.

It can cut all kinds of materials, including wood, acrylic, glass, plastic, leather, and coated metal.

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6. Boss Laser

The Glowforge, while great as an entry-level laser cutter, is no comparison to Boss Laser. Boss Laser produces industrial-level, professional-grade laser cutters.

These powerful beasts are perfect for small business owners who need fast lasers. The LS series, for example, comes in 50-155W versions, while the HP series is even more powerful and comes in 160-250W versions.

While some of its laser cutters are bigger than some smaller desktop laser cutters available on the market, they’re made of top-notch materials and will last you well. Also, Boss has excellent customer support.

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7. Gweike Cloud Pro

If you want an entry-level alternative to the Glowforge, the Gweike Cloud Pro is one of the best choices.

With a 50W CO2 laser, it is faster than even the Glowforge Pro, and it comes with an optional rotary attachment as an upgraded version, unlike Glowforge. You can operate it from your web browser.

The name is a bit misleading, though. Unlike the Glowforge, it does not require an internet connection to work; it comes with USB and network ports that you can use instead.

It has a built-in camera that can scan and detect the pattern on a material and replicate it while printing, powered by AI.

Not only that, but it is around half the price of the Glowforge Plus (without the rotary).

The Gweike Cloud is great for educational purposes too, as it’s safe for children.

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8. LaserPecker

LaserPecker produces some great alternatives to Glowforge.

The LaserPecker LP2, for example, is a portable, handheld laser engraver that’s perfect for small designs. With a 5W diode laser and an engraving area of 100×100 mm for the LP2 Basic and 100×2000 mm for LP2 Pro, Deluxe, and Super, it’s a delight to use.

The mobile apps make it easy to use, and you can preview the engraved area before starting the engraving process.

If you need a more powerful machine, you might opt for the LaserPecker LX1, which comes in several versions. You can get it with a 10W or 20W 450 nm Blue Laser, which are both great for materials such as bamboo, acrylic, wood, metal, glass, leather, paper, and stone.

Alternatively, you can get it with a 2W 1064 nm infrared laser, best for opaque acrylic and plastic as well as metal. There is also an Artist Module option, which is good for creating ink-based art on paper.

You don’t have to choose between the options, as you can bundle different lasers together when you purchase the LX1. With its folding design, it takes up little storage space.

There is also the LaserPecker LP4, which is a dual laser cutter that works on almost all materials. You can buy it with or without a rotary extension (unlike Glowforge lasers), and while it has a working area of 300×160 mm, the laser itself is very portable.

Its LED touchscreen provides greater control over the two laser cutters contained in the LP4: a 10W diode laser and a 2W infrared laser.

Together, these two lasers allow you to use the LP4 on materials such as gold, silver, aluminum alloy, glass, stainless steel, acrylic, leather, paper, stone, wood, and more!

It also makes it possible to work on products that contain two materials, such as a stainless steel knife with a wooden handle or a metal bottle opener with a leather handle.

All LaserPecker laser cutters are incredibly affordable.

9. Epilog Laser

Epilog Laser produces high-quality, top-notch, and professional grade laser cutters and engravers. It’s been in business since 1988.

The lasers in its Fusion Pro series, for example, are absolute beasts. There is the Fusion Pro 24, the Fusion Pro 36, and the Fusion Pro 48, with varying work area sizes.

Laser options include CO2 lasers, fiber lasers, or dual source (both CO2 and fiber lasers), depending on the specific model. The CO2 lasers are 60-120W and the fiber lasers are 30-50W.

All come with two overhead IRIS cameras. The IRIS camera positioning system ensures that your artwork ends up exactly where you want it to be.

10. Azetr

Finally, we have Azetr.

In particular, the Azetr P20 is a great desktop laser cutter and one of the best alternatives to the Glowforge Aura in the same price range. It has a 20W laser that can cut 15 mm solid wood in one go.

Not only is it fast (with an engraving speed of up to 24800 mm/min), but it is incredibly accurate. It supports over 340 colors that you can engrave in stainless steel, so it’s great for creating unique products to sell on Etsy.

It supports over 100 materials, though, not just wood and stainless steel.

Wrapping It Up

The Glowforge may have made desktop laser cutters popular, but there are many great alternatives that won’t require you to rely on a proprietary cloud service.

xTool is my favorite supplier of laser printers of all levels, but as you can see, there are many others as well.

For example, the Azetr P20, the Roly LaserMATIC, and the Gweike Cloud Pro are some of the better desktop printers, while the LaserPecker LP2 and xTool F1 are great if you want a handheld laser engraver.