xTool vs Glowforge (2026): Which Laser Should You Buy?

On paper and on the bench, the xTool M2 is the better craft laser for the money. Both it and the Glowforge Aura are enclosed Class 1 machines, which means no goggles for bystanders and a lid that stops the job when opened. Both use a blue diode laser. Both have a camera so you can place a design on the material you actually loaded. The difference is how much of each you get: the M2's 10W module and 426 x 320 mm area outclass the Aura's 6W and 12 x 12 in on every job that is not long and narrow.

The M2 is also a platform. xTool sells a 3W infrared module (1064 nm) that marks bare metal, and a CMYK inkjet module for print-then-cut stickers and labels, so the same enclosure grows with you. If you know you want the extra headroom now, the M2 20W (about $899 at the time of writing, rated to 10 mm basswood) is the version to buy. Our best laser engravers guide covers the open-frame alternatives if you do not need an enclosure at all.

The Glowforge Aura is a consumer appliance first and a laser second, and that is both its appeal and its ceiling. Glowforge built its name on the idea that you should be able to drop material in, see it through the lid camera, drag a design onto it, and press the button. The Aura keeps that promise. Its two cameras (a wide-angle view in the lid and a macro camera on the head that also handles autofocus) make placement feel like arranging a photo, and Proofgrade materials carry a code the machine reads so the power and speed settings are set for you.

The trade is capability per dollar. A 6W diode rated to cut 1/4 in material is a craft tool, not a production cutter, and the 12 x 12 in bed is smaller than the M2's in both directions. Glowforge's software runs in a browser and needs an internet connection; the core cutting and engraving is free, and an optional Premium subscription adds design tools, storage, and a large graphics library. If you want the Aura, the Aura with Craft Laser Filter bundle (about $1,379 at the time of writing) is the sensible listing when you have no window near the machine.

The Falcon A1 is the budget answer to both machines above. Creality made its name making 3D printing affordable, and the A1 applies the same approach to the enclosed craft laser: lid, camera, air assist, 10W, under $500. It gives up some software polish and the add-on module path that makes the xTool M2 a long-term platform. If you are testing whether laser crafting sticks, it is a low-risk way in; if you already know it will, the M2's extra $33 is money well spent.

If your question is really "which Glowforge cuts thick wood," the answer is neither Glowforge on Amazon, and the S1 is the machine. 40W of diode power changes what a desktop laser is for: 18 mm plywood, thick walnut, and dark acrylic become one-pass cuts rather than multi-pass projects. It is the enclosed laser we recommend in our laser engraver guide for makers who want to buy once, and it needs the same ventilation plan as any laser; our fume extractor guide covers ducting and purifiers.

The Glowforge Pro and Plus are CO2 lasers, and none of them is sold on Amazon. Glowforge sells its Performance Series (Pro HD at 45W, Plus HD at 40W) through its own store, so if you came here for "Glowforge Pro vs xTool," the Amazon-available comparison is the xTool P-series. The P3's 80W tube and 36 x 18 in bed are in a different class from the Pro HD's 45W, and the four-camera system covers the whole bed. The P3 is a production tool, and it should be ducted outdoors, not filtered; our fume extractor guide explains why.

Choose by material before brand. If your work is jewelry, metal tags, and small gifts, a galvo dual-laser machine like the F2 will do in seconds what a gantry laser does in minutes, and its infrared source marks stainless and other bare metals directly. Pair it with a CO2 or diode cutter later if you need to cut sheet goods.

Factor ventilation into the price of either laser. The Aura needs this filter or a window within 8 ft. The xTool M2 needs an exhaust hose to a window or an xTool smoke purifier. With a filter on each, the gap between the two machines stays roughly the same. Our fume extractor guide compares the options, including the case for a cheap inline fan and duct over any filter.