There are three versions of the Glowforge (one of the most popular laser cutters): the Basic, Plus, and Pro. These all differ in terms of price, speed, and power, so it’s important to understand the differences so you can pick the best Glowforge for you.
In this Glowforge Plus vs Pro vs Basic guide, we compare each model’s important specs and features, and what they really mean for you and your needs – whether that’s starting or scaling a small business, or just making fun DIY projects at home with your family.
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Budget pick
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Mid-range pick
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Premium pick
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$3,995
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$4,995
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$6,995
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Laser Power:
40W
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Laser Power:
40W
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Laser Power:
45W
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Laser Class:
1
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Laser Class:
1
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Laser Class:
4
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Working Area:
19.5” x 11”
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Working Area:
19.5” x 11”
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Working Area:
19.5” x ∞
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Speed:
Standard
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Speed:
2x
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Speed:
3x
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Enhanced Cooling:
No
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Enhanced Cooling:
No
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Enhanced Cooling:
Yes
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Glowforge Model Comparison Summarized
The Basic is Glowforge’s most budget-friendly option, while the Plus is more expensive and offers more power and speed, amongst other upgrades. The Glowforge Pro is the costliest yet most powerful and versatile option. All three models are widely considered to be among the best laser cutters out there.
Before we take an in-depth look at how the three models match up in each aspect, here’s a quick breakdown of the key similarities and differences.
Glowforge Comparison: Key Differences
| Glowforge Basic | Glowforge Plus | Glowforge Pro | |
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| Cost | $3,995 | $4,995 | $6,995 |
| Laser Power | 40W | 40W | 45W |
| Laser Class | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Working area | 19.5”x11” | 19.5”x11” | 19.5”x∞ |
| Speed | Standard | 2x | 3x |
| Enhanced cooling? | No | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 6 months | 1 year | 1 year |
| Shipping | Standard | Typically 2 weeks faster | Typically 2 weeks faster |
Main Glowforge similarities
| Similarity | |
|---|---|
| Compatible materials | Wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, rubber, glass, paper, card, ceramic, stone, mylar, Corian, cardboard, anodized aluminum, titanium, coated metal and more |
| Precision | Up to 0.025mm |
| Cutting depth | Up to 1/2” |
| Machine Size | 30”x20.75”x8.25” |
| Software | Glowforge’s app |
| Power requirements | 110W (standard household) |
Glowforge Plus vs Basic vs Pro Compared
Now let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between each to help you decide which Glowforge to buy.
Power
All the Glowforge models use powerful CO2 lasers, with the Basic and Plus using 40W lasers, while the Pro packs more punch with a 45W.
While 5W may not seem a lot, considering that the Pro is considerably more expensive, it significantly impacts the laser’s speed, as we’ll explain further in this article.
It’s also worth noting that while the Basic and Plus are class 1 lasers that are safe to be used by anyone, the Pro is a class 4. Class 4 lasers requires laser safety training to operate them, which is included with your Glowforge purchase, and you can’t use it in public, around children, or without the Pro Shields that come with the kit.
Compatible materials & thickness
There isn’t any difference in the materials you can cut and engrave with a Glowforge. However, the Glowforge Pro will cut the same materials faster than the other two.
Each also has a max cutting and engraving thickness of 1/4” on a single pass, and up to 1/2” with multiple passes.
Glowforges are capable of cutting a wide variety of soft and medium-weight materials, ranging from wood and acrylic, to leather and anodized aluminum.
Glowforge also offers a custom range of materials called Proofgrade Materials. These are specifically formulated for the Glowforge CO2 lasers and include hardwoods, acrylic, and leather. Each Glowforge instantly recognizes Proofgrade Materials and instantly calibrates to the ideal settings for each material – though you’ll find these materials cheaper elsewhere if you don’t mind playing around with the settings.
Unfortunately, none of the Glowforge laser cutters are capable of engraving hard metals like stainless steel, or reflective metals like copper.
This means you can’t use a Glowforge for PCB boards, fine jewelry engraving, or other projects that require a metal engraver. Check out our best metal laser engravers comparison if you’re looking for a machine that can handle this work – but to put a long story short, you’ll need a fiber laser.
Size & working area
Each Glowforge has the same dimensions – 30”x20.75”x8.25” – so they’re fairly large desktop laser cutters. They also all weigh 55lbs.
In terms of working area, our Glowforge comparison found the Basic and Plus both offer 19.5”x11” with a maximum material height of 2”. The Glowforge Pro also supports materials with a maximum width and height of 19.5” and 2”, but the key difference is in length, as there’s no limit on this.
This is thanks to the Glowforge Pro Passthrough slot in the machine, allowing you to print much longer projects in one go than virtually any other laser cutter on the market. Glowforge’s software also has specialized functions for this, so it’s the best choice if you want to work on projects like large signs without having to process separate material sheets.
Speed
The speed at which you can cut and engrave materials depends on the materials you’re working with, the depths, and how fast you move the laser head, alongside the laser power.
Glowforge doesn’t quote specific figures relating to its machines’ speed, but it does state that the Plus is 2x faster than the Basic, while the Plus is 3x quicker.
Precision
Glowforge states that each of its machines are accurate down to 0.025mm, which is very precise. There’s no differences between the accuracies of the Glowforge Basic vs Plus vs Pro.
Cooling & Efficiency
While the Glowforge Basic and Plus use the same cooling system, the Pro has an enhanced one. This means the Pro can run all day without slowing down, damaging your machine, or affecting the quality of your work, while the other two models are intended for less demanding work.
The Pro’s enhanced cooling also means it can operate at higher temperatures: 65-81°F compared to the 65-75°F that the other two models can work at.
Maintenance
Similarly, all Glowforges have the same maintenance requirements. The main maintenance you need to carry out is cleaning your machine by removing debris from the crumb and floor tray to prevent it from building up. Not only can this affect your work by preventing material from laying flat, but it can also be a fire hazard.
It’s also important to clean the camera, laser lens, and windows after every 40 hours of work. This simply involves removing the components and wiping them down to keep your Glowforge in top condition. The mirror should also be cleaned with a ZEISS cleaning lens wipe after every 120 hours of work.
Aside from that, the only other maintenance involves cleaning dust from the circuit boards, laser tubes, and inside the case.
Price
There are fairly steep price differences between the three Glowforge models – the Basic costs $3,995, the Plus costs $1,000 more, and the Pro costs $2,000 more than the Plus.
As these are large sums, it’s important to know exactly what specifications you need to make sure you find good value. In truth, there are no major differences between the Basic and the Plus aside from the Plus being faster – so you should consider whether that extra speed is worth an additional $1,000.
When you compare Glowforge models, it’s clear that the Pro offers more impressive specs, with increased power, speed, cooling, and much larger working area potential. So, the high cost is worth considering due to these impressive specs – particularly if you’re a business owner who needs the most efficient option.
It’s also important to consider the ongoing costs of replacement parts. All Glowforges come with a warranty, but at some point, you will need to replace the CO2 laser tube.
Each lasts around 3-4 years with moderate use, but outside of warranty laser tube replacements are costly at least $400 – and more if you’re outside the US. The Pro and Plus both have one-year warranties, while the Basic’s is just six months.
User-friendliness
The main selling point, and the marketing that Glowforge’s brand is literally built on, is how incredibly user-friendly they are. They’re super easy to set up, being plug-and-play machines, and save you the time and hassle often involved with assembling DIY laser engravers.
The machines become even more user-friendly if using Proofgrade Materials as they automatically adjust to the ideal settings, which is perfect for beginners and can save you a lot of time tinkering while also improving the quality of your work.
On the other hand, bear in mind that, unlike many other cutters, a Glowforge can only be operated when connected to WiFi and can’t be used offline – it’s entirely cloud-based. You can check out our Glowforge alternatives guide to explore laser cutters that support offline working.
Software
All Glowforge models use Glowforge’s eponymous software, so there’s no difference in this regard. The software is an intuitive program for creating your designs, sending them to your Glowforge, and operating it, and it’s also available as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
If you want to create designs with other software, such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Photoshop, you can do so and then easily import your designs into the Glowforge software.
The software and app have some really intuitive features that enhance the Glowforge machines’ user-friendliness. For example, the trace feature allows you to cut and engrave hand-drawn illustrations directly onto your materials, and you can use the camera on the machine to take pictures to base your designs on.
Glowforge also offers files for a variety of ready-to-print designs for projects like earrings and wallets.
Accessories & Upgradability
Glowforge machines are designed to be complete solutions, and unlike many other laser engravers, are not easily upgradeable.
In fact, Glowforge doesn’t sell any accessories or upgrade components for its machines aside from the Air Filter. This is compatible with all machines and allows you to operate the Glowforge from anywhere without needing to ventilate air and debris through a hose and window, although it’s pretty costly at over $1,200.
The lack of customizability is one of the few drawbacks of a Glowforge compared to xTool or other laser cutters. For example, you can’t add a rotary module for working with circular objects, which you can do with most other high-quality laser cutters.
If you’re looking for an upgradeable laser cutter, check out our xTool D1 Pro review. This laser has various upgrade options, including an infrared laser head for engraving reflective metals.
Conclusion – Which Glowforge is Best for Beginners & Small Businesses?
Our Glowforge Basic vs Pro vs Plus review found that aside from the 2x speed, there are a few other key differences between the Basic and Plus.
The Pro has more significant upgrades on both, with faster cutting, a more powerful laser, and the main one: the ability to cut materials of unlimited length.
All machines rank highly in terms of user-friendliness, cutting depth, precision, and compatible materials, so speed, power, and working area are the main factors you need to consider when purchasing.
Overall, we’d say that the Basic is probably suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and even some small businesses. Unless you really need the extra speed from the Plus, the $1,000 additional cost is probably not worth it.
Glowforge are the easiest to use lasers for home business owners looking to create cool projects and sell them on Etsy or other stores and make money.
For larger businesses and people looking to scale, the Pro is the better choice. Not only is it quicker, more powerful, and more efficient, but the Passthrough feature means you can work on much larger projects, such as signs and advertisement boards, that you simply can’t do on the other two models.
Glowforge are the easiest to use lasers for home business owners looking to create cool projects and sell them on Etsy or other stores and make money.
FAQs
What is the difference between the Glowforge Plus and the Glowforge Pro?
The main differences between the Glowforge Pro vs Plus are that the Pro has a powerful laser, can cut faster, has an enhanced cooling system, and can cut materials of unlimited length.
What is the difference between the Glowforge Plus and Basic?
The main difference in the Glowforge Plus compared to the Basic is that the Plus is two times faster at engraving and cutting.
Is Glowforge Basic enough?
The Glowforge Basic is a powerful, fairly quick, and very user-friendly machine that’s certainly worth considering for home crafts, hobbyist projects, and even small business owners.
Is the Glowforge Pro worth the extra cost?
With a more powerful laser, faster cutting, and no limit on the length of materials you can cut, the Glowforge Pro has some significant upgrades on the Basic and Plus. If you’re a business owner who will benefit from these specs, then the extra cost could be worth it.
