Why I like it:

The xTool P2 is the complete package for fast, powerful laser cutting at home or in a small workshop. With a full suite of accessories that let you cut 3-meter-long materials and round tumblers and glasses, the P2 can cut or etch any material you could hope for, including glass (etching) and transparent acrylic (etching and cutting).

The software is excellent and can help you design your creations to better fit your cutting needs. The camera works well to help you align your materials, but be careful when working near the edge of the camera limits, because the fisheye distorts a little. This bundle comes with some materials to get you started and a fire safety system to give you peace of mind.

Who should get it:

If you’re serious about your laser cutting and want to make large projects or large batches, then the xTool P2 (or the new P2S) is for you. It’s powerful and easy to use for just about any project.

Who should avoid it:

If you have a small workroom or only need to etch onto easy materials, then you can skip the P2. It’s for big complicated projects.

Read more: xTool P2 review.

Why I like it:

The Glowforge Aura is the company’s first consumer laser cutter aimed at an entry-level market. It’s smaller than the other models, with a less powerful laser, but it works amazingly well on smaller projects. We’ve made beautiful carvings, etchings and other laser-cut projects on the aura and all of them have been excellent.

Who should get it:

The Aura is a good choice for crafty people who want to cut materials that a Cricut can’t quite handle. Thick leather or 3mm wood, for example. It will cut materials, albeit quite slowly, and will etch onto just about anything you’d like.

Who should avoid it:

The cutting area is quite small on the Aura. You can do a passthrough laser etch, but the width is still only 12 inches across. If you’re looking to do bigger projects, then try the xTool P2 or one of the larger Glowforge.

Read more: Hands-on with the Glowforge Aura.

Why I like it:

I am always on the lookout for small lasers that can be portable. Being able to customize products for people at conferences, Renaissance fairs, or farmers’ markets can give you a unique advantage over your competition. The Pixi is lightweight, easy to use with the supplied app — at least for small work — and works with Lightburn to produce excellent results. It may not be the fastest laser of all time, but the results were excellent on everything I tried it with, including colored acrylic, leather, leatherette, wood and even stainless steel.

Who should get it:

Not only is this perfect for taking to shows and conventions, but it’s a great way to start learning about lasers in a safe way. The enclosure and exhaust fan make it much safer than other laser engravers in the price bracket. It would also be a fun product for a school STEM class.

Who should avoid it:

If you’re looking to cut materials, I wouldn’t buy the Pixi. In theory, the 5W or 10W machine can cut through wood or acrylic, but in my testing, it took a long time to cut through. And, because the base doesn’t have slats, the heat reflection from the cut can burn the underside of the material. You would be better off with a more powerful machine on this list.

Why I like it:

Like the original F1, the F1 Ultra has brought me no end of fun while I’ve been testing it. There is something special about carving a 3D depth map into a coin, a slate coaster, or even a rock from your garden that is hard to match with a standard laser. The F1 Ultra is a mixed laser with a blue diode for standard cutting and engraving and a fiber laser for 3D carving. The 3D carving side of it is where the F1 Ultra really shines, as it allows you to create unique products that are hard to find outside of a large operation.

The F1 Ultra is slightly bigger than the F1 and has the same accessories — like the rotary system and fluted work surface — as the F1, too. The best accessory is the conveyor belt, which can be used with the built-in software smarts to engrave batches of the same pattern, so if you need to make 100 more keychains at a convention, you can quickly and easily.

Who should get it:

The F1 Ultra is a niche laser in a niche market, but one that offers a lot of fun ways to make art. If you already want a blue laser for engraving, but want to try something a little different, then the Ultra is an excellent choice.

Who should avoid it:

If you want to cut or etch clear materials, the F1 Ultra is a no-go. You’ll need a CO2 laser to do that effectively. You’ll also want to consider a different laser engraver if you want to etch large pieces.

Why I like it:

It’s been a while since I’ve had as much fun with a maker tool as I have had with the xTool F1. It’s lightweight and very easy to transport if you go to many trade shows, conferences or farmer’s markets and, with the accessories in this bundle, you can etch batches of products as easily as one. The software is excellent too, making it easy to line up projects or trace out new projects from a photo.

I recently took the F1 to a STEM fair for primary school kids, and everyone enjoyed watching as it whizzed around cutting out the school logo onto metal business cards. While the price is high for a cutting area this small, you could easily make your money back with just a little work at a farmer’s market stall or two. It’s well worth the investment.

Who should get it:

The F1 is such a fun machine and feels custom-built for conventions and farmers’ markets. It’s highly portable, and if you add the filter to your bundle — and the wheeled carry case — you can use it wherever you have power. If you spend any amount of time making things for people away from your workshop, this is an excellent choice.

Who should avoid it:

Like the F1 Ultra, you won’t be able to cut clear materials. Look for a different machine if you want to do that.

Why I like it:

The Beamo is the smallest of Flux’s impressive lineup of CO2 laser cutters, but don’t let the small size fool you. The 30W laser, while weaker than some on this list, is still powerful enough to etch glass, though you may need the additional diode laser to etch onto steel. It will happily cut through wood, leather and acrylic, though.

The Beamo also has a handy touchscreen, making it much easier to control from your workshop without a computer plugged into it directly. Flux even has an app that lets you control the Beamo directly from your phone.

Who should get it:

If you’re looking for the pure cutting power of a CO2 laser without the $4,000 price tag, the Beamo might be for you. It’s a little more manual than some of the more expensive machines like the xTool P2S, but it will cut through wood and plastic and engrave glass with the best of them.

Who should avoid it:

CO2 lasers are not for everyone. If all you’re doing is engraving on metal or wood, you don’t need something with this level of power. There are cheaper options for those kind of jobs.

Why I like it:

The WeCreat is a fun little box that can etch and cut several materials. It isn’t going to carve through thick wood or steel, but it makes fun projects for family fun time. I think it’s perfect for schools, especially with its exhaust filter, as the enclosure and air assist make it safe for classrooms and stop little fingers from getting burned. I created several projects for my kids’ kindergarten class, and the teachers all loved it.
While the software isn’t quite as good as xTool or Glowforge, the camera is accurate and lets you mark where your material is well. It even has testing squares, so you can try out any material and see what power level you need. That’s something all laser cutters should have.

Who should get it:

Teachers and small businesses would do well with the WeCreat Vision. It’s fast, accurate and fun to watch as it does its work. Kids will get a kick out of making fun projects in a STEM class.

Who should avoid it:

The WeCreat is a diode laser, albeit a powerful one. It will cut through 5mm wood easily enough, but if you’re looking to cut thicker materials or clear acrylic, you should look elsewhere.

Why I like it:

Glowforge has made it clear that its mission from the start has been to ensure anyone can use what it calls “laser printers,” and the Glowforge Pro is a shining example. A fisheye camera gives you a view of the cutting surface from a web app, which lets you effortlessly click and drag the things you want to engrave or cut. And if you pay for the extra filtration system, you can use this laser anywhere. Of all the systems tested here, the Glowforge’s focus on ease of use is a world apart.

With that ease of use comes some limitations you won’t find elsewhere. Many features that make Glowforge Pro great are available only if you pay a monthly subscription. If you’re not using the Glowforge-made Proofgrade, the process of identifying the correct settings for engraving or cutting becomes quite manual. Additionally, the fisheye lens Glowforge uses can occasionally cause accuracy issues when you’re cutting or engraving on small, perfectly centered surfaces.

Who should get it:

Glowforge is one of the most popular at-home laser companies for good reason. They are easy to use and well supported by the community. If you’re looking to get started with a large laser for your small business, the Glowforge Pro is custom-made for you.

Who should avoid it:

Glowforge is a fairly walled system, so if you are looking for a laser that you can work on, or use a crazy variety of third-party materials, you may want to steer clear.