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Glowforge Basic vs xTool S1 — Which Should You Buy?

Side-by-side specs, settings, and decision guide. Both have community-tested settings for 65 shared materials.

Glowforge Basic: $3,995 vs xTool S1: $1,699 — prices as of 2026, check retailer for current pricing.

Where to buy

Buy the Glowforge Basic — check current price & availability

Buy on Amazon →

Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to buy

Buy the xTool S1 — check current price & availability

Buy on xTool →

Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Which one should you buy?

Pick the Glowforge Basic if you want: more cutting power (45W vs 40W); CO₂ — cuts clear acrylic and engraves glass; diode lasers can't.

Pick the xTool S1 if you want: a more affordable price point.

Glowforge Basic

Price
$3,995
Power
45W
Laser Type
co2
Software
Glowforge App
Buy Glowforge Basic →
xTool S1

xTool S1

Price
$1,699
Power
40W
Laser Type
diode
Work Area
498×330mm
Software
xTool Creative Space
Buy xTool S1 →
142 settings for Glowforge Basic176 settings for xTool S1

Settings Comparison

Material · OperationGlowforge BasicxTool S1
2mm Basswood Plywoodcut25 mm/s · 35% · air assist5000 mm/min · 90% · air assist
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodcut20 mm/s · 100% · air assist550 mm/min · 100% · air assist
3mm Basswood Plywoodcut300 glowforge_units · 100%600 mm/min · 100% · air assist
3mm Black Acryliccut20 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist3000 mm/min · 75% · air assist
3mm Clear Acryliccut500 glowforge_units · 100%500 mm/min · 100% · air assist
3mm Coloured Acryliccut—3200 mm/min · 72% · air assist
3mm Hardboard HDFcut—400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
3mm MDFcut28 mm/s · 65–75% · air assist600 mm/min · 100% · air assist
3mm Tinted Acryliccut18 mm/s · 60% · air assist600 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
3mm Walnut Plywoodcut18 mm/s · 100% · air assist500 mm/min · 100% · air assist
5mm Plywoodcut9 mm/s · 60% · 2× passes · air assist1500 mm/min · 100% · 3× passes · air assist
6mm Basswood Plywoodcut—200 mm/min · 85% · air assist
6mm Clear Acryliccut6 mm/s · 72% · 2× passes · air assist—
6mm MDFcut10 mm/s · 100% · air assist300 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
9mm Birch Plywoodcut3 mm/s · 78% · 3× passes · air assist600 mm/min · 100% · 6× passes · air assist
Acrylic Feltcut55 mm/s · 28%6000 mm/min · 38% · air assist
Alder 3mmcut20 mm/s · 55%4200 mm/min · 62% · air assist
Aldercut—400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Bamboo 3mmcut20 mm/s · 55%4500 mm/min · 60% · air assist
Bamboo Cutting Boardcut—1100 mm/min · 80–85% · 2× passes · air assist
Bamboocut120 mm/min · 100% · air assist400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Basswoodcut25 mm/s · 55–70% · air assist3000 mm/min · 80% · air assist
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)cut85 mm/s · 42%300 mm/s · 80% · air assist
Cardboardcut180 mm/s · 35%3000 mm/min · 25%
Cardstock 300gsmcut70 mm/s · 12%10000 mm/min · 20%
Cardstock (80–110 lb / ~220–300 gsm)cut110 mm/s · 18%200 mm/s · 30%
Cardstockcut250 mm/s · 15%3500 mm/min · 20%
Cedar 3mmcut20 mm/s · 54%4000 mm/min · 60% · air assist
Cedarcut—550 mm/min · 90% · air assist
Cherry 3mmcut16 mm/s · 62%3800 mm/min · 65% · air assist
Cherrycut—400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Chipboard 2mmcut28 mm/s · 30%5000 mm/min · 58% · air assist
Copy Paper 80gsmcut100 mm/s · 12%11000 mm/min · 18%
Cork 3mmcut28 mm/s · 35% · air assist6500 mm/min · 35% · air assist
Cork Sheet 3mmcut22 mm/s · 40% · air assist5000 mm/min · 55% · air assist
Corkcut800 mm/min · 70–85% · 2× passes800 mm/min · 70–85% · 2× passes
Corrugated Cardboardcut35 mm/s · 45%5500 mm/min · 38% · 2× passes
Cotton Fabriccut45 mm/s · 20%6000 mm/min · 50% · air assist
Craft Felt 3mmcut40 mm/s · 18%7000 mm/min · 48% · air assist
Denim Fabriccut40 mm/s · 25%6000 mm/min · 52% · air assist
EVA Foam 3mmcut35 mm/s · 22%8000 mm/min · 45% · air assist
EVA Foam 6mmcut45 mm/s · 32%5500 mm/min · 35%
Faux Leathercut35 mm/s · 45% · air assist4500 mm/min · 48% · air assist
Foam Board 5mmcut42 mm/s · 35%6500 mm/min · 32% · 2× passes
Foamcut55 mm/s · 14%1200 mm/min · 20%
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)cut28 mm/s · 45–55% · air assist5000 mm/min · 70–80% · air assist
Genuine Leathercut8 mm/s · 60–65% · air assist2000 mm/min · 90% · 2× passes · air assist
HTV Vinylcut90 mm/s · 12%11000 mm/min · 12%
Kraft Papercut280 mm/s · 12%3000 mm/min · 18%
Leathercut9 mm/s · 80–85% · air assist2000 mm/min · 90% · 2× passes · air assist
Maplecut12 mm/s · 65–75%3500 mm/min · 75–90% · 2× passes · air assist
Mylar Stencil 7.5milcut68 mm/s · 18%9000 mm/min · 18%
Oak 3mmcut14 mm/s · 70%3500 mm/min · 70% · 2× passes · air assist
Oakcut—350 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Papercut300 mm/s · 10%2500 mm/min · 15%
Pine 3mmcut18 mm/s · 60%4000 mm/min · 65% · air assist
Pinecut—500 mm/min · 100% · air assist
Plywoodcut22 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist600 mm/min · 85–100% · 2× passes · air assist
Rubber Stamp Blankcut11 mm/s · 60–65% · air assist1000 mm/min · 95–100% · 2× passes · air assist
Rubber Stamp Materialcut—600 mm/min · 95–100% · 2× passes · air assist
Walnutcut12 mm/s · 65–75%3500 mm/min · 75–90% · 2× passes · air assist
Washi Tapecut160 mm/s · 7%2000 mm/min · 12%
2mm Basswood Plywoodengrave380 mm/s · 11%8000 mm/min · 40%
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodengrave300 mm/s · 25–30%2000 mm/min · 25–30%
3mm Basswood Plywoodengrave1000 glowforge_units · 75%6000 mm/min · 50%
3mm Black Acrylicengrave350 mm/s · 18–25%6000 mm/min · 40%
3mm Clear Acrylic (Cast)engrave440 mm/min7500 mm/min
3mm Clear Acrylicengrave1000 glowforge_units · 40%—
3mm Hardboard HDFengrave—2000 mm/min · 40–45%
3mm Maple Plywoodengrave400 mm/min4800 mm/min
3mm MDFengrave450 mm/s · 20–28%200 mm/s · 25–30%
3mm Mirrored Acrylicengrave420 mm/min7000 mm/min
3mm Tinted Acrylicengrave140 mm/s · 20%4000 mm/min · 60%
3mm Walnut Plywoodengrave250 mm/s · 25–30%2000 mm/min · 25–30%
5mm Plywoodengrave140 mm/s · 20%5000 mm/min · 55%
6mm Basswood Plywoodengrave—2000 mm/min · 35–40%
6mm Clear Acrylicengrave120 mm/s · 22%—
6mm MDFengrave150 mm/s · 25–30%2000 mm/min · 35–40%
9mm Birch Plywoodengrave100 mm/s · 24%4000 mm/min · 60%
Acrylic Feltengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Alder 3mmengrave—7500 mm/min · 40%
Alderengrave—4000 mm/min · 42%
Anodized Aluminumengrave300 mm/s · 40%1500 mm/min · 70–80%
Bamboo 3mmengrave290 mm/s · 18%8000 mm/min · 38%
Bamboo Cutting Boardengrave—4000 mm/min · 55%
Bambooengrave350 mm/s · 30%4000 mm/min · 48%
Basswoodengrave400 mm/s · 22–30%—
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)engrave—500 mm/s · 20–25%
Cardboardengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cardstock 300gsmengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%12000 mm/min · 10%
Cardstock (80–110 lb / ~220–300 gsm)engrave—500 mm/s · 12%
Cardstockengrave400 mm/s · 8%6000 mm/min · 12%
Cedar 3mmengrave—7500 mm/min · 38%
Cedarengrave—5000 mm/min · 30%
Ceramic Tileengrave180 mm/s · 65%500 mm/min · 90–100%
Cherry 3mmengrave270 mm/s · 22%7000 mm/min · 42% · air assist
Cherryengrave—4500 mm/min · 40%
Chipboard 2mmengrave400 mm/s · 15–20%8500 mm/min · 32%
Coated / Powder Coated Steelengrave300 mm/min · 48%3000 mm/min · 70%
Coated Stainless Steel Tumblerengrave—2000 mm/min · 70–80%
Copy Paper 80gsmengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cork 3mmengrave400 mm/s · 5–10%—
Cork Sheet 3mmengrave280 mm/s · 14%8000 mm/min · 30%
Corkengrave4000 mm/min · 35–45%4000 mm/min · 35–45%
Corrugated Cardboardengrave500 mm/s · 10–15%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cotton Fabricengrave280 mm/s · 16%9000 mm/min · 16%
Craft Felt 3mmengrave—3500 mm/min · 25–30%
Denim Fabricengrave300 mm/s · 18%8000 mm/min · 30%
EVA Foam 3mmengrave—10000 mm/min · 20%
EVA Foam 6mmengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Faux Leatherengrave500 mm/s · 10–15%8000 mm/min · 15–20%
Foam Board 5mmengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Foamengrave—4000 mm/min · 10%
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)engrave300 mm/s · 14–20% · air assist7500 mm/min · 40–50% · air assist
Genuine Leatherengrave150 mm/s · 22%3000 mm/min · 40%
Glassengrave220 mm/s · 22%1000 mm/min · 55%
HTV Vinylengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Kraft Paperengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Leatherengrave170 mm/s · 30% · air assist4000 mm/min · 55%
Mapleengrave250 mm/s · 20–25%7000 mm/min · 45–55% · air assist
Marble Tileengrave210 mm/s · 35%2000 mm/min · 85%
Mylar Stencil 7.5milengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Oak 3mmengrave260 mm/s · 22%7000 mm/min · 45% · air assist
Oakengrave—4000 mm/min · 45%
Paperengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%6000 mm/min · 10%
Photopolymer Stamp Blankengrave120 mm/s · 45%3000 mm/min · 55%
Pine 3mmengrave270 mm/s · 20%7500 mm/min · 40% · air assist
Pineengrave—5000 mm/min · 35%
Plywoodengrave450 mm/s · 22–30%3000 mm/min · 50–65%
Powder Coated Steelengrave300 mm/min · 48%3000 mm/min · 70%
Rubber Stamp Blankengrave200 mm/s · 22%3500 mm/min · 75%
Rubber Stamp Materialengrave—2000 mm/min · 70%
Slate (coaster)engrave150 mm/s · 27–32%2200 mm/min · 90%
Slateengrave130 mm/s · 80%3500 mm/min · 70%
Spray Painted Metalengrave350 mm/min · 45%3500 mm/min · 65%
Stainless Steelengrave200 mm/s · 65%3500 mm/min · 90%
Walnutengrave250 mm/s · 20–25%7000 mm/min · 45–55% · air assist
Washi Tapeengrave—5000 mm/min · 8%
Stainless Steelmark170 mm/s · 75%400 mm/min · 90–100%
All Glowforge Basic settings →All xTool S1 settings →

Ready to buy the Glowforge Basic?

Buy on Amazon →

Ready to buy the xTool S1?

Buy on xTool →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Glowforge Basic or xTool S1?

It depends on your use case. Glowforge Basic is 45W co2. xTool S1 is 40W diode with 498×330mm bed. See the decision guide and side-by-side specs above.

What materials can both the Glowforge Basic and xTool S1 cut or engrave?

Both machines have community-tested settings for 65 shared materials. The settings table above lists every material with side-by-side speed, power, passes, and air assist values for direct comparison.

Can the xTool S1 cut clear acrylic like the Glowforge Basic?

No. CO₂ lasers like the Glowforge Basic cut clear acrylic cleanly because the CO₂ wavelength is absorbed by transparent materials. Diode lasers like the xTool S1 struggle with clear acrylic — only painted or tinted acrylic works reliably.

Is the Glowforge Basic (45W) much faster than the xTool S1 (40W)?

Higher wattage typically means faster cutting and the ability to cut thicker material in fewer passes. The Glowforge Basic (45W) cuts thicker material in single passes and engraves at higher speeds than the xTool S1 (40W). For raster engraving the difference is smaller because surface engraving is limited by mechanical scan speed.

Popular Comparisons

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Settings are community-contributed and may not reflect your exact machine configuration or material batch. Always test on scrap first. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What Makers Say

★★★★★5.0· 6 reviews
View all on Etsy →
★★★★★

"Used it with a Glowforge — engraved beautifully with no changes. I will be purchasing more digital downloads from this shop."

— Anna

★★★★★

"I was struggling with lining up my NFC business cards. I was able to not only line them up much better but also do multiple cards at once — making that job so much easier."

— Camp

★★★★★

"Excellent quality and design. Cut clean and neat!"

— LYNN

★★★★★

"Great jigs. Appreciate the time saved not having to build this from scratch!"

— Bruce

★★★★★

"Excellent quality. Item as described. Expectations exceeded."

— Michael

★★★★★

"This template made my slate coasters so much easier. 4×4 coasters from Michaels drop in easily and are easy to remove. Def worth it."

— chris

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