Glowforge Pro vs xTool S1 — Which Should You Buy?

Side-by-side specs, settings, and decision guide. Both have community-tested settings for 44 shared materials.

Glowforge Pro: $7,999 vs xTool S1: $1,699 — prices as of 2026, check retailer for current pricing.

Where to buy

Buy the Glowforge Pro — 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 Pro 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 Pro

Price
$7,999

Power
45W

Laser Type
co2

Software

Glowforge App

Buy Glowforge Pro →

xTool S1

Price
$1,699

Power
40W

Laser Type
diode

Work Area
498×330mm

Software

xTool Creative Space

Buy xTool S1 →

158 settings for Glowforge Pro90 settings for xTool S1

Settings Comparison

Material · Operation	Glowforge Pro	xTool S1
2mm Basswood Plywoodcut	25 mm/s · 35% · air assist	—
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodcut	25 mm/s · 100% · air assist	350 mm/min · 65% · air assist
3mm Basswood Plywoodcut	30 mm/s · 100% · air assist	400 mm/min · 60% · air assist
3mm Black Acryliccut	25 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist	—
3mm Clear Acryliccut	20 mm/s · 100% · air assist	—
3mm Coloured Acryliccut	15 mm/s · 60%	—
3mm Hardboard HDFcut	—	400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
3mm MDFcut	35 mm/s · 65–75% · air assist	13 mm/s · 100% · air assist
3mm Tinted Acryliccut	18 mm/s · 60% · air assist	—
3mm Walnut Plywoodcut	22 mm/s · 100% · air assist	300 mm/min · 70% · air assist
5mm Plywoodcut	12 mm/s · 55% · 2× passes · air assist	—
6mm Baltic Birch Plywoodcut	168 glowforge_units · 100%	—
6mm Basswood Plywoodcut	—	200 mm/min · 85% · air assist
6mm Clear Acryliccut	6 mm/s · 72% · 2× passes · air assist	—
6mm MDFcut	12 mm/s · 100% · air assist	150 mm/min · 88% · air assist
9mm Birch Plywoodcut	4.5 mm/s · 72% · 3× passes · air assist	—
Acrylic Feltcut	65 mm/s · 22%	6000 mm/min · 38% · air assist
Acryliccut	150 mm/s · 80% · air assist	—
Alder 3mmcut	24 mm/s · 50%	—
Aldercut	300 mm/min · 80–85% · 2× passes · air assist	400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Bamboo 3mmcut	25 mm/s · 50%	2800 mm/min · 72% · 2× passes · air assist
Bamboo Cutting Boardcut	—	1100 mm/min · 80–85% · 2× passes · air assist
Bamboocut	300 mm/min · 90–95% · 2× passes · air assist	400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Basswoodcut	30 mm/s · 55–70% · air assist	—
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)cut	85 mm/s · 42%	300 mm/s · 80% · air assist
Cardboardcut	200 mm/s · 40%	3000 mm/min · 25%
Cardstock 300gsmcut	80 mm/s · 10%	9000 mm/min · 25%
Cardstock (80–110 lb / ~220–300 gsm)cut	110 mm/s · 18%	—
Cardstockcut	250 mm/s · 12%	3500 mm/min · 20%
Cedar 3mmcut	24 mm/s · 48%	—
Cedarcut	338 mm/min · 90% · air assist	550 mm/min · 90% · air assist
Cherry 3mmcut	20 mm/s · 58%	—
Cherrycut	203 mm/min · 100% · air assist	400 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Chipboard 2mmcut	32 mm/s · 28%	4500 mm/min · 55% · 2× passes · air assist
Copy Paper 80gsmcut	120 mm/s · 10%	11000 mm/min · 18%
Cork 3mmcut	34 mm/s · 28% · air assist	6500 mm/min · 35% · air assist
Cork Sheet 3mmcut	28 mm/s · 35% · air assist	—
Corkcut	250 mm/min · 55%	—
Corrugated Cardboardcut	42 mm/s · 36%	5500 mm/min · 38% · 2× passes
Cotton Fabriccut	55 mm/s · 18%	800 mm/min · 60%
Craft Felt 3mmcut	50 mm/s · 15%	1200 mm/min · 65%
Denim Fabriccut	48 mm/s · 22%	2000 mm/min · 30–35% · 2× passes · air assist
EVA Foam 3mmcut	40 mm/s · 20%	1200 mm/min · 50%
EVA Foam 6mmcut	55 mm/s · 26%	5500 mm/min · 35%
Faux Leathercut	42 mm/s · 38% · air assist	4500 mm/min · 48% · air assist
Foam Board 5mmcut	50 mm/s · 28%	6500 mm/min · 32% · 2× passes
Foamcut	55 mm/s · 14%	—
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)cut	32 mm/s · 42–50% · air assist	5000 mm/min · 70–80% · air assist
Genuine Leathercut	25 mm/s · 80%	—
HTV Vinylcut	105 mm/s · 9%	11000 mm/min · 12%
Kraft Papercut	300 mm/s · 15%	3000 mm/min · 18%
Leathercut	170 mm/min · 100% · air assist	—
Maplecut	15 mm/s · 60–70%	3500 mm/min · 75–90% · 2× passes · air assist
Mylar Stencil 7.5milcut	80 mm/s · 14%	9000 mm/min · 18%
Oak 3mmcut	18 mm/s · 65%	—
Oakcut	169 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist	350 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist
Papercut	300 mm/s · 8%	2500 mm/min · 15%
Pine 3mmcut	22 mm/s · 55%	—
Pinecut	304 mm/min · 100% · air assist	500 mm/min · 100% · air assist
Plywoodcut	28 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist	—
Rubber Stamp Blankcut	13 mm/s · 50–55% · air assist	1000 mm/min · 95–100% · 2× passes · air assist
Rubber Stamp Materialcut	—	600 mm/min · 95–100% · 2× passes · air assist
Walnutcut	15 mm/s · 60–70%	3500 mm/min · 75–90% · 2× passes · air assist
Washi Tapecut	160 mm/s · 7%	—
2mm Basswood Plywoodengrave	380 mm/s · 11%	—
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodengrave	400 mm/s · 25–30%	2000 mm/min · 25–30%
3mm Basswood Plywoodengrave	150 mm/s · 40%	8000 mm/min · 35%
3mm Black Acrylicengrave	350 mm/s · 18–25%	—
3mm Clear Acrylic (Cast)engrave	440 mm/min	—
3mm Clear Acrylicengrave	200 mm/s · 20%	—
3mm Hardboard HDFengrave	—	2000 mm/min · 40–45%
3mm Maple Plywoodengrave	400 mm/min	—
3mm MDFengrave	450 mm/s · 20–28%	200 mm/s · 25–30%
3mm Mirrored Acrylicengrave	420 mm/min	—
3mm Tinted Acrylicengrave	140 mm/s · 20%	—
3mm Walnut Plywoodengrave	350 mm/s · 25–30%	2000 mm/min · 25–30%
5mm Plywoodengrave	160 mm/s · 18%	—
6mm Baltic Birch Plywoodengrave	2000 mm/min · 40–45%	—
6mm Basswood Plywoodengrave	—	2000 mm/min · 35–40%
6mm Clear Acrylicengrave	120 mm/s · 22%	—
6mm MDFengrave	200 mm/s · 25–30%	2000 mm/min · 35–40%
9mm Birch Plywoodengrave	120 mm/s · 22%	—
Acrylic Feltengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Acrylicengrave	500 mm/s · 20–25%	—
Alderengrave	371 mm/min · 52%	4000 mm/min · 42%
Anodized Aluminumengrave	250 mm/s · 40%	350 mm/s · 60%
Bamboo 3mmengrave	330 mm/s · 15%	8000 mm/min · 25–30%
Bamboo Cutting Boardengrave	—	4000 mm/min · 55%
Bambooengrave	300 mm/s · 30%	4000 mm/min · 48%
Basswoodengrave	450 mm/s · 20–28%	—
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)engrave	—	500 mm/s · 20–25%
Cardboardengrave	500 mm/s · 10–15%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cardstock 300gsmengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cardstockengrave	400 mm/s · 6%	6000 mm/min · 12%
Cedarengrave	405 mm/min · 45%	5000 mm/min · 30%
Ceramic Tileengrave	160 mm/s · 65%	3000 mm/min · 85%
Cherry 3mmengrave	310 mm/s · 18%	—
Cherryengrave	371 mm/min · 55%	4500 mm/min · 40%
Coated / Powder Coated Steelengrave	300 mm/min · 48%	—
Coated Stainless Steel Tumblerengrave	—	3000 mm/min · 65%
Copy Paper 80gsmengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cork 3mmengrave	500 mm/s · 5–10%	—
Cork Sheet 3mmengrave	320 mm/s · 12%	—
Corrugated Cardboardengrave	500 mm/s · 5–10%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Cotton Fabricengrave	330 mm/s · 13%	9000 mm/min · 16%
Craft Felt 3mmengrave	2500 mm/min · 10–15%	3500 mm/min · 25–30%
Denim Fabricengrave	350 mm/s · 14%	7000 mm/min · 18%
EVA Foam 3mmengrave	2000 mm/min · 10–15%	3500 mm/min · 20–25%
EVA Foam 6mmengrave	500 mm/s · 5–10%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Faux Leatherengrave	500 mm/s · 5–10%	8000 mm/min · 15–20%
Foam Board 5mmengrave	500 mm/s · 5–10%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)engrave	320 mm/s · 12–18% · air assist	7500 mm/min · 40–50% · air assist
Genuine Leatherengrave	800 glowforge_units · 55%	300 mm/s · 40%
Glassengrave	300 mm/s · 18%	8000 mm/min · 40–50%
HTV Vinylengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Kraft Paperengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Leatherengrave	170 mm/min · 60%	—
Mapleengrave	270 mm/s · 18–23%	7000 mm/min · 45–55% · air assist
Marble Tileengrave	250 mm/s · 30%	2800 mm/min · 80%
Mylar Stencil 7.5milengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	8000 mm/min · 10–15%
Oak 3mmengrave	300 mm/s · 20%	—
Oakengrave	338 mm/min · 60%	4000 mm/min · 45%
Paperengrave	500 mm/s · 5–8%	6000 mm/min · 10%
Photopolymer Stamp Blankengrave	120 mm/s · 45%	—
Pine 3mmengrave	300 mm/s · 17%	—
Pineengrave	405 mm/min · 50%	5000 mm/min · 35%
Plywoodengrave	450 mm/s · 22–30%	—
Powder Coated Steelengrave	300 mm/min · 48%	—
Rubber Stamp Blankengrave	240 mm/s · 18%	3500 mm/min · 75%
Rubber Stamp Materialengrave	—	2000 mm/min · 70%
Slate (coaster)engrave	200 mm/s · 23–28%	300 mm/s · 90%
Slateengrave	1000 glowforge_units · 80%	4000 mm/min · 55%
Spray Painted Metalengrave	350 mm/min · 45%	—
Stainless Steelengrave	240 mm/s · 58%	3500 mm/min · 90%
Walnutengrave	270 mm/s · 18–23%	7000 mm/min · 45–55% · air assist
Stainless Steelmark	120 mm/s · 70%	—

All Glowforge Pro settings →All xTool S1 settings →

Ready to buy the Glowforge Pro?

Buy on Amazon →

Ready to buy the xTool S1?

Buy on xTool →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Glowforge Pro or xTool S1?

It depends on your use case. Glowforge Pro 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 Pro and xTool S1 cut or engrave?

Both machines have community-tested settings for 44 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 Pro?

No. CO₂ lasers like the Glowforge Pro 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 Pro (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 Pro (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.

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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

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★★★★★

"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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