Cutting machines are essential for hobby crafters looking to work with various materials. Much-desired for their precision and ease of use, both die cutting machines and laser cutting machines are popular nowadays. If you need some help deciding between which type of crafts machine to buy, check out our comparison of the Cricut Maker and the Glowforge Plus below.
The Cricut Maker is Cricut's most powerful cutting machine to date. Its advanced cutting features paired with an intuitive interface make the Cricut Maker an excellent machine for beginner and experienced crafters alike.
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Cricut Maker vs Glowforge Plus Comparison Chart
| Model | Glowforge Plus | |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
| Width | 21.2″ | 38″ |
| Depth | 7″ | 20.75” |
| Height | 5.9″ | 8.25” |
| Weight | 9 lbs | 120 lbs |
| Max Cutting Area | 12″ x 24″ | 11″ x 19.5″ |
| Max Material Height | .09″ | 2″ |
| Main Cutting Tool | Adaptive Tool System | 40W Laser |
| Software | Design Space | Glowforge |
| Cameras | No | Yes |
| Scan and Print | No | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
| Colors | 6 | 1 |
Design and Size
The
As you well know, the
Weight considerations are also important, as the Glowforge Plus weighs as much as 12 Cricut Makers. You might want help moving it room to room, whereas you can simply tuck the
Cutting Power
The Glowforge Plus has better cutting precision and power than the
Here’s where all of the bulk and size of the Glowforge Plus comes into play. The 40-watt CO2 glass laser assembly of the Glowforge Plus is capable of emitting a high-precision hair-thin beam of light that can cut through materials up to a half-inch thick. Compare that with the
As a result, you get a lot more flexibility with choice of material with the Glowforge Plus. You can also fit in materials as thick as two-inches into the cutting area by removing the steel tray underneath it. Indeed, Glowforge Plus can ably engrave titanium, glass, marble and hardwood panels as well as cut out plexiglass, wood, food(!) and more.
In terms of accuracy, we’ve all probably heard the term “laser-precision” of which the Glowforge Plus is an excellent example. The
The Glowforge Plus lets you cut intricate designs on wood, glass, and more materials with laser-cutting precision. With its scan and print functionality, the Glowforge Plus can work as a standalone laser cutting machine.
Ease of Use
The Glowforge Plus offers scan and print functionality and doesn’t need dedicated design software like the
Unlike the
With the Glowforge Plus, you get to preview exactly how the design will look on your material thanks to a wide-angle camera and a macro camera that can autofocus for a better close-up view. This also lets lets you scan hand-drawn or already printed designs and transfer that onto your final material easily. While cutting, you can actually watch how its laser moves inside as the interior is well-lit by LED strips.
There are also a few limitations on the
Other Features
The
Cricut wants to be your one-stop shop for all your crafting needs, so they’ve made sure you’d be able to find what you need in their store. There are numerous tools you can customize your
A big safety consideration with laser cutting machines like the Glowforge Plus is that you’d definitely want to avoid using any materials with reflective filaments or additives such as vinyl and PVC. The laser will melt through these or get reflected into internal components resulting in damage to the machine or leaking of harmful gas.
Verdict
The
As you can see, there’s a world of difference between the capabilities of laser cutting machines such as the Glowforge Plus and die-cutting machines like the
If you’re only looking to dabble or to take the next steps after experimenting with more basic die-cutting machines, the Cricut Maker is the easy choice. It’s so much more affordable and the range of designs you can print with it is amazing. You can work with nearly 300 kinds of materials and even push your creative boundaries by expanding your suite with any number of tools and accessories.
FAQs
If you typically cut intricate designs on thicker materials or cut in large quantities, then yes, the Glowforge Plus is worth it. The Glowforge Plus is a powerful laser cutting machine that delivers impeccable cutting results.
No, Cricut cutting machines use blades to cut or slice materials. Unlike the
The Glowforge Plus offers endless personalization options as this laser cutting machine can cut even the most intricate designs on wood, leather, Plexiglass, aluminum, titanium, food, and a lot more.
The short answer is no, you don’t need a computer to use a Cricut. You can use a compatible iPhone or iPad with Cricut cutting machines. However, using a desktop or laptop can help you better maximize the features and functionalities of your Cricut cutting machine and Design Space.