You don’t need a four-figure machine to turn vector art into cash. These eight engravers all cost ≤ $999 in 2025, yet cut clean, engrave fast, and—most importantly—ship with beginner-proof software. Pick the one that matches your space, safety needs, and the materials you plan to sell on Etsy this weekend.

1. xTool F1 Ultra – $999  
The closest thing to “plug-and-play” under a grand. Dual-laser head (10 W diode + 2 W 1064 nm IR) toggles in software, so you can swap from wood straight to stainless dog tags without Cermark. 0.01 mm repeatability, built-in 5 MP camera for drag-and-drop alignment, and a fold-flat handle for craft-fair portability. The only caveat: 110 × 110 mm work area, so size your designs accordingly .

2. AlgoLaser Alpha MK2 40 W – $999 (Black-Friday bundle)  
Cheapest 40 W optical diode you can buy new. Cuts 20 mm pine in a single pass at 600 mm/min, engraves at 30 000 mm/min, and ships with LightBurn license key. The 400 × 400 mm bed plus optional $109 rotary roller means you can take tumblers and cutting-board orders on day one .

3. Creality Falcon 2 12 W – $599  
Comes as a complete kit: laser module, steel base, air-assist pump, and 400 × 415 mm rails. App or LightBurn control; 30 dB blower is quieter than most desk fans. Great starter rig if you share an apartment with roommates—or picky neighbors.

4. TwoTrees TTS-55 Pro 5 W – $239  
The cheapest way to get 0.01 mm mechanical resolution. 300 × 300 mm area, optional 2 W IR module for black-on-metal marking, and a community firmware that unlocks grayscale dithering. Perfect “science-fair” machine for kids or STEM clubs.

5. Wainlux K10 5 W – $199  
Fully enclosed 80 × 80 mm desktop box. Slide your iPhone, AirPods case, or dog tag inside the flip-down shield, hit “start” in the phone app, and walk away. No goggles, no fumes, no excuses. Downside: slow, but detail on anodized aluminum rivals machines three times the price .

6. Sculpfun S30 Ultra 10 W – $379  
Open-frame workhorse with 0.08 mm spot and 390 × 390 mm travel. Optional $79 enclosure turns it semi-safe; linear rails on both axes keep circles actually round at 10 000 mm/min. First choice for handymen who already own a 2-in-1 air compressor/shop-vac.

7. LaserPecker 4 – $399 (3 W diode + 2 W IR)  
Palm-size cube that folds into a backpack. Switchable 450 nm or 1064 nm beams let you engrave wood, leather, plastic, gold, silver, even clear acrylic. Preview mode projects a faint red outline so you can position on curved mugs free-hand. Max 120 × 120 mm, but you can tile unlimited length with the $89 conveyor accessory.

8. Longer Nano Pro 12 W – $799  
Hand-held mode: remove the gantry, set the 200 × 200 mm window on a skateboard deck or guitar body, and trace. 5 MP camera auto-snaps the surface so you can overlay artwork in the app. When you’re ready for batch work, drop it back on the desktop frame and run LightBurn.

Starter shopping list (add $60–$90 total)  
- 3 mm birch plywood bundle – $25  
- Magnetic air-assist nozzle – $19  
- 2" roll of blue painter’s tape – $8  
- 5-pack of 2-ply laser acrylic – $29  

Bottom line  
If you want the least fuss, grab the xTool F1 Ultra and start taking phone-case orders tonight. If you need the biggest bed for the buck, the AlgoLaser Alpha MK2 40 W bundle gives you industrial-level power at a hobby-level price. Whichever you choose, keep the first projects small, log your speed/power settings, and you’ll be paying off the machine before the return window closes.