You bought a GRBL diode laser, every tutorial says LaserGRBL, and you are on a Mac. Here is the short truth and the options that actually run on macOS.
Try Vextrify freeNot natively. LaserGRBL's FAQ states that it is software for Microsoft Windows. For macOS it only suggests trying a Windows emulator, a virtual machine or PlayOnMac — community workarounds, not a supported version. If you want your GRBL laser to run from a Mac without Windows in between, use a program that is built for macOS.
Running LaserGRBL in a virtual machine or a Wine-based wrapper means the laser's USB serial connection has to pass from macOS into the Windows layer. When that hand-over drops during a long engraving, the job stops in the middle of the workpiece. Newer Macs with Apple Silicon also need an ARM version of Windows in a virtual machine. It can work, but it adds exactly the kind of layer you do not want between your computer and a laser.
Four programs drive GRBL diode lasers directly from a Mac. LightBurn is the established paid choice; its Core edition covers GRBL. Rayforge is free and open source, runs on Windows, macOS (including Intel Macs) and Linux, and drives GRBL, Smoothieware and Marlin machines. MeerK40t is free and open source and runs on macOS, but its maintainers describe it as being in maintenance mode. Vextrify runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs and on Windows, drives GRBL diode lasers and CO2 lasers with Ruida controllers, and prepares photos in the same app.
Most people come to LaserGRBL for three things: loading a photo and engraving it with dithering, jogging the head and framing the job, and a simple console. In Vextrify, Photo Studio prepares the photo with ten dithering methods plus grayscale and twelve material profiles; Laser Control in the desktop app jogs, frames, runs a dry run and starts the job; and a calibrated camera can place the design on the real workpiece. What Vextrify does not do is run on Intel Macs — for those, Rayforge or LightBurn are the native choices.
Create a free account and prepare your first photo or logo in the browser — that part runs on any Mac. To drive the laser, install the desktop app on an Apple Silicon Mac, connect the laser over USB and pick it in the setup. Each laser gets its own tab with its own settings.
Create a free accountNo. LaserGRBL is Windows software. Its FAQ only suggests running it on a Mac through a Windows emulator, a virtual machine or PlayOnMac.
Some people do, but it is not supported, and the laser's USB connection has to pass through the extra layer. If that connection drops, the job stops mid-piece. A native Mac program avoids that.
Rayforge is free, open source and actively developed, and runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. MeerK40t is also free and runs on macOS, but is in maintenance mode.
The desktop app that drives the laser runs on Apple Silicon Macs and on Windows. The browser version for preparing files works on any Mac.