Open-source LightBurn alternatives

For a diode laser on Windows, LaserGRBL is the long-standing free choice. For a stock K40, K40 Whisperer is the simple tool and MeerK40t the more capable one, which also drives GRBL and Ruida controllers. Rayforge is the newest all-rounder: it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, drives GRBL machines, and adds camera alignment, rotary and material recipes; its Ruida support is still marked experimental. All four are free. None of them bundles serious photo preparation.

• Diode on Windows → LaserGRBL
• Stock K40 → K40 Whisperer or MeerK40t
• Cross-platform all-rounder → Rayforge

LaserGRBL is a free, open-source GRBL sender for Windows with basic image and vector tools; it does not run on a Mac and does not drive CO2 lasers with Ruida controllers. K40 Whisperer is a free, GPL-licensed replacement for the software that ships with stock K40 lasers. It reads SVG and DXF files, cuts red lines, vector-engraves blue lines and rasters everything else. There is a Windows installer; on macOS and Linux it runs from the source code.

• LaserGRBL: Windows only, GRBL diode lasers
• K40 Whisperer: stock K40 boards, SVG and DXF
• K40 Whisperer on Mac and Linux: from source

MeerK40t is an MIT-licensed controller for Windows, macOS and Linux with drivers for stock K40 boards, GRBL, Ruida controllers and EZCAD2 galvo machines; it can even act as a Ruida emulator so LightBurn can drive a stock K40. Its maintainers describe the project as being in maintenance mode, so expect slower fixes. Rayforge is actively developed, runs on all three systems, and brings a 2D CAD sketcher, multi-layer jobs, camera alignment, rotary and material recipes; it drives GRBL, Smoothieware and Marlin machines, with Ruida support marked experimental.

• MeerK40t: many controllers, maintenance mode
• Rayforge: active, cross-platform, camera and rotary
• Rayforge Ruida support: experimental

Vextrify is not open source, and it would be misleading to list it as one. It fits when the open-source tools leave a gap you care about: photo preparation with material profiles, background removal and relief in the same app that drives the machine, a signed desktop app for Apple Silicon Macs and Windows, and CO2 lasers with Ruida controllers as a supported path rather than an experiment. The browser tier is free for preparation; machine control is part of the paid plans, with a 24-hour free trial of the desktop app.

• Not open source — free browser tier for preparation
• Photo, background and relief prep with machine control
• Supported Ruida CO2 path on Mac and Windows