This letter reports the demonstration of grating‐surface‐emitting (GSE) lasers with threshold current densities as low as 440 A/cm2. When the distributed‐Bragg‐reflector sections were cleaved from these lasers, the resulting edge‐emitting lasers had threshold current densities that were essentially unchanged from that of the GSE laser. However, the operating wavelength of the Fabry–Perot laser was typically 70 A˚ shorter than that of the surface emitter.