AbstractTwo medium‐sized ultrasonic motors using the first‐order bending vibration (B1) of a cylinder with two free–free ends have been developed in this study. The cylinder‐shaped stators are 10 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length. They are based on novel Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) single crystal and conventional Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ceramic. The stators of the motors were simulated by a finite element method. The main performances of the motors were measured. The results show that the PMN–PT‐crystal‐based motor with medium size overmatches the conventional PZT‐based motor with: wider exciting frequency; lower exciting voltage, and much larger mechanical output power. The largest revolution speed of the PMN–PT motor is 780 rpm and a maximum load of ∼0.008 N m.