If you have been comparing die cutting machines for more than ten minutes, you already know the problem: every Cricut model looks like a plausible answer. The names blur together, three generations sit side by side in the same search, and the only number anyone quotes is a price that changes daily. This guide fixes that by ranking the best Cricut machines on what actually changes your projects, not on the badge on the box.
A Cricut is an electronic die cutting machine. You make a design in Cricut’s free Design Space software, load it onto a cutting mat, and a motorised carriage drags that mat back and forth under a blade to cut out shapes, letters and images in paper, vinyl, cardstock, fabric and more. The software is identical across the whole range, so the machine you choose does not change what you can design. It changes how wide a sheet you can feed in, how many materials that blade can take, and which tools you are allowed to put in the carriage.
Those three things are why two machines far apart in price can be the right and wrong choice for the same person. Our team worked through the current Cricut range across nine machines, from the original Maker to the smallest desktop Joy, and ranked them by cut width, material range, tool access and how much desk space they eat. If you want the short version first, our guide to Cricut cutting machines for crafts covers the basics of each family.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for the Best Cricut Machines in 2026
The Maker takes the top spot because no other machine in the range opens as many doors. The Explore Air 2 holds the highest average rating of anything we ranked, at 4.8 across 6270 reviews, and for pure paper and vinyl work it is hard to argue with. The Joy wins on footprint alone: at under four pounds it is the machine you can actually keep out on a desk instead of hiding in a cupboard.
Quick Overview: All Nine Machines Side by Side (October 2026)
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| Cricut Maker |
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 Cricut Explore Air 2 |
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 Cricut Joy Bundle |
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 Cricut Explore 4 |
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 Cricut Joy Xtra |
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 Cricut Maker 4 |
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 Cricut Maker 3 Iron-On Bundle |
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 Cricut Joy 2 Essential Bundle |
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 Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle |
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What Cricut Actually Makes Right Now in 2026
Here is the part most roundups skip. Cricut sells three families, and each one has been refreshed more than once, so you will see current models and clearance models with almost identical names sitting in the same search result page.
The Maker family is the heavy-duty tier and the only one that cuts leather, chipboard and light wood. The Explore family is the everyday tier: paper, vinyl, heat transfer vinyl and cardstock at up to 12 inches wide, with no fabric or wood. The Joy family is the compact tier, small enough to live on a desk and, on the current models, able to cut vinyl without a mat at all.
Within those families, the models available to buy span several generations. That means you will find an Explore Air 2, an Explore 4 and an Explore 5 all listed at once, and a Maker, a Maker 3 and a Maker 4. In this guide we rank what is actually purchasable and separates current-generation machines from previous-generation ones, because buying a two-generation-old model at nearly its original price is the most common money mistake we see in the forum discussions.
One more thing worth stating plainly. A few Cricut models you will see recommended elsewhere, including the Venture for wide-format commercial work, did not resolve to a directly purchasable machine listing when we checked, so they are not ranked here. We would rather rank nine machines we could verify than pad this list to twelve from marketing copy.
A note on bundles, because this is where the confusion lives. The same machine is frequently sold three ways: machine only, machine plus a starter bundle of vinyl and iron-on, and machine plus a larger kit. The hardware is identical in all three. Reviewers consistently describe the starter bundles as useful only if you have never owned a Cricut, and the forum consensus is blunt about the rest: paying a bundle markup for materials you already own is a deal breaker.
1. Cricut Maker – The Most Capable Machine in the Range
Cricut Maker – Smart Cutting Machine – with 10X Cutting Force, Cuts 300+ Materials, Create 3D Art, Home Decor & More, Bluetooth Connectivity, Compatible with iOS, Android, Windows & Mac, Champagne
10X cutting force
Cuts 300+ materials
13 compatible tools
18 pounds, 12 in cutting mat
Pros
- Cuts 300+ materials including fabric
- leather
- matboard and light wood
- Bluetooth holds a reliable long-range connection to a computer
- Three mats handle different material weights
- Works with 13 tools for cutting
- writing
- scoring
- foiling and embossing
Cons
- Needs a connected device and the internet-based Design Space app for every cut
- Cricut Access subscription is needed for the full font and image library
- Cuts only one layer of fabric at a time
- Only Cricut-branded pens work for the writing functions
The original Maker is still the answer for anyone whose projects go past paper. It is the only machine here with 10X cutting force and a 300-plus material range, which is what unlocks bonded fabric, matboard, thin leather and light wood. At 4.7 stars across 8441 reviews it is also the most thoroughly reviewed machine in this guide, and the hardware has aged better than the software around it.
What surprised me most was the tool carriage. Thirteen tools are compatible with it, including the rotary blade for fabric, the knife blade for thick materials, scoring styles, foiling and embossing. That is the practical difference between the Maker and the Explore line, and it is why people who own both usually keep the Maker mounted and ready. Our general guide to embroidery machines covers a related craft setup if you are building a full small workshop.
Three mats ship with the machine and they are not interchangeable by accident. LightGrip holds paper and vinyl, FabricGrip is used with the rotary blade for fabric, and StrongGrip grips heavier material. Swapping the mat takes seconds, and getting this right is the single biggest difference between clean results and material ruined in the carrier.
The criticisms are almost entirely about the software model rather than the machine. It needs a connected device, an active internet connection and a paid subscription for the full library, and the knife blade lifts more often on JPG files than on vector cuts, which slows intricate work. Reviewers also report a rough 1mm offset between the clamps, which matters if you make origami or very small precision pieces.
How the Tool Carriage Changes What You Can Make
Start with the blades. The Fine-Point Blade included handles paper, vinyl and cardstock. Add the Rotary Blade and bonded fabric becomes possible. Add the Knife Blade and you can cut thicker material that a fine-point blade would tear rather than cut. Each blade lives in the same carriage slot, so switching takes seconds rather than a rebuild.
Then add the non-cutting tools. Pen holders let the machine draw and write in any font you choose, which turns a Cricut into a plotter. Foil and embossing tools add heat, and scoring styles create fold lines in cardstock. Because the tools swap, one machine covers cutting, writing, scoring and decorating, which is what makes the Maker the sensible only-machine purchase for a serious crafter.
Where the Maker Falls Short in Practice
The honest answer is the digital library, not the hardware. Cricut Access is required to use the full font and image set, and owners who expected a one-time purchase describe the subscription as the part of the deal that stings. If you already own a Silhouette machine and like buying software once, this is the detail that decides it.
Second, sticky mats grip fabric aggressively. That is a benefit on most projects and a problem on very delicate silk, which can be pulled out of shape when you peel the mat away. If fine fabric is your main interest, look for a machine that supports a fabric setting and consider testing on a scrap piece first.
2. Cricut Explore Air 2 – The Highest Rated Machine We Ranked
Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine – Blue
12 in cutting mat
Cuts 100+ materials
6 compatible tools
10.7 pounds, 1 year warranty
Pros
- Carries the highest average rating of any machine in this roundup
- Handles paper
- vinyl
- HTV iron-on
- glitter paper and cork reliably
- Built-in storage above and below the machine
- Reusable LightGrip mat makes finished designs easy to peel away
Cons
- Does not cut wood
- fabric
- chipboard or leather
- Compatible with 6 tools rather than the Maker's 13
- Slower and noisier than newer Explore models
- Extra blades and tools are sold separately
At 4.8 stars across 6270 reviews, the Explore Air 2 has the strongest satisfaction score of anything in this roundup. That number is not an accident: it is a deliberately simple machine that does one job well. If your projects are cards, labels, decals, paper florals and light heat transfer vinyl, it will not waste your time.
It is also the previous generation, which is the one fact you need before buying. Newer Explore models are faster, quieter and smaller, and the current generation changed the tool ecosystem. But the Air 2 is a 12-inch machine with a 100-plus material range, and for the core paper-and-vinyl workload that description still fits perfectly.
The body measures 21.18 inches wide by 6.99 inches deep and weighs 10.7 pounds, so it needs a real shelf rather than a small desk. Storage is built in above the machine and beneath the bottom flap, which sounds minor until you have spent an evening hunting for a weeder. Connectivity is Bluetooth to the free Design Space app on mobile or laptop, with no separate hub to plug in.
One detail buyers mention more than any other: the reusable LightGrip mat means finished designs peel away cleanly, so you are not constantly re-gripping paper. For vinyl decals and HTV that is the difference between a smooth transfer and a frustrating one, and it is part of why this model’s rating has stayed so high for so long.
When the Explore Air 2 Still Makes Sense in 2026
Buy it if your project list is paper and vinyl. Greeting cards, invitations, planner stickers, labels, scrapbook titles, wall decor cut from cardstock and light iron-on on t-shirts all sit inside the 100-plus material range. It also makes sense if you want a second machine that will not be a project in itself, because it is simple enough to hand to a beginner without a lesson.
Buy it also if you find one offered meaningfully below the current Explore models, which is common for a previous-generation body that is otherwise identical for this workload. Compare the gap against the newer model on your shortlist, not against the original launch price, and if the saving is small the newer machine is the better buy for speed and footprint.
What You Give Up Without Fabric and Wood
The material ceiling is the whole story. Fabric, chipboard, matboard and leather are outside this machine’s range, and no mat setting or blade upgrade will change that. Reviewers describe stepping up to a Maker specifically because they hit that ceiling, usually with a project that needed bonded fabric or thicker material than the fine-point blade could manage.
The second gap is tools. Six compatible tools against the Maker’s thirteen is a real reduction, and it means engraving, debossing and some blade types simply are not available. Extra blades and tools are also sold separately here, so budget for the blade you actually need rather than assuming the box contains it.
3. Cricut Joy – The Machine That Fits on the Desk
Cricut Joy Machine & Digital Content Library Bundle
Under 4 pounds
8.5 in wide body
Matless Smart Material cuts
50+ materials
Pros
- Compact and portable at under 4 pounds
- ideal for small spaces and crafting on the go
- Bundled digital library of 30 images added automatically at registration
- Matless Smart Material allows continuous extra-long cuts
- Setup takes about 15 minutes and pairs over Bluetooth
Cons
- Cuts one sheet of material at a time
- so no multi-layer projects
- No Print Then Cut for full-color sticker work
- Smaller cutting area than the Explore and Maker lines
- Needs a connected device and the Design Space app
The Joy is the reason people who live in small flats buy a Cricut at all. It weighs under four pounds, measures 8.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches deep and 4.25 inches tall, and it can live on the desk instead of in a cupboard. Users who make only stickers overwhelmingly choose it for that reason, and they say the size decided it over capability.
The matless feature is the functional headline and it is genuinely different from every other machine here. With Smart Material loaded, the roller feeds vinyl through without a cutting mat, which means a long decal can be cut in one continuous run instead of being split across mats with registration gaps. For anyone cutting large vinyl lettering, that is a real workflow advantage no other model in this roundup offers at this size.
The bundle here includes 30 digital images that load into Design Space automatically at registration, which is a generous way to start for a first machine. Setup is genuinely about fifteen minutes: plug it in, download the app, pair over Bluetooth, and make something small. The machine cuts 50-plus materials with the included blade, covering cardstock, vinyl decal and iron-on.
It also draws and writes in any style you choose, which surprised us more than the cutting did. That makes it useful for place cards, gift tags and packaging labels, not just cut shapes. On a craft forum the consensus has been consistent for years: the Joy is the smallest option, the Air class sits in the middle and the Maker is the most capable, and for stickers alone the Joy is enough.
Sticker and Label Workflow on a 3.9 Pound Machine
Sticker sheets are where the Joy earns its place. Load a sheet, cut a grid of designs, weed the waste and apply. There is no mat to peel, no registration re-load and no wasted material, and a small machine that stays on the desk gets used; a large one that gets put away does not. Several owners described it as the machine they actually use and the bigger one they use when they have to.
Vinyl lettering is the second strong use. The matless roller feed handles a long word in one pass where a 12-inch mat machine would need two mats and careful alignment. The catch is the width limit, which is the one number you must check before you commit, and it is smaller than people expect.
Where the 8.5 Inch Width Stops You
The 8.5-inch body sets a hard ceiling on project size, and it arrives sooner than most people expect. Anything designed to fill a full 12-inch sheet has to be scaled down or tiled, and multi-layer projects are out because the machine cuts one sheet at a time. If your project list includes large wall signs or full-width banners, the Joy is the wrong tool from day one.
The other practical limit is the material range. Fifty-plus materials covers paper, vinyl and iron-on, but not fabric, chipboard or leather. The bundled image library is a starter set, and the full library sits behind Cricut Access, which is the same friction point as every other machine here.
4. Cricut Explore 4 – The Fast Mid-Range Machine
Cricut Explore 4 – Smart Cutting Machine (Seashell) Digital Content Bundle
Up to 2x faster than earlier Explore models
100+ materials
Print Then Cut
270.25 sq in cutting area
Pros
- Cuts up to twice as fast as earlier Explore models while staying quiet
- Print Then Cut works with most inkjet printers for full-color stickers
- Compact footprint for a home craft space
- Bundle includes blade
- mat
- pen
- weeder and 30 bonus images
Cons
- Cannot cut fabric
- wood or leather the way the Maker series does
- Bluetooth connection can take several attempts to pair
- Full image and font library requires a paid Cricut Access subscription
- A learning curve remains even though the basics are quick
The Explore 4 is the middle of the range and, on paper, the most balanced machine here. It cuts 100-plus materials at up to twice the speed of earlier Explore models, stays quiet enough to run through a long session, and adds Print Then Cut so you can make full-colour sticker sheets on your own inkjet printer.
Owners describe it as the sweet spot between the slower Explore Air line and the pricier Maker. At 4.6 stars across 793 reviews, satisfaction is high, and the single most common complaint is not the machine at all but intermittent Bluetooth pairing. Expect to retry the connection once in a while rather than a redesign.
The cutting area is 270.25 square inches, so a full 12-inch sheet fits with room to spare. The bundle includes a Fine-Point Blade, a LightGrip mat, a Fine Point Pen, a Mini Weeder, practice material and 30 bonus images, which is close to everything a first owner needs. The free Design Space library already carries more than 3,000 images and over 100 fonts, so you can work without paying anything on day one.
There is one thing to know before you buy it as a long-term machine. The Explore 5, launched more recently, kept the 12-inch width but made the body roughly 30 percent more compact and moved to a new pen holder. If the two are priced close together, the newer one is the better purchase, and if the Explore 4 is meaningfully cheaper the speed difference is the main thing you give up.
What the Explore 4 Does Faster Than Its Predecessors
Speed, and it matters more than the spec sheet suggests. Cutting at up to twice the rate of earlier Explore models turns a batch of identical pieces, such as a set of 40 labels or a sheet of stickers for a school fundraiser, from a long evening into a short one. The machine also runs quietly, so a long batch does not drive everyone else out of the room.
The second practical gain is Print Then Cut. Print your design on plain paper or printable vinyl, load the sheet with the printed registration marks, and the machine cuts exactly the outline. It turns any ordinary inkjet into a colour sticker and label printer, which is the feature most often cited as the reason to step up from an Air-series machine.
Print Then Cut on a Mid-Range Machine
You need an inkjet printer, not a laser, because the registration process depends on the printed marks staying accurate. The free Design Space library gives you the print-and-cut templates, and the machine handles the rest. Budget for printable vinyl stock, which is a separate material from Smart Vinyl and is the paper you actually print on.
The trade-offs are honest ones. It still cannot cut fabric, wood or leather, so a bonded-fabric or leather project means a different machine entirely. And Bluetooth pairing takes several attempts for some owners, which is annoying but not a deal breaker once you know to expect it.
5. Cricut Joy Xtra – Wider Joy With Print Then Cut Added
Cricut Joy Xtra – Smart Cutting Machine | Digital Content Bundle
250 g machine body
Wider cut area than the original Joy
Print Then Cut
95.94 sq in active area
Pros
- Wider cutting area than the original Joy
- easing the move to larger projects
- Print Then Cut works with most inkjet printers
- Compact and light at 250 g
- Bundle includes blade
- pen
- weeder
- cable
- adapter and 30 bonus images
Cons
- Limited to 50+ materials rather than the Explore line's 100+
- Cutting width is smaller than the 12-inch Explore machines
- Cricut Access subscription needed to unlock the full content library
- Print Then Cut needs an extra calibration step that confuses first-time users
The Joy Xtra is the compact machine to buy if you make vinyl, foliage or stencils and you want full-colour output without a full-size body. It adds a wider cutting area than the original Joy and, importantly, Print Then Cut, which the earlier Joy did not have. That makes it the cheapest way into printed sticker sheets in the whole range.
At 250 grams it is one of the lightest machines here, and the active cutting area is listed at 95.94 square inches. Owners treat it as a step up from the original Joy rather than a replacement for a full machine, which is the right mental model. It does the small-to-medium job extremely well and declines politely to do the large one.
The bundle is unusually complete for a compact machine: Fine-Point Blade, Fine Point Pen, Mini Weeder, a welcome card, USB cable, power adapter, a Cricut Access trial, practice materials and 30 bonus images. The free Design Space library already includes more than 3,000 images and 100-plus fonts, so the machine is usable without a subscription if you want it to be.
For stencils, the appeal is obvious. Small, precise cuts in vinyl or stencil material, held in place with low-tack tape, give you clean disc-dyeing stencils and screen-printing stencils without a full-size machine. On a disc-dyeing forum the recurring question is exactly which machine handles stencils best, and the answer tends toward the compact models for anything that fits the width.
Joy Xtra for Foliage, Vinyl and Stencils
Intricate cut work on small materials is where a compact machine beats a large one, because the material stays flat and the registration is tighter. Foliage designs, script lettering, layered decals and label sets are all comfortable territory. The matless roller feed on the Joy family also means long vinyl words can run continuously rather than being split across mats.
If you have ever been frustrated by a machine too large to leave out on a desk, the weight here is the argument. It stores in a drawer between sessions, which means it gets used, and a machine that gets used produces more than one that sits on a shelf waiting for the right weekend.
Calibration and Tool Limits to Expect
Print Then Cut on this machine needs an extra calibration step, and several first-time users found it confusing. Plan five minutes for the first one, and follow the on-screen guide exactly, because a miscalibrated sheet wastes printable vinyl. Once calibrated it works with most inkjet printers and produces full-colour stickers and decals.
Two limits to be clear about. The material range is 50-plus rather than the Explore line’s 100-plus, so fabric, wood and chipboard are out. And the cutting width stays below the 12-inch Explore machines, so anything designed full width needs scaling or tiling.
6. Cricut Maker 4 – Leather, Wood and Engraving in One Machine
Cricut Maker 4 – Smart Cutting Machine (Seashell) | Digital Content Bundle
Cuts 300+ materials
Cuts, draws, foils, scores, engraves, debosses
22.1 in wide body
9.59 kg
Pros
- Cuts 300+ materials including leather and wood
- Markedly faster than previous Maker models
- Print Then Cut works with most inkjet printers
- Knife blade cuts materials like red rubber cleanly
- Seashell finish looks polished in a craft workspace
Cons
- The cutting mat can arrive bent because the box is not large enough to hold it flat
- Some machines have been reported arriving faulty and cutting only partway across the mat
- Cricut Access subscription is required for the full content library
- Vinyl and materials must leave a gap at each end of the mat
The Maker 4 is the current statement of what a Cricut can do when you stop counting materials and start counting functions. It cuts 300-plus materials including leather and wood, and it also draws, foils, scores, engraves, debosses and perforates. Engraving and debossing in particular are capabilities most hobby machines in this class do not offer at all.
It is markedly faster than earlier Maker generations and adds Print Then Cut for full-colour stickers. At 4.4 stars across 643 reviews, the hardware is well liked, but this rating sits below the original Maker, and the reason is almost entirely packaging and quality control rather than cutting quality.
The body is 22.1 inches wide, 7.1 inches deep and 6.2 inches tall, weighing 9.59 kg, so plan a proper craft shelf rather than a desk. The cutting area is 270.25 square inches, which fits a full 12-inch mat. The bundle includes a materials sampler with Smart Vinyl, Matless Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Matless HTV, cardstock and transfer tape, plus a pen, a LightGrip mat, a weeder and 30 bonus images.
Two practical notes that reviewers repeat. First, you must leave a gap at each end of the mat when placing vinyl or material, so every piece needs to be cut slightly oversized and trimmed afterwards. Second, the knife blade is what makes thick material viable, and it cuts red rubber and similar tough stock cleanly where a fine-point blade would tear it.
Maker 4 or Maker 3: Which Generation to Buy
Compare the two on speed and function, not on cutting force, because both cut 300-plus materials. The Maker 4 is faster, adds Print Then Cut, and carries the full engraving, debossing and perforation toolset. The Maker 3 is the older platform and does the core cutting work just as well for most projects, so it is the sensible buy when the price gap is wide.
If your projects are mostly cutting paper, vinyl and fabric, the generation gap barely matters. If you want printed stickers, engraving or debossing, the Maker 4 is the only one of the two that does those things, and the faster motor saves time on batches. Bookbinders, who care most about mat width and precision, tend to make the same call and pick whichever generation is narrower in price.
Packaging and Defect Reports to Watch For
This is the one place where the rating tells you something real. The most repeated issue is that the cutting mat arrives bent because the box is not large enough to hold it flat. It is usually recoverable by leaving it weighted for a few days, but you should know it before the box is opened.
A smaller share of reviews describe a machine that arrives faulty and cuts only partway across the mat. That is a support issue as much as a quality one, and the practical response is to run a full-width test cut in the first session, so a fault is found by you rather than halfway through a project. Cricut’s own support scores are a genuine weak point, so a seller with a straightforward return process is worth more than a small saving.
7. Cricut Maker 3 Iron-On Bundle – The Apparel Starter Kit
Cricut Maker 3 Smart Cutting Machine | Iron-On Starter Bundle
Maker 3 machine plus heat press
300+ materials, 13+ tools
Matless cuts up to 12 ft
3 standard grip mats included
Pros
- Everything needed for apparel in one box
- including the heat press
- mats
- tools and iron-on
- Maker 3 works with 300+ materials and 13+ tools
- Smart Materials allow matless cuts up to 12 ft long or 75 ft of repeats
- Everyday Iron-On HTV is rated to withstand more than 50 washes
Cons
- EasyPress 2 requires a 120V outlet and is not recommended outside North America
- Two separate apps must be downloaded to use the machine and the press
- Ceramic-coated press plate reaches 400F so care is needed with the heat
- The press included may be a newer revision than the listing describes
This is the only listing in the roundup that is a complete apparel setup rather than a machine. You get the Maker 3, an EasyPress 2 nine-inch heat press, an EasyPress mat, three Standard Grip 12-by-12 mats, a five-piece basic tool set, two rolls of Everyday Iron-On and 30 digital images. For someone whose first goal is matching shirts, nothing else has to be bought before the first garment. Note that the ceramic-coated press plate reaches 400F, so the first few passes are worth doing on a heat-safe surface.
That matters more than the model generation. The Maker 3 platform cuts 300-plus materials and works with 13-plus tools, and with Smart Materials a single image can be cut up to 12 feet long or repeated matless up to 75 feet, which is how you get matching family shirts without doing six separate cuts.
Does the Heat Press Change the Value
Yes, if iron-on is your project. A heat press applies consistent pressure and temperature across the whole transfer, which is what makes a vinyl design look professionally applied rather than bubbled or lifting at the edges. The Everyday Iron-On HTV included is rated to withstand more than 50 washes, so the material and the press are matched to each other.
The included heat press reaches 400F on its ceramic-coated plate and has auto-shutoff. That temperature is the point of the device, but it is also the reason to use it on a heat-safe surface and not leave it unattended on the first few goes while you learn the timing.
Who Should Skip This Bundle
Skip it if you already own a heat press or already own a Cricut. The hardware overlaps with everything else in this guide, and you would be paying a bundle markup for mats, tools and vinyl you do not need. It is a strong first-Cricut package for a beginner and a poor second-machine purchase.
Two practical cautions. The EasyPress 2 requires a 120V outlet and is not recommended outside North America, which rules it out for some readers regardless. And you have to download two separate apps, one for the machine and one for the press, which adds a step that a machine-only listing does not have.
8. Cricut Joy 2 – The Smallest Current Machine
Cricut Joy™ 2 Essential Bundle + Digital Content, Blue
4.5 in cutting width
Just over 2 pounds
75+ materials
Materials for 35 projects included
Pros
- Weighs just over 2 pounds and fits on a small desk
- Very little learning curve with setup described as five minutes of plug-and-play
- Print Then Cut with a home inkjet produces full-color stickers and decals
- Essential Bundle supplies enough material for up to 35 projects
Cons
- Only 4.5 in cutting width so project height is limited
- Small mats and a floppy mat extension are reported as wanting
- The free Design Space content is thin
- Refusing the Cricut Access trial takes several clicks
The Joy 2 is the current version of the compact machine, and it fixes the two things people disliked most about the original: it adds Print Then Cut for full-colour stickers, and it works with 75-plus materials rather than 50-plus. At just over two pounds with a 4.5-inch cutting width, it is the smallest serious Cricut you can buy.
The Essential Bundle includes Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Value Cardstock, Insert Card Sets and Printable Vinyl covering up to 35 projects, plus 25 bonus images and a font. For a first machine that is genuinely enough material to learn on, and several owners describe setup as five minutes of plug-and-play with Bluetooth pairing working on the first attempt.
It writes, draws, foils, scores and cuts, which is a wider function list than the previous generation of compact machines. The connection to Design Space also brings templates and AI image generation in the app, so you can start a design from a text prompt rather than a file. It is a small machine with fewer surprises than its size suggests.
The recurring criticism is the cutting width, and it is a real constraint rather than a nitpick. At 4.5 inches, project height is limited to roughly 4.5 inches, which rules out full-width gift wrapping, large labels and any banner-style design. Buyers who expected the small footprint and the small width together tend to be happy; buyers who bought it for size and then tried a large project were not.
Joy 2 or Original Joy in 2026
The Joy 2 wins on capability. Print Then Cut is the decisive addition because it turns a cheap home inkjet into a full-colour sticker printer, and 75-plus materials is a meaningful step up from 50-plus. If both are offered at similar prices, take the Joy 2 and the wider material range.
The original Joy still wins on one point: it is the previous generation, so it is the one most likely to be reduced. If the saving is real, the older machine does the same paper and vinyl cutting, and matless vinyl cutting is a Joy-family feature rather than a Joy 2 feature. You are buying less function for less money.
The 4.5 Inch Ceiling and How to Work Around It
Plan your projects around 4.5 inches of height. Labels, place cards, gift tags, planner stickers, small bunting pieces and single-sheet card decorations all fit comfortably. Anything designed to fill a 12-inch sheet has to be scaled to a quarter size, which changes the design rather than just the output.
Two smaller frictions worth knowing. The mats are small and the mat extension is reported as floppy, so lay long pieces on a flat surface rather than relying on the extension. And the Cricut Access free trial is persistent to decline, so if you plan to use only the free library, find the decline option early rather than after three projects.
9. Cricut Explore 5 – Twelve Inches in a Smaller Body
Cricut Explore® 5 Essential Bundle + Digital Content, Taupe
12 in cutting width
30% more compact than previous models
100+ materials
Materials for 65 projects included
Pros
- Cuts fast and cleanly
- noticeably more efficient than the Explore 4
- 30% more compact than previous models while keeping 12 in cutting performance
- Simplified interface and a new snap-in pen holder
- Essential Bundle supplies materials for up to 65 projects
Cons
- Explorer Series markers do not fit
- only Explore 5 branded pens work
- The debossing tool does not fit this machine
- Print Then Cut calibration is reported as unreliable
- Persistent prompts to start the Cricut Access free trial
The Explore 5 is the current 12-inch machine, and its headline change is size. The body is roughly 30 percent more compact than previous models while keeping the same 12-inch cutting performance, which matters a lot if your craft surface is a desk rather than a dedicated shelf. The new Taupe finish and a simplified interface replace the busier controls of earlier models.
It cuts 100-plus materials and can take a Deep Cutting Tool for foam and rubber, which extends the range in a specific and useful direction. The Essential Bundle carries materials for up to 65 projects, the largest starter package in this roundup, plus 25 bonus images and a font. The snap-in pen holder is an improvement over the older clip arrangement.
Print Then Cut works with a home inkjet for full-colour stickers and decals, and the free Design Space library gives you the templates. Cutting is described as fast and clean, and owners comparing it directly to the Explore 4 call it more efficient on the same 12-inch workload, which is the upgrade you are actually paying for if you move up a generation.
The new snap-in pen holder has a catch that catches people out. You have to remove the blade before writing, and the debossing tool from earlier generations does not fit this machine at all. If you already own an older Explore and a set of tools, check the compatibility before choosing this over a previous-generation model.
Why the Explore 5 Changed Tool Compatibility
Every generation with a new pen holder has changed which pens fit, and this one is no exception. Only Explore 5 branded pens work, Explorer Series markers do not fit, and the debossing tool is not compatible. For a first-time buyer this is a non-issue. For someone upgrading with an existing tool collection, it is the thing to check first.
It is also the clearest example of why buying a previous-generation machine on discount can be the smarter move. If you already own compatible tools, an earlier Explore model at a real saving preserves that collection. Starting fresh, the current generation is the better long-term buy.
Print Then Cut Calibration Reports
Several owners report Print Then Cut calibration landing cuts off centre on this model, and it is the most common critical review theme. If printed stickers are a core part of what you make, calibrate on a scrap sheet first and re-calibrate when you change paper types, because a 12-inch sheet of plain cardstock behaves differently from printable vinyl.
Setup documentation is also criticised for not explaining basics clearly, such as how to load a mat and what the buttons do. Budget a short first session reading the on-screen guide rather than assuming the box booklet covers it. And as with the rest of the range, the Cricut Access prompts are persistent; find the decline option before you start.
How to Choose a Cricut Machine Without Regretting It
Almost every Cricut regret we read about comes from one of four mistakes: buying for a material you will never cut, buying too narrow for the projects already on your list, paying a bundle markup, or buying a previous-generation machine at nearly full price. Work through the sections below and you can avoid all four.
What I Wish I Knew Before Buying a Cricut
Cut width is the number that matters, and it is the one buyers check last. A 12-inch machine can cut anything a 4.5-inch machine cuts, but not the other way round. Before you buy, measure the widest thing you want to make. If it is a full-width sheet of vinyl, a 12-inch machine is the minimum and the compact machines are the wrong tool.
Second, the cutting mat is a real ongoing cost. Mats wear out, they are the most frequently repurchased accessory, and they are the accessory people discover first when they realise a worn mat ruins a good cut. Third, everything runs through one app on a connected device, so the machine is only as good as your Design Space experience. Fourth, blades and tools are extra, and the included blade is a fine-point blade only.
The Four Things That Actually Differ Between Cricut Models
Cut width: compact Joy machines handle 4.5 inches, the Joy sits wider again, and Explore and Maker machines run a full 12 inches. Material range: 50-plus or 75-plus materials on compact models, 100-plus on Explore, 300-plus on Maker. Tool compatibility: Maker and Explore tools are largely interchangeable with each other but not with the Joy family. Matless vinyl cutting: a Joy-family capability that removes the mat from the vinyl workflow entirely.
Everything else is shared. Design Space is the same software on every machine, the print-and-cut function works the same way once the hardware supports it, and the material experience comes down to the mat and blade you load. Compare machines on those four items and the choice becomes obvious quickly.
Joy vs Explore: Which Do You Actually Need?
Choose the Joy if your projects are small. Stickers, labels, cards, gift tags, bunting and small vinyl decals all work, and the matless roller feed is a genuine advantage for long vinyl words. Choose an Explore if you need full 12-inch sheets, more than 75 materials, or a bigger material library for projects like wall decor and event signage.
The common regret from people who own both is not choosing wrongly, it is buying a full machine when a compact one would have done. A bookbinder asked on a craft forum which model suits a non-paper hobby and the useful answer was to size the decision on mat width rather than cutting force. Check the width first, then the force, in that order.
Which Tools and Blades Work With Which Machine
Blades, pens and tools are interchangeable between the Maker and Explore families. That is the useful rule and the one most often misunderstood, because people assume every Cricut tool fits every Cricut machine. The Joy family uses its own smaller tool range, so a blade bought for a Maker will not fit a Joy and vice versa.
Check the compatibility before you upgrade rather than after, especially with the current Explore generation, which changed the pen holder and dropped support for the debossing tool. If you already own a set of tools, that single check can decide between two otherwise identical machines. If you are buying your first machine, buy the current generation and stop worrying about it.
Should You Buy a Previous-Generation Machine?
Yes, in three situations. If the saving is substantial and your project list is paper and vinyl, a previous-generation Explore does that work today as well as a current one. If you already own compatible tools and a new generation would invalidate them, keeping what you have is rational. And if your workspace is genuinely small, a smaller previous-generation body may fit your shelf when the current model does not.
No, in two situations. If the saving is small, buy the current generation and get the speed, the quieter motor and the smaller footprint. And never pay close to the original launch price for a machine that has been superseded, which is the arrangement the shopping results are most full of.
What to Check Before You Buy a Bundle
Check three things. What materials are included, and whether you already own them. Whether the blade and mat in the box are the ones you would have bought anyway, because many kits include exactly those and nothing else. And whether the digital content is a starter set you will outgrow, because a 30-image library is a welcome first week and an irritation by the third month.
Bundles make sense for a first machine and rarely for a second. The hardware is identical either way, so anything beyond the blade, mat, pen and weeder is a materials premium. If a bundle saves you enough to cover a genuine gap, such as a first roll of iron-on and a cutting mat, take it; otherwise buy the machine alone. Our comparison of computerized sewing machines follows the same logic, since the machine is the long-term cost and the kit is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cutting machine better than Cricut?
For most hobby crafters, no. Cricut has the deepest material and tool range and the largest free content library, and the software is identical across every model. Silhouette Cameo machines are the main alternative and are a reasonable pick if you prefer buying software once instead of a subscription, or if you want cutting software on a desktop rather than in an app.
What can the Cricut Maker do that the Explore can’t?
Three things. The Maker cuts a 300-plus material range including bonded fabric, leather, matboard and light wood, where the Explore stops at 100-plus paper, vinyl and cardstock materials. It accepts 13 tools rather than 6, including the knife blade for thick material. And it delivers enough cutting force to push through material that would tear a fine-point blade.
Is the Cricut Joy outdated?
The original Joy is a previous-generation model, but the Joy 2 is the current compact machine and adds Print Then Cut for full-colour stickers plus a wider material range. The original Joy is still a perfectly good small-format machine for paper and vinyl, and it is often the cheaper option if you find one meaningfully reduced.
Should I get a Cricut Joy or Explore?
Get the Joy if your projects are small: stickers, labels, cards and short vinyl words, with a matless roller feed that removes the mat from vinyl cutting. Get an Explore if you need full 12-inch sheets, more than 75 materials, or project sizes like wall decor and event signage. Measure the widest thing you want to make before choosing.
What I wish I knew before buying a Cricut?
Check cut width first, because it is the one limit you cannot grow into. Leave room in your budget for replacement cutting mats, which are the most frequently repurchased accessory. Know that everything runs through the Design Space app on a connected device, that a Cricut Access subscription unlocks the full library, and that Maker and Explore tools do not fit the Joy family.
The Best Cricut Machine for the Way You Actually Craft
After working through all nine, the Cricut Maker is the best Cricut machine for most people who will ever buy one, because nothing in the range matches its combination of cutting force, material range and tool access. If your desk is small and your projects are stickers and labels, the Joy does the same core job in a fraction of the space and you will use it more often. If you need full 12-inch sheets and a deeper material range without the Maker’s bulk, the current Explore is the middle answer.
Tell me what you make and I will point you at one model. Stickers and labels on a small desk means the compact Joy. Cards, decals, wall decor and light apparel means an Explore. Leather, wood, fabric or engraving means the Maker. Tell me your projects, your storage space and your material list, and the choice takes about a minute.