Are you thinking about getting a Cricut? There are millions of things you can do with these machines, but which one is right for you? As I write this blog there are three main machines in the Cricut line up: Cricut Maker, Cricut Explorer Air 2, and the Joy. So, lets jump into it so you can figure out which one is best for you and your needs.
Cricut Maker:
This is the most expensive machine in the lineup, but rightfully so. It has the most power and can do more than the other machines. The Cricut Maker started out selling for $399.99, but can be found for $330 with just a little searching. The Cricut Maker can use all the different blades and tips available right now from Cricut. It can also use markers and the Cricut Scoring Stylus as well. With the additional power added to the Cricut Maker it can wood, thick leather, and other thick materials up to 3/32”. Thicker materials are cut with the Knife blade, which only the Cricut Maker can use. This machine is also the only one on the Cricut line currently that can cut unbound fabrics, which it does with the rotary blade. The Cricut Maker is also the only machine that can use the quick swap blades. Check out my other post about the different types of blades and what they are used for here.
When you purchase a Cricut maker (with or without a bundle) you will also get the following items.
- Rotary blade + drive housing
- Premium fine point blade + housing
- Fine point pen
- Fabric Grip mat (Pink) 12” x 12”
- Light Grip mat (Blue) 12” x 12”
- 50 free ready to make projects, including 25 sewing patterns
- Materials for a practice project
- A free trial membership to Cricut access (only for new subscribers)
Cricut Maker 3:
It is faster than the Cricut Maker. It can also cut some materials without a mat. These materials that do not need a mat to be cut on are called smart materials. Since these materials do not require a mat to cut on, this means you are not limited to the size of a mat. These smart materials can be cut on the Maker 3 up to 12 feet long. All the same tools that can be used for the Maker can also be used on the Maker 3.
When you purchase a Cricut Maker 3 (with or without a bundle) you will also get the following items.
- Cricut Maker® 3 machine
- Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing
- Welcome card
- USB cable
- Power adapter
- Free trial subscription to Cricut Access™ (for new subscribers)
- 100 ready-to-make projects online
- Material for a practice cut
Cricut Explorer Air 2:
This Cricut machine came out before the Cricut Maker, and cannot do as many features as the Cricut Maker. However, this would be a nice machine for an individual that wants something a little cheaper, and does not need the extra features of the Cricut Maker. The Cricut Explorer Air 2 starts at $249.99, but with a little searching can be found at $199, or less. The Cricute Explorer Air 2 is great for cutting vinyl, cardstock, bound fabrics, faux leather, and many more materials. It just cannot cut thicker materials or unbound fabrics like the Cricut Maker can. So, if you do not plan on cutting wood or other thicker materials or unbound fabrics, then this might be a good machine to think about getting.
When you purchase a Cricut Explore Air 2 (with or without a bundle) you will also get the following items.
- Premium fine point blade + housing
- Fine point pen, in black
- Light grip mat (blue) 12” x 12”
- Free trial membership to Cricut access (only for new subscribers)
- 50 ready to make projects
- Materials for a practice project
Cricut Explorer Air 3:
It is faster than the Cricut Explorer Air 2. It can also cut some materials without a mat. These materials that do not need a mat to be cut on are called smart materials. Since these materials do not require a mat to cut on, this means you are not limited to the size of a mat. These smart materials can be cut on the Explorer Air 3 up to 12 feet long. All the same tools that can be used for the Explorer Air 2 can also be used on the Explorer Air 3.
When you purchase a Cricut Explorer Air 3 (with or without a bundle) you will also get the following items.
- Cricut Explore® 3 machine
- Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing
- Welcome card
- USB cable
- Power adapter
- Free trial subscription to Cricut Access™ (for new subscribers)
- 100 ready-to-make projects online
- Material for a practice cut
Cricut Joy:
This is the newest of the Cricut machines currently out. It is the smallest and cheapest of the three Cricut machines. It is currently priced at $179.99, but I am sure it will be available at discounted prices in the future like the other two Cricut machines. The cut width of the Cricut Joy is 4.5”. It can also only use one blade, the fine point blade. The big draw to this Cricut machine is its small size, cheaper price point, and the mat-free cutting. So, if you buy the specific Cricut Joy materials (smart materials), then you do not need to place the materials on a cutting mat. Since, it does not need a cutting mat for these materials, it can cut up to 20 feet of materials by the 4.5 inches wide. It should also be noted that due to the compact size of the Cricut Joy only blades, tools, and pens specific to the Cricut Joy will fit and work with the Cricut Joy.
When you purchase a Cricut Joy (with or without a bundle) you will receive the following items.
- Blade + housing
- Fine point pen, in black
- Standard grip mat, 4.5” x 6.5”
- Free trial membership to Cricut access (only for new subscribers)
- 50 ready to make projects
- Materials for a practice project
Here is a nice chart I made to compare each of the three machines.
| Cricut Maker | Cricut Explorer Air | Cricut Joy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Cricut Maker: $249 Cricut Maker 3: $399.99 | Explorer Air 2: $199.99 Explorer Air 3: $299.99 | $149.99 |
| Number of materials it can cut | 300+ | 100+ | 50+ |
| Max width of material | Maker: 12″ Maker 3: 13″ | Explorer Air 2: 12″ Explorer Air 3: 13″ | 4.5″ |
| Max length of material | Maker: 24″ Maker 3: 12′ | Explorer Air 2: 24″ Explorer Air 3: 12′ | 20′ |
| Special features | |||
| Bluetooth enabled | X | X | X |
| Print then cut | X | X | |
| Card mat for custom cards | X | ||
| Mat-free cutting | Cricut Maker 3 Only | Explorer Air 3 Only | X |
| Blades & Tools | |||
| Pens / Markers | X | X | only the Cricut Joy specific pens |
| Scoring tool | X | X | |
| Cricut Joy fine point blade | X | ||
| Premium fine point blade | X | X | |
| Deep point blade | X | X | |
| Bonded fabric blade | X | X | |
| Rotary blade | X | ||
| Knife blade | X | ||
| Foil transfer tool | X | X | |
| Quick swap tools | |||
| Debossing (tip 21) | X | ||
| Engraving (tip 41) | X | ||
| Single scoring wheel (tip 01) | X | ||
| Double scoring wheel (tip 02) | X | ||
| Perforation blade (tip 11) | X | ||
| Wavy blade (tip 31) | X | ||
| Common Materials | |||
| Cardstock and paper | X | X | X |
| Vinyl (Iron on and adhesive) | X | X | X |
| Bonded fabric | X | X | X |
| Unbonded fabric | X | ||
| Wood | X | X | |
| Faux leather | X | X | X |
| Genuine leather | X | X | |
| Infusible ink | X | X | X |
Now that you know which Cricut machine is right for you check out which Cricut Mats you will need as well as which blades you will want to get.
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