Deciding to buy your first Cricut machine is such an exciting experience thinking about all the new projects you can create, but there’s a lot to know about the different Cricut machines so we have put together a beginner’s guide to help you know which machine is best for you.
What is a Cricut machine used for?
A Cricut machine is a cutting machine that can cut materials like vinyl, paper, cardstock, fabric, and many more. See our Cricut compatible materials guide here. Cricuts are popular cutters for DIYers to create crafts, home décor, personalized gifts, T-shirts, and scrapbooking. You can even start your own business with your Cricut machine. Imagine if you wanted a perfect circle cut out 10 times for a project—doing this by hand would take ages, but with a Cricut you can do it in minutes and get perfect results every time! Now circles are just a small example of what you can cut—there are so many amazing designs you can cut with your Cricut machine and all of our SVG files are Cricut compatible so check them out here!
What are the different types of Cricut machines?
Currently on the market there are 3 main types of Cricut machines:
Cricut Joy / Joy Xtra
Small and portable, great for quick and simple projects like labels, cards, and decals. (Be aware some of our cup wrap projects are too big to cut on the Joy.)
Cricut Explore 3
his is a mid-range machine that handles a wide range of materials and is ideal for everyday crafting. The Explore is a better size for craft projects like making T-shirts etc. that need a bigger design and great news—you can cut our cup wraps on the Explore without any fuss.
Cricut Joy / Joy Xtra
Cricut Maker 3 – The most advanced Cricut model, it cuts over 300 materials including wood, leather, and fabric. This machine is great for more serious crafters and small businesses that want to experiment with a wider range of materials.
What’s the difference between Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore?
The Maker 3 and the Explore 3 both look similar and use the same size cutting mat meaning they can actually cut the same size designs (larger than the Joy). However, the Explore 3 is a more affordable machine than the Maker. The main difference between these two is that the Maker is a much more powerful machine allowing you to cut thicker materials such as wood! The Maker 3 allows the use of the rotary blade (for fabric) and the knife blade (for thick materials). If you’re not too bothered about cutting these kinds of materials, and mainly only want to cut card or vinyl, you could save quite a bit by opting for the Explore 3.
Which Cricut is best for beginners?
If you are just starting out and only want to create small projects the Joy Xtra is a good place to start. However I think the Explore 3 is a much better option as the Joy comes with a lot of limitations due to its size. If you know you’re going to stick to using your cutter I’d go ahead with the Explore 3 as you have more room to create your projects.
Can Cricut machines print and cut?
Cricuts don’t print but they definitely do cut! You can use your normal home printer to print your designs then use the Print Then Cut feature on the Explore 3 or Maker 3 to cut them out. If you have the Joy Xtra you will also be able to use this feature, however the standard Cricut Joy cutter is not compatible with this.
Do I need a computer to use a Cricut?
You can use your Cricut machine with any computer/laptop, tablet, or smartphone via the Cricut Design Space app. I prefer using a computer as it is easier to see what you’re doing especially for more detailed projects. However you can use whatever works best for you!
Do I need the internet to use a Cricut?
Cricut machines don’t need the internet but you do need the internet to download Cricut Design Space and to sync your projects, but you can use some features offline once your designs are saved.
Is Cricut Design Space free?
Yes, Design Space is free to use, but Cricut Access is a paid subscription that gives you access to extra fonts, images, and projects. You can upload your own images and designs for free to Design Space with no problems at all.
Hopefully you have a greater understanding of all things Cricut. Click here to see all our cutting files (they all work with Cricut machines!) If you want to know all about what materials you can cut with your Cricut machine click here!