Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (2024)

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (1)

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If you're a crafter, you've heard of Cricut. The brand is popular for its cutting-machines that precisely cut out designs on paper, vinyl and iron-on sheets to create custom crafts at home (but they can do so much more). Whether you're a seasoned Cricut pro or a total newbie, Cricut has a range of machines to suit every need. I set out to answer the most asked question: which Cricut machine is right for me?

As associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab (and a DIY crafting enthusiast), I have tested sewing machines, embroidery machines, sergers and now Cricut machines. To evaluate Cricut machines, I tested each machine's drawing function and ability to cut on paper, vinyl and iron-on sheets. I enlisted the guidance of Good Housekeeping's art department, who are Cricut pros, to answer your most pressing questions and give expert advice.

1

Best Overall

Cricut Joy Xtra

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (8)

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (9)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (10)Compact design with sleek appearance
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (11)Works great with printer-sized paper
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (12)Built-in sensor to cut out stickers printed from an inkjet printer
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (13)Compatible with fewer materials compared to the Explore and Maker machines

The newest addition to the Cricut line-up, the Cricut Joy Xtra stood out for its compact size that still packs a punch. This machine accommodates materials that are printer paper size, which is ideal for cutting out stickers or other designs you print out. Unlike the Cricut Joy, the Joy Xtra has a sensor to easily cut around stickers and designs printed from an inkjet printer.

While the Maker and Explore machines take up ample space, this machine is much smaller and can easily be tucked away on a desk or in a crafting room. In our tests, we found that the larger machines required larger mats, which can get annoying to store and operate, so this is a great introductory Cricut machine as it combines the capabilities you want with a more compact size. It also has a sleek appearance that looks nice sitting out. When analysts tested the different machines, they all reported that this was their favorite!

I found this machine to accurately cut out complicated vinyl designs with a similar process to the Maker and Explore machines, just at a slower speed. The smaller mat size means it cannot accommodate larger designs. It has a shorter cutting depth, so the Joy Xtra cannot cut felt, foam or fabric. This machine pairs with the Cricut design studio via Bluetooth, but does not have a USB plug.

Bottom line: For most crafters, this is the best Cricut machine. It's compact while successfully cutting materials with ease. Because it has a sensor to cut out stickers printed from an inkjet printer and it perfectly fits printer paper, it's the ideal machine for most crafting projects. We recommend opting for a more advanced machine if you plan to make large decals or banners.

OperationsCut, Write, Draw and Foil
Number of compatible materials50+
Machine dimensions12.5" x 6" x 5.5"
Maximum cut size8.5 in. by 4 ft.
Easy printables sensor for stickersYes

2

Most Capabilities

Cricut Maker 3

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (14)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (15)Engrave, deboss and perforate functions
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (16)Compatible with fabric, metal and wood
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (17)Accurately cuts out complex designs at quick speeds
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (18)Expensive

If you want to invest in the ultimate crafting machine, look no further: The Maker 3 has a ton of capabilities to successfully tackle a variety of materials. This is the only machine that can engrave, deboss and perforate (with the proper blades).

I liked that I could use such a range of materials with this machine. While with the Joy line, you are limited to paper, vinyl and iron-on sheets. I enjoyed being able to experiment with fabric, felt, leather and even wood! If you are a quilter, this machine could be helpful to cut out fabric pieces with ease.

Because of the larger mat size, I could organize multiple designs on the same large piece of vinyl, which was helpful when working on multiple projects at once.

I was immediately impressed with just how fast this machine operates. It cuts 11.3 inches per second, which is about two times faster than the Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra machines.

Bottom line: This machine has a huge range of capabilities, so it's great for an experienced crafter or small business owner who plans to use the Cricut regularly for all sorts of applications. Choose this machine if you want to engrave, deboss or perforate functions. If you don't, go with a simpler model for a lower cost.

OperationsCut, Write, Draw, Foil, Score, Engrave, Deboss, Perforate
Number of compatible materials300+
Machine dimensions22.1" x 7.1" x 6.2"
Maximum cut size11.7 in. by 12 ft.
Easy printables sensor for stickersYes

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3

Best for Paper Crafts

Cricut Joy

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (19)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (20)Most affordable Cricut machine
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (21)Lightweight, easily portable
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (22)Fits cards perfectly in the machine
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (23)Lacks a printables sensor

Paper crafts are a dream on the Cricut Joy. It is the smallest (and most affordable!) Cricut machine, making it a great introduction to cutting machines. Because of its smaller size, it's lightweight and easily portable to craft parties and get-togethers.

Because it fits cards perfectly in the machine, I especially liked using the draw function on this machine. Make sure to use pens compatible with the Joy machine so it's easy to set up and operate. I found it to be a great tool to make DIY cards and stationery — ideal for wedding favors and signage!

When cutting vinyl, it cut accurately overall, but because of the smaller mat size, it didn't cut out highly detailed images as well because they had to be much smaller. This machine syncs to the Cricut Design Space via Bluetooth and lacks a USB port.

Bottom line: If you want the most affordable Cricut machine and plan to use it mostly for paper crafts, the Joy is the way to go. It's super compact and lightweight for easy storage. It currently costs just $140, making it a total steal. It can also cut out vinyl and is compatible with Smart Materials too, so it works well for small decals as well. Skip this machine if you want to cut out stickers: It lacks a sensor that the other featured machines have to cut stickers out easily.

RELATED: Fun Craft Ideas for Adults

OperationsCut, Write, Draw, Foil
Number of compatible materials50+
Machine dimensions8.4" x 5.4" x 4.3"
Maximum cut size4.5 in. by 4 ft.
Easy printables sensor for stickersNo

4

Best for Cutting

Cricut Explore 3

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (24)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (25)Larger cutting area
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (26)Smoothly cuts a range of materials
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (27)Controls conveniently located on the machine
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (28)Few functions compared to the Maker 3

Cut out vinyl, paper and many other materials with the Cricut Explore 3 machine. It's in between a Joy and Maker machine: It has more functions and a larger mat size than the Joy, but the Maker has more capabilities and compatible materials. This machine is great for anyone who wants to mainly cut out larger decals and banners but doesn't want the fancier functions, making it popular among teachers.

This machine is compatible with Smart Materials from Cricut, so you can skip the mat. The larger cutting area is helpful when working on multiple projects at once. Unlike the Joy machines, you can use both Bluetooth and a USB connection to upload designs and images.

When I was using this machine, it ran smoothly and wasn't too loud either. I like having the controls on the machine instead of just on the app (Joy and Joy Xtra do not have controls on the machine) for easier set-up and material unloading. There's also a holder for an iPad.

Bottom line: The Explore 3 offers a larger mat size compared to the Joy line while being more affordable than the Maker 3 by about $100. If you want a larger mat size but don't care about the fancier functions, this machine is the best choice.

RELATED: Back-to-School Craft Ideas

OperationsCut, Write, Draw, Foil, Score
Number of compatible materials100+
Machine dimensions22.2" x 7" x 5.9"
Maximum cut size11.7 in. by 12 ft.
Easy printables sensor for stickersYes

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5

Best Heat Press

Cricut EasyPress 3 Heat Press Machine (9"x 9") with Heat Press Mat (12" x 12")

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (29)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (30)Heats up quickly and evenly
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (31)Large surface area covers the whole design
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (32)Customized heat settings for different projects
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (33)We found the phone app annoying to use at times.

When using iron-on sheets and transferring the designs to a T-shirt, I was impressed with how well this heat press easily allowed the design to transfer. The end result looked so professional! It heated up quickly and the displays and controls were clear and easy to operate.

It pairs with an app on your phone, which felt unnecessary to me but can be helpful for more complicated projects as it gives heat and usage guidelines.

If you plan to make tons of iron-on projects or own a business, this is a helpful tool, but for the everyday crafter, an iron you already own does the trick. When making a high quantity of iron-on apparel, this gadget can certainly speed up the process and yield professional looking results.

RELATED: How to Easily Apply Iron-on Patches

6

Best Heat Press for Sewing

Cricut EasyPress Mini

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (34)

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (35)

Pros
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (36)Affordable price
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (37)Great for ironing vinyl on hats and footwear
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (38)Helpful for sewing projects
Cons
  • Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (39)Takes longer to iron on bigger designs

I've been using this EasyPress Mini for years and continue to reach for it regularly for sewing projects. Its small size makes it easy to operate and great for detail work. I find it especially helpful when ironing narrow hems and ironing open seams in tough-to-reach areas. It has three simple settings with simple controls, making it super easy to operate.

It also works well with iron-on vinyl, especially when working with detailed designs that require extra precision. It is a helpful tool when ironing on items that cannot be pressed flat like hats or footwear. Plus, it costs $50 when the larger heat presses start at over $150. Because of its small surface area, it takes longer to iron larger designs.

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Other electronic cutting machines worth considering:

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (40)

Outside of Cricut, there are two other popular brands of electronic cutting machines: Silhouette and Brother. We are currently testing the Silhouette Cameo 5 and plan to test the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E soon to compare them to Cricut machines.

Silhouette America Cameo 5 12 inch Vinyl Cutting Machine with Studio Software

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (41)

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (42)

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Brother ScanNCut SDX125E Electronic DIY Cutting Machine with Scanner

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (43)

Which is the best Cricut machine for you?

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (44)

With so many options, it can be difficult to figure out which Cricut machine is right for you. To avoid overspending on features you won't use regularly, I broke down who each machine is best suited for:

The crafting pro...Go with the Maker 3. It offers the most capabilities and can handle the widest range of materials.

The casual crafter...Go with the Joy Xtra. It is easy to operate and can operate most functions, including stickers.

The DIY card maker...Go with the Joy. It fits card sized paper perfectly. It can draw designs and cut paper for easy DIY cards.

The large banner and decal crafter...Go with the Explore 3. It's ideal if you want a large cutting space and don't care about the fancier functions. Teachers, we're looking at you!

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How we test Cricut machines:

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (45)

When putting Cricut machines to the test, I considered three main components: ease of set-up, performance and versatility.

To start, I followed the brand's included instructions to set up each machine and connect it to the included software. This proved to be simple and quick with all of the Cricut machines.

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (46)

I then cut out a vinyl design on each machine before transferring it to a different surface. I made note of how accurately the machine cut out the design, cutting speed and the ease of setup and operation.

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Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (47)

Finally, I compared the machines to each other to determine which is best for each purpose. I completed multiple projects with each machine before writing this review.

How to use a Cricut machine:

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (48)

After you buy a Cricut machine, you may be left wondering where to even start. In my testing, I found that the biggest hiccups I ran into when crafting with a Cricut machine were user error. After the machine is finished cutting, it is challenging to remove detailed designs and transfer them perfectly to complete your project. Here are few tips and tricks I picked up from testing and expert advice from the Good Housekeeping art department.

Get to know the machine and Cricut Design Space: Before even starting your first project, explore the machine and the software. When you first unbox your machine, it comes with clear instructions on how to set it up. Ensure you have ample space in front of and behind the machine before using it. Pair the machine with the computer or tablet and then start exploring!

Start with a simple project:

  1. Choose a design in the Cricut Design Space. We recommend starting simple before advancing to harder projects. Opt for a simple premade design at first that involves only one cut.
  2. Select a material and place it on the sticky mat (unless you are using Smart Materials, which don't require a mat). Load the material into the machine
  3. Select the correct material in the Cricut Design Space that you are using. This will adjust the blade pressure, so it's key that you choose the correct material.
  4. Press start on the machine or in the app, depending on the machine you are using.
  5. Unload the material and remove the design from the mat.

Embrace transfer tape and Cricut tools: When I first began using the Cricut machine, I struggled to get my vinyl cuts off the mat and situated to complete my projects. Using transfer tape from Cricut helped immensely. Make sure to look at the different types of transfer tape and use the right one for the right project. This is especially helpful when transferring vinyl to a cup or bottle. I also liked using the Cricut tools too, especially the weeder tool to remove excess vinyl. The scraper tool is helpful to not only properly apply your vinyl to finish off your projects, but to also remove excess vinyl from the sticky mats to keep them in good condition longer term.

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Frequently asked questions about Cricut machines:

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (49)

How does Cricut Design Space work?

The Cricut Design Space is the software that comes with the Cricut machine. You download the app onto a computer or tablet (some machines have a holder for a tablet, which can be handy!). Once you set up your account, you gain access to a ton of premade designs and a whole community of Cricut users.

You can sync the machine to the software via Bluetooth or USB (only on some machines) and then get started on projects. You can use the premade designs in the software or you can upload your own designs. In our testing, we found the software easy to use for beginners. The Good Housekeeping art team noted that it can be less user-friendly when uploading your own designs. Note that you will need a Cricut Access subscription to access premium designs and images, but Cricut Design Space is free to use.

What is the difference between Cricut smart materials and regular materials?

Cricut smart materials are compatible with Cricut machines without a mat. All other materials need to be paired with a sticky mat that's specific to the machine. We found it easier to use smart materials as it removes the extra step of setting up a mat, but they can be pricey.

Do I need a special printer for print then cut with Cricut?

No, you can use any inkjet printer, according to the brand.

Do you need a Cricut Access subscription?

We found Cricut Access helpful to gain access to more images, but it can be costly. If you like designing your own images, it isn't necessary. There are two Cricut Access subscription options:

  • Cricut Access Standard: $96/year,
  • Cricut Access Premium: $120/year

Both options offer the same access to digital images and fonts, but the Premium option offers 20% off Cricut materials, which is helpful if you are a business owner.

How do you pronounce Cricut?

When I began testing Cricut machines, I had no idea how to pronounce the brand name properly. Some testers thought it was pronounced "cry cut," but it is actually pronounced "cricket."

Why you can trust Good Housekeeping

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (50)

Emma Seymour is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab where she has been testing crafting tools like sewing machines, sergers, embroidery machines and now electronic cutting machines since 2018. She loves tackling a DIY project, whether that's painting her bathroom a new color or sewing new clothes or accessories.

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (51)

Emma Seymour

Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director

Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.

Every DIY Crafter Needs This Machine. (2024)
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