How to choose the best Cricut machine for you

It used to be that if you wanted a bespoke mug or t-shirt made, you had to go to a specialist shop. You'd pay for them to do it, hoping against hope you'd ordered far enough in advance for them to turn it around in time.

We all blunted our craft knives – not to mention our brains and our eyes – hand-cutting intricate paper shapes. We'd cramp hands getting perfect calligraphy lettering. We'd go wonky cutting and scoring cardstock hoping our makes would not look as wonky as we felt trying to keep things straight.

However, those days are thankfully behind us. With the advanced digital cutting machines designed by Cricut, the waiting, worry and strain are taken out of crafting. You are free to get creative while the machine does all the fiddly bits for you. Anyone can learn how to make creative projects in no time at all supported by the intuitive Design Space™ app, which has been recently updated with lots of exciting new features. See how your finished projects will look using Project Preview, use Automatic Canvas Sizing to get the perfect fit or make your own custom cut-ready designs using the new Create AI tool.

Using a Cricut machine, you can personalise a huge variety of items from mugs to jewellery, design and print your own stickers, rustle up beautifully foiled greetings cards and much more. New bundle options make it easier than ever for beginners and experienced crafters alike to get started immediately. Each bundle includes a cutting machine, essential tools and popular materials, with enough supplies to create up to 150 projects right out of the box.* Built-in savings and a simplified shopping experience eliminate additional guesswork and purchases.

This year marks 20 years of Cricut! That's 20 years of stunning projects, easy-to-use tools and smart cutting machines to suit all your crafting needs.

Luisa Beck, Marketing Manager at Cricut, says: “Cricut started with a simple belief that anybody should be able to make something personal and meaningful. That belief is what fuels a creative platform, where they continuously expand what’s possible and make it easy to go from an idea to a finished project.

"As Cricut moves into their next era, it is about empowering creativity to effortlessly fit into daily lives, reinforcing creative products that support everyone.”

To celebrate their anniversary, Cricut has introduced two brand new machines with exciting features. Whether you're a craft pro or a complete beginner, there's a Cricut machine to meet your needs! Read on to find out more about the Cricut Joy 2 and the Cricut Explore 5…

How many Cricut machines are there?

There are five Cricut machine types for today's crafters to choose from. Which is the best Cricut machine for you? Here they are in a nutshell – though we have plenty more to say about them later in this article, too.

Cricut Joy 2

The Cricut Joy 2 is a welcome new arrival to the Cricut range. This compact model is the smallest cutting machine they've made to date – it's small enough to fit snugly in the palm of your hand, making it perfect for crafting on the go.

Despite its size, this beginner-friendly cutting machine is highly versatile and can be used to make everything from custom cards to stickers, decals and gifts.

Cricut Explore 5

Cricut has given its most popular machine an exciting new upgrade. They've taken on board customer feedback and designed a model that's 30% smaller than previous versions, making it more practical for smaller homes or makers who don't have a dedicated crafting space.

The new Cricut Explore 5 hasn't sacrificed any of the features that came with previous generations – it's still compatible with six different tools and can be used to create decals, magnets, rubber stamps and much more.

The Cricut Maker 4

The Cricut Maker 4 offers a greater variety of tools than previous models, cuts with incredible precision and is compatible with over 300 different materials. It can be used with everything from delicate paper and fabric to tough materials such as mattwood, leather and basswood.

If you're planning a big event, a wedding, or want to branch out and start a new side hustle, the Cricut Maker 4 is your ideal match. This machine comes with all the tools you need to make your creative vision come to life, whether you're an experienced maker or a complete beginner.

This model gives you the freedom to personalise anything you can imagine. Engrave metal to make custom jewellery for your loved ones, create personalised banners for birthdays or big celebrations, or deboss leather accessories. The engraving tool can make everything from cake slices to personalised acrylic signs that everyone will admire. You can even use the Cricut Maker 4 to create your own 3D art!

The Cricut Joy Xtra

The Cricut Joy Xtra is an accessible machine for anyone who is new to the world of Cricut. Its clever space-saving design means that it can be stored easily anywhere in your home. This model works with over 50 materials, including vinyl, iron-on and card stock. Plus, the Cricut Joy Xtra also sports the Print then Cut feature, letting you create full-colour stickers with your inkjet printer. Use it for writing, foiling, drawing and more.

The Cricut Joy Xtra can cut materials up to 8 inches wide. All of the Cricut machines can cut without a cutting mat, which means you can load the Smart Materials straight into the machine – eliminating the need for a cutting mat and giving you more time to craft. And did we mention that you can create cuts up to 20 feet long? Perfect for batch-making or really big projects.

Think a Cricut machine could be the right choice to up your crafting game? We think so too. Let's take a more in-depth look at just what these machines can do and which could be the best one for you.

If you're still not sure which machine to choose, Cricut has created a handy quiz to help you find the model that meets your needs. Take the quiz to find out which Cricut machine is right for you.

If you want to go straight to a particular section, just click on the links below to jump straight there.

What is a Cricut machine?
What can you do with a Cricut machine?
How to use a Cricut machine?
Which Cricut machine should you buy?
Where can I buy Cricut machines?
Best accessories for your Cricut machine

What is a Cricut machine?

At their heart, these are computerised cutting machines – but that is only the start of what they can do. They look a bit like desktop printers. Open up the Cricut machine and they can look quite empty inside, especially with the larger models.

This is because the machine needs space to work. You'll see two metal bars going across the centre of the space. There's a metal box with clamps on its front – two clamps for the Cricut Maker 4, and one for the Cricut Joy, Joy Xtra and Explore 5.

When the machine is working, the bottom bar turns to move the materials you are cutting forward and backward. The box with clamps moves from side to side on the second metal arm. This means a 2D shape can be created by the two bars working together.

The clamp/clamps on the front of the Cricut machine hold different tools. This is usually a cutting blade or a pen. These cut or draw onto the material below. You tell the machine what material you are using. It then knows how deep to cut or the right pressure to apply to produce the perfect results.

What can you do with a Cricut machine?

All five of the Cricut machines can cut lightweight materials like card, paper, and vinyl. They all let you write and draw using a Cricut pen.

What is Cricut Design Space?

The machines work with Cricut Design Space app, which you can download for free to your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. The app connects seamlessly to your machine using Bluetooth. Use Cricut Design Space to upload and create your own designs, or dip into the library for ready-designed projects. There are over two million images in the Cricut Design Space library available with subscription access.

As part of the launch of the new Cricut Joy 2 and Cricut Explore 5 models, the Design Space has also been upgraded with enhanced features that are designed to improve your crafting experience.

The new intuitive Guided Flows provide support to help you develop your ideas and bring them to life, guiding you through every stage of your project. It shows you only the materials, tools and blanks that you need at each stage, taking the guesswork out of making your projects. There are templates for the most popular project types, with easy step-by-step tutorials that are simple to follow.

Automatic Canvas sizing is another handy new feature, which is based on your selected project type. If you're struggling to picture how your design will look, make use of the new Project Preview feature, which projects your design onto your intended blanks, such as mugs, phone cases or t-shirts.

The Design Space also includes a new Create AI feature for paid subscribers, which allows you to create custom designs that are ready to cut in seconds.

Cricut Design Space monthly subscription

There is also a paid monthly subscription called Cricut Access™ which you can opt for at £7.49 per month. It offers a much more comprehensive library of designs, fonts, and projects, alongside handy features like ‘Make Stickers’, Offset, Warp tool, and many more.

When you sign up for Cricut Design Space for the first time, you get one month's subscription for free! You can also purchase images individually with prices starting at 79p. There are also more than 1,000 free projects, images, shapes, and fonts to choose from, which change regularly.

You can also upload your own designs free of charge. The machine links to your device via Bluetooth – or plug in the USB if you prefer.

Use all five machines to create personalised cards, mugs, and window decals. They will all cut iron-on designs to decorate t-shirts and other clothing, including stretchy items.

Which tools are available for your Cricut machine?

Each machine is compatible with a selection of tools, which makes them hugely versatile. If you upgrade your machine from an Explore 4 to an Explore 5, you'll still be able to use your old tools on the new machine.

What can you do with the Cricut Joy 2?

The Cricut Joy 2 is small but versatile. This machine measures just 4.5 inches (11.43cm), so it's the ideal machine for people who don't have much room for making at home. It's also lightweight (2lbs/0.91kg), making it very portable. The Cricut Joy 2 is perfect for smaller projects, such as cards, decals and labels. Use it to decorate water bottles, personalise your own gift tags and much more.

The new model can be connected to your home Inkjet printer, allowing you to print full-colour stickers with ease. It also has a Print and Cut feature that the previous model didn't have.

The Cricut Joy 2 can be paired with bundles of materials that include everything you need to get started – and to get the most out of your new machine. The bundles include enough materials to make 150+ projects, making them excellent value for money.

This is a very accessible machine that would suit customers who are new to using Cricut machines, while providing high-quality features to satisfy more experienced crafters.

What can you make with the Cricut Explore 5?

If you've had your eye on a Cricut Explore machine, but didn't have room for one in your home, the Cricut Explore 5 is your perfect match. The designers at Cricut listened to feedback about the large size of previous models of the Cricut Explore and have created a version that's 30% more compact. This means you can enjoy all of the brilliant features of this machine without sacrificing your living space.

It can still do everything that previous models could do, so you won't miss out on any features by choosing the Cricut Explore 5.

The writing and drawing capabilities of this model have been improved: there's snap-in pen loading, plus a more streamlined interface which makes the machine much easier to use.

The Cricut Explore 5 works with six different tools and can be used for an impressive range of projects, from vinyl decals and custom apparel to stickers, greeting cards, magnets and rubber stamps.

We'd recommend choosing a bundle when you place your order, as you'll get everything you need to start using your machine immediately.

What can you do with the Cricut Joy Xtra?

The Cricut Joy Xtra is a compact machine measuring just 12.5in wide (31.7cm), so it can be stashed away easily when not in use. This smart machine can cut, draw and foil, allowing you to make a variety of imaginative makes with ease.

Get creative with your Cricut Joy Xtra to make fun projects such as full-colour stickers, decals, custom card designs, vinyl decals and more, all supported by the free Design Space app.

We've tried and tested the Cricut Joy Xtra, check out our expert in-depth review.

Which is the best Cricut machine for you?

Follow the links below to shop for your new machine! Don't miss the special Cricut Maker 4 offer that's currently available on their store. It's on sale for £329.99 (usually £399.99)!

Best for crafting on the go: Cricut Joy 2 (Amazon £129.99 | $129.99, HobbyCraft £129.00, Argos £129.99)
Best for small spaces: Cricut Explore 5 (Amazon £229.00 | $249.00, John Lewis £249.99, AO £229.00)
Best for everyday crafting: Cricut Joy Xtra (Amazon £219.99 | $224.99, Harvey Norman £219.00, Very £219.99)
Best for performance and versatility: Cricut Maker 4 (Amazon £406.80 | $429.99, Very £399.99, AO £399.99)
Best for professional makers: Cricut Venture (Cricut (£749.99 | ($799.00)

Best accessories for your Cricut machine

So many accessories, so little time! Check out our top Cricut accessory picks.

Smart Materials

Our very favourite accessories are rolls of Smart Materials. These come backed in a way that the machine recognises so you can cut directly from the roll without ever having to load or prepare a mat. Don’t worry, you can still put your scraps on a mat and cut them.

Buy Cricut Joy Smart Material (Amazon £22.31 | $6.76, Hobbycraft £7)

We love this as the mats can lose their sticky over time. So using Smart Materials for your everyday makes saves wear and tear and your mats.

Insert Card Mat

The Insert Card Mat for the Cricut Joy is a clever little accessory for this machine, too. The mat has a slot to tuck the card back inside and keep it away from the cutting area on the front. It means you can cut a design into the front of the card while the back stays safely tucked away inside the mat.

It lets you create intricate full-sized cards within the cutting size restrictions of the Cricut Joy. This is brilliant, especially when you consider that similar cards like the ones you can make with this system can cost as much as five pounds a pop in stores! The card mat also comes for the Cricut Joy Xtra.

Buy Cricut Joy card inserts (Amazon £7.49 | $7.99, Hobbycraft £8.00, John Lewis £7.49)

Infusible Ink™

Infusible Ink is a cool Cricut development, too. Traditional Iron-On tends to crack over time – although Cricut does have a range of Iron-Ons for sportswear that has a bit more stretch in it.

But with Infusible Ink, the design is embedded into the fabric rather than attaching to the surface of it. This means the design will move as the fabric below does. So, no issues with cracking, however much you wear and wash the item.

Plus, there’s a range of blanks like tote bags, cosmetic bags, pillowcases, bottle bags, and coasters, that have been developed specifically for the use with Infusible Ink.

Buy Infusible Ink (Amazon £17.52 | $7.37, Harvey Norman £8.95, John Lewis £12.99)

Cricut Transfer Tape

Cricut Transfer Tape is an accessory that many owners don't always know about. But this can make a massive difference if you are working with vinyl or decals that are cut in different sections – like individual letters of a name, for example.

They may be equally spaced on your cut, but applying them individually could make the spacing go a bit wonky. Adding them to Transfer tape first lets you keep the positioning just as they were in the cut. So there are no frustrating wonky letters to contend with.

Buy Cricut Transfer Tape (Amazon £8.99 | $10.78, Hobbycraft £23, Harvey Norman £13.95)

But we think the very best accessory for all the Cricut machines is a Cricut Access monthly membership. This opens up a whole world of ready-to-craft projects for you to explore! You get a month's free trial. Then it costs £7.49 per month or £71.88 per year. And did we mention that you get 10% off at Cricut.com if you’re an Access Subscriber?

Where to buy vinyl for a Cricut machine?

You can purchase vinyl and other essential materials for all your Cricut machines at Cricut.com, good craft stores, or online. Follow these links to find vinyl in the latest colours and finishes:

Where to buy Cricut Machines?

You can buy Cricut machines at Cricut.com, or from a wide range of retailers including Hobbycraft, John Lewis, Currys, Very, AO, Argos and Harvey Norman.

Ideas to make with your Cricut Joy 2 and Cricut Explore 5

Power up your Cricut and get inspired with our pick of the best Cricut projects to start making today. Make a phone case, decorate a t-shirt, create nail art and more! Making personalised presents couldn't be easier or more pleasurable...

Find the best Cricut machine for you and open up a world of possibilities

The Cricut Joy 2 and the Cricut Explore 5 — The new Cricut Joy 2 and Cricut Explore 5 cutting machines in blue and taupe

Cricut machines are mini marvels, helping us crafters produce word-perfect scripted lettering, home decals, place settings and more! The list of options is endless. Whatever you want to make, you'll always get the professional edge you crave with Cricut.

With our in-depth guide, you'll know instantly which Cricut machine is right for you. Looking for speedy crafting on the go? Choose the Cricut Joy 2. Need all the amazing features of the Cricut Explore in a more compact size? Pick the Cricut Explore 5. Enjoy dabbling in lots of different crafts? Go for the Cricut Maker 4.

Choose the best Cricut™ machine for you with our guide