Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 offer more tools, more materials and more possibilities compared to the Explore family. They cut more than 300 materials (more than any other Cricut machine), from the most delicate paper to the toughest materials such as leather and linden. Take a look at this summary video of what's possible. Cricut Joy, Explore 3 and Maker 3 are smart and fast.
They are designed to be the best in the range and a machine that can produce many designs quickly. Not only that, but the precision of the fine point blade of this machine is also different from any other on the market right now. The Cricut Joy is the best in my opinion for smaller projects. With the announcement of Cricut Joy this year, many people are wondering “Which Cricut machine should I buy? Today we'll answer that question by taking an in-depth look at the Cricut Maker, the Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Joy.
By the end of this post, you should be able to know which machine will work best for your needs and wants. If you're a budget-conscious beginner who just wants to craft with paper and vinyl, get the Cricut Explore 3.If you need a great machine that can deliver maximum commercial-grade performance at the fastest speeds, you want the Cricut Maker 3.Of course, there are many different Cricut tools you can add to their collection, including the blades and tools that are part of the Adaptive Tool System. Learn more about the Cricut machine accessories you REALLY need for the Explore and Maker in my guide here. The Cricut Explore Air 2 has a double tool holder, which means it can hold a blade and an additional accessory.
You'll definitely find these elements in Cricut's project tutorials and YouTube videos, so I hope this list will help you know what everyone is talking about. While the Cricut Joy can cut everything an Explore Air 2 can do, it also has some NEW materials that you can cut without needing a mat. For craftsmen who are casual users looking to increase the speed and time spent on their Cricut machine, the new Explore 3 is a phenomenal option. I love all four machines, and while they have a lot of similarities, they also have some important differences that could help you decide which Cricut machine to buy.
You can cut vinyl, iron, card stock, label paper, card stock, infusible ink transfer sheets, papers and more (see the full list of materials that the Cricut Joy can cut here). If you sew or think you'll ever want to learn, the Cricut Maker family of machines may be the right machine for you. These older Cricut models, such as Cricut Expression and Gyspy, are no longer compatible with Cricut and will not work with Design Space software. All five Cricut machines can also use the optional Cricut Access service, which offers more than 150,000 images and more than 500 fonts for a low monthly cost.
