The Best Cricut Machines of 2024

• Dimensions: 22.1 x 7.1 x 6.2 inches
• Weight: 15.4 pounds
• Max cut size: 11.7 inches (width) x 12 feet (length)
• Max cut speed: 11.3 inches per second
• Operations: Cut, write, draw, foil, score, engrave, deboss, perforate

If you want to experience all that Cricut can do, the Maker 3 is the way to go. While one of the more expensive models, the Maker 3 is by far the most versatile option in the brand’s current lineup. Most Cricut machines can cut 100+ materials, but the Maker 3 is able to cut over 300, including thin pieces of wood, acetate, and more types of fabric, allowing you to experiment with even more mediums. It also has a much larger number of attachments (which are sold separately) than any other machine, including special tools for debossing, scoring, engraving, and perforating.

The Maker 3 is a full-size option for your craft room—it can cut designs just under 12 inches wide and up to 12 feet long, and it works with both 12-inch cutting mats and the brand’s smart vinyl, which has a thicker backing and can be put directly into the machine without a mat. The machine has a slow-open metallic cover for a sleek appearance, and inside, there’s a ledge where you can place a tablet to streamline your workspace.

To test out this machine, I made several projects using materials like regular vinyl, iron-on vinyl, faux suede, cardstock, and even acetate sheets. In addition to its regular cutting blade, I was also able to try out the debossing and scoring attachments, which are easy to insert into the machine’s clamp. (These tools are designed to work with the brand’s Quickswap housing, which allows you to easily change the tip of the tool.) The debossing tool was a game-changer for creating greeting cards, as it makes intricate patterns in cardstock to add texture to your designs. The scoring wheel also proved useful, making the paper easy to fold, and it’s much more effective than the scoring stylus, the pen-style tool used by other models.

I was impressed by how quickly the Maker 3 was able to cut—it’s noticeably faster than the Joy Xtra and Explore Air 3—and every project came out perfectly on the first try. It always cut cleanly and used just the right amount of pressure, making it effortless to weed out excess material. I did notice that the Maker 3 seems to take a bit longer to process than other machines, but it was only a second or two longer at most.

If you’re a serious crafter who loves being able to try new things, the Cricut Maker 3 is worth the investment. Not only is it significantly more versatile than the brand’s other machines, but it’s also thoughtfully designed and easy to use, no matter your skill level. The only real downside is that all the accessories are sold separately, and it will cost more than $100 extra if you want them all.

• Dimensions: 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 inches
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Max cut size: 8.5 inches (width) x 4 feet (length)
• Max cut speed: 5.6 inches per second
• Operations: Cut, write, draw, foil

If you’re a casual crafter or just tight on space, the Cricut Joy Xtra is a more compact option that’s still big on features. The latest model from Cricut, the Joy Xtra is a mid-size option that’s bigger than the original Joy but still more manageable than any of the full-size models. It’s more affordable, too—the Joy Xtra’s standard price is $199, but it’s almost always on sale for around $149.

The Xtra works with either a cutting mat or Cricut smart vinyl, but there are machine-specific versions of both that are sized for it—in other words, you can’t use a standard 12-inch cutting mat in this machine. Despite its small form, the Joy Xtra can cut designs 8.5 inches wide and up to 4 feet long, and in my testing, I found that this was just right for projects like greeting cards, vinyl labels, and even iron-on decals for shirts and bags. It would also be a great option for anyone who wants to DIY wedding supplies—you could easily create party favors, name cards, and even invitations with the compact machine.

I liked that the Joy Xtra was quite easy to use. Unlike other models, this Cricut automatically feeds material into the machine, saving you from having to load and unload manually, but you do need to leave 10 inches of clearance behind it when working, which is a tad inconvenient. All the projects I made were cut cleanly with the right amount of pressure, and I was able to weed out the excess material easily.

There are a few things to keep in mind about this model. For one, it cuts much more slowly than the full-size models, but for casual crafters, this likely isn’t a big deal. It also only has one tool clamp, which means you’ll have to manually swap out the tools if you’re working on a project that, for instance, requires both cutting and writing. Finally, it’s not compatible with quite as many materials as larger models—for instance, it can’t cut any type of fabric. Still, if you’re looking for something inexpensive and compact, the Joy Xtra is a great alternative to a larger Cricut model.

Read our full Cricut Joy Xtra review.

• Dimensions: 8.8 x 34.8 x 10.4 inches
• Weight: 34.7 pounds
• Max cut size: 24 inches (width) x 12 feet (length)
• Max cut speed: 25.4 inches per second
• Operations: Cut, write, draw, foil, score

The Cricut Venture is the largest and most expensive cutting machine in Cricut’s current lineup, with a maximum cutting width of 24 inches—twice the size of all the other full-size models. As you can likely imagine, this machine excels at big projects. If you want to create banners, large signs, wall decals, or just churn out big batches of projects, the Venture will do so quickly and efficiently. Of course, the major downside is that the Venture retails for $999 (more than twice the price of the Maker 3), and the cost jumps to $1,349 if you want the stand. Even on sale, the machine and stand bundle is still over $1,000.

The Venture had the biggest learning curve of all the machines I tested. The process for using most Cricuts is basically the same, but the Venture has different mechanisms for loading and unloading material. There’s a lever that you have to raise to insert smart vinyl or a cutting mat, and the machine actually uses vacuum suction to hold the material in place. It also loads from the top, instead of the front of the machine, and I needed to consult the directions the first few times I used it.

Once I got the hang of using the Venture, I used it to create new signage for my farmstand and a banner for my partner’s craft booth. Both of these projects were around 20 inches wide, and the Venture churned them out quickly thanks to its fast cutting speed. It was great to be able to cut the whole sign at once, instead of having to break them up into parts and piecemeal the design together. I can also see the machine’s size being useful for Etsy shops or small business owners, as you could cut larger batches of projects much faster. Plus, the Venture comes with a handy tool that lets you easily cut off your design from the rest of the roll when using smart materials.

However, despite its high price, the Venture still isn’t as versatile as the Maker 3. It’s limited to the same basic functionalities as the Explore models—cutting, writing, drawing, foiling, and scoring. So while it excels at big projects and speed, it is somewhat limited in its abilities.

• Dimensions: 21.2 x 7 x 5.9 inches
• Weight: 10.7 pounds
• Max cut size: 11.5 inches (width) x 23.5 inches (length)
• Max cut speed: 5.7 inches per second
• Operations: Cut, write, draw, foil, score

The Cricut Explore Air 2 was the first model that I ever tried from the brand—I received it as a Christmas gift, and I’ve owned it for more than five years now. While it’s not as high-tech as the latest Cricut models, the Explore Air 2 is the most affordable full-size option from the brand, and the simple design is ideal for beginners.

Over the years, I’ve used the Explore Air 2 for a wide range of projects. I’ve made vinyl labels for the pantry, decals for my pottery, iron-on designs for bachelorette parties, and too many birthday cards to count. It works on more than 100 different materials, including all the basics, and it has two tool clamps so you can load up a drawing marker or scoring stylus alongside the blade. The Explore Air 2 is able to cut designs up to 11.5 inches wide and just under 2 feet long, and there have only been a handful of times that I wished for a bigger machine—namely, when I was creating signage to display outside my farmstand.

However, there are a few key differences between the Explore Air 2 and more recent Cricut models that you’ll want to keep in mind. First, the Air isn’t compatible with the brand’s smart materials, which means you always have to use a cutting mat with it. The machine also doesn’t automatically adjust its cutting pressure based on Design Space—instead, there’s a manual dial on the machine itself that you use to select the material. It can take some trial and error to find the right settings when cutting a new material, but you get the hang of it quickly.

If you’re new to crafting and don’t want to spend too much on a Cricut, the Explore Air 2 is a solid pick, as it’s well-priced and can make larger cuts than the Joy models. Plus, its manual adjustments may be beneficial to those who aren’t as tech-savvy.