Top 5 Best Cricut Machines For Beginners

The Cricut cutting machines are the ultimate tool for any devoted crafter or DIYer. They will help you to create amazing crafts and accomplish any project you can think of.

However, there are many Cricut machines to choose from, and picking the best one as a beginner can be difficult. Especially because not every model is geared towards beginners.

That’s why I made this list of the top 5 Cricut machines for beginners. I hope that reading through my favorite will help you choose the best Cricut for you!

1. Cricut Explore Air 2

The first Cricut on the list is the Explore Air 2. The Explore series has always been the most beginner-friendly and is great for DIY and hobby projects.

So if you are a beginner, going with the Cricut Explore is always a safe bet. They are very versatile and affordable at the same time.

The Explore models can cut 100+ materials. All the standard materials such as paper, vinyl, cardboard, leather, etc. will be no problem for either Explore machine. So probably anything you might want to cut as a beginner, the Explore can cut it.

Unfortunately, for some of these materials, you do need to buy additional blades. But that is a downside for all the Cricut machines.

In 2021 Cricut released the Explore 3. So the Explore Air 2 is no longer the newest model in the Explore series.

However, after comparing the new and old models, I do believe that the Explore Air 2 is the better value for money as a beginner. So I placed the Explore 3 lower on the list.

Pros:

• Cuts, writes, foils, and scores
• Can cut over 100+ materials
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Print Then Cut compatible
• Free Design Space software

Cons:

• Not compatible with all Cricut blades
• Not portable

2. Cricut Explore 3

It’s probably no big surprise that the second machine on the list is the new Cricut Explore 3. As I mentioned before, the Explore machines are the most beginner-friendly, so the Explore 3 deserves to be high up on the list as well.

In terms of specs, there isn’t much difference between the Explore 3 and the Explore Air 2. They can more or less cut the same materials, with the same width, and can use the same blades.

But the Cricut Explore 3 is almost $50 more expensive. So let’s see what you get in return for this higher price.

The extra strong motor is the first upgrade to the new Explore 3. This means you can now cut nearly twice as quickly as before with the old Explore Air 2.

You’ll really be able to notice this difference if you are using your Cricut a lot. But as a beginner, you probably will only be using your Cricut a few times a week. So the faster cutting speed is not super important.

Secondly, the Explore 3 is now compatible with Cricut Smart Materials, allowing you to make continuous cuts up to 12 feet long without a mat. This is a great feature if you want to work on bigger projects or many smaller projects at once. But you’ll probably not use it too often as a beginner either.

In a nutshell, the extra features in the Explore are definitely nice to have if you are a frequent user. But as a beginner, they just don’t feel super important.

So I believe most beginners would be better off buying the Cricut Explore Air 2 and saving themselves the extra $50.

Pros:

• Cuts, writes, foils, and scores
• Can cut over 100+ materials
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Print Then Cut compatible
• Free Design Space software
• Can cut 2x faster than Explore Air 2
• Compatible with Cricut Smart Materials

Cons:

• Not compatible with all Cricut blades
• Not portable

3. Cricut Maker

The Cricut Maker used to be the most expensive and powerful model. However, since the release of the new Cricut Maker 3, the old Maker model has been lowered in price and might be a good option for ambitious beginners.

Nowadays, the Maker will still cost you only $50 more than the Explore 3.

The Cricut Maker series is designed for more serious users such as small business owners or die-hard DIYers. Although the Cricut Maker is a few years older, it is still almost 10x stronger than the Explore 3 and can cut a wider range of materials.

The Cricut Maker models are also the only machines that can use all the specialty blades. So if you want to cut materials that the standard blade can’t handle, then the Maker is a good option.

The Maker can handle any basic materials such as paper, vinyl, and cardboard, and also works with more difficult materials such as wood, leather, felt, and plastic that the Explore models can’t handle.

Unfortunately, you do have to pay a fair amount for each new blade. So buying all of them will cost you considerably.

In 2021 Cricut released the Maker 3. So the Cricut Maker is no longer the newest model in the Maker series.

However, after comparing the new and old models I do believe that the Maker is the better value for money as a beginner. So I placed the Maker 3 lower on the list.

Pros:

• Cuts, writes, foils, scores, engraves, debossed, and more
• Can cut over 300+ materials
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Compatible with all blades
• Print Then Cut compatible
• Free Design Space software
• 10X cutting force than Explore models
• Can make deep cuts

Cons:

• Not portable

4. Cricut Joy

The Cricut Joy is a little bit of the odd one out compared to the other Cricut machines. So I really wasn’t sure if I should place it 4th or 5th on the list.

The first thing you will notice about the Cricut Joy is that it is very small.

This makes it the only truly portable Cricut machine available, and you can easily store it out of sight.

However, the size can also be very limiting because you can only cut up to 4.5″ wide. So small stickers and labels are fine, but bigger decals for your car or vinyl pattern for a T-shirt aren’t possible.

Moreover, the Cricut Joy also isn’t as strong and isn’t compatible with most of the specialty blades. So it can only cut ~50 materials and is a lot less versatile.

Despite all these limitations, for some people the Cricut Joy is all they will ever need. And since it’s a lot cheaper than the other models, it might be a good choice for beginners as well.

You just have to check beforehand if the Joy can cut whatever materials you want to work with, and if the small cutting width will be enough for you.

Pros:

• Cuts and writes
• Can cut 50+ materials
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Portable
• Free Design Space software

Cons:

• Maximum cut width of 4.5”
• Not compatible with all blades
• Not compatible with Print Then Cut projects

5. Cricut Maker 3

Just like the Explore machines, I placed the newer Maker 3 below the old Cricut Maker model. And the reason is pretty much the same as well.

If compare the Maker with the Maker 3, there are two major differences.

The first is the extra powerful motor of the Maker 3. In practice, this means that you can now cut almost 2x faster than with the old Cricut Maker.

You’ll notice a significant improvement in speed if you utilize your Cricut frequently. However, as a beginner, you will probably only use your Cricut a few times each week. So the faster cutting speed isn’t particularly significant.

Secondly, the Maker 3 can now use Cricut Smart Materials, which lets you make continuous cuts up to 12 feet long without a mat.

This is a useful feature if you want to work on bigger projects or want to cut many smaller projects at once. However, you probably won’t need it very often when you are just starting out.

The last difference between the Cricut Maker 3 and the Cricut Maker is the price. Currently, the Maker 3 costs around $400 while the Cricut Maker costs roughly $350.

So as a conclusion, the Cricut Maker 3 is the strongest and most versatile Cricut machine. It would be a great choice for small businesses or avid DIYers. But I believe that most beginners don’t need all these extras, and prefer one of the cheaper models.

Pros:

• Cuts, writes, foils, scores, engraves, debossed, and more
• Can cut over 300+ materials
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Compatible with all blades
• Print Then Cut compatible
• Free Design Space software
• 10X cutting force than Explore models
• Can make deep cuts
• Can cut 2x faster than Cricut Maker
• Compatible with Cricut Smart Materials

Cons:

• Not portable
• Most expensive

Can a beginner use the Cricut Maker?

Yes, all the Cricut machines use the same Design Space app to operate. So if you know how to use a Cricut Explore or Cricut Joy, you’ll have no problem using the Cricut Maker.

Moreover, you don’t need all the different tools and blades to start using your Maker. Even the standard model can cut a lot of materials. You can buy the extras later on when you really need them.

What is the newest Cricut machine?

The Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Explore 3 are the newest Cricut machines and were both released simultaneously on the 10th of June 2021. No new models have been announced since the release of these machines.

Why are the new Cricut models lower on the list?

The new Explore and Maker models are both roughly $50 more expensive than the older models. In return, you get a machine that cuts up to twice as fast and can make longer cuts. I believe that this tradeoff is not really worth it for most beginners. However, fervent users might appreciate the extra speed and think it’s worth paying extra for.

What is the most useful Cricut machine?

The most useful Cricut machine is without a doubt the Cricut Maker 3. It is their strongest model, is compatible with all the blades, and cuts faster than the old Cricut Maker.

However, if you don’t use all the extra features of the Maker 3, you might be served just as well by one of the cheaper models.

For more information, you can read our full review of the Cricut Maker 3.