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Best cutting machines for beginners
A first cutting machine should be easy to set up, cut common materials well, and not box you in once you get hooked. These picks favor simple setup and clear limits over maximum capability. If you already know you want thick materials like chipboard or basswood, skip ahead to the Cricut Maker 5 review.
Sorted by CraftGearGuide editorial score, highest first. Machines with the same score are ordered by how many first projects they handle.
The picks
Best first machine overall
Cricut Explore 5
Cuts vinyl, iron-on and cardstock at full 12-inch-class width, and the scoring tool and a mat come in the box.
- 11.7 in wide matless
- 12 ft max length
- 6 compatible tools
- Bluetooth + USB
Check price on AmazonLinks to a bundle with extra materials. Specs here are for the machine.Read the Cricut Explore 5 reviewBest for small spaces
Cricut Joy Xtra
Letter-width cutting and print then cut in a machine about the size of a shoebox.
- 8.5 in wide matless
- 4 ft max length
- Print then cut on Letter/A4
- Bluetooth only
Check price on AmazonLinks to a bundle with extra materials. Specs here are for the machine.Read the Cricut Joy Xtra reviewBest without Cricut's app
Silhouette CAMEO 5 Alpha
Silhouette Studio runs on your computer with no subscription, and the machine has two tool mounts.
- 12 in wide
- 16 ft max length
- 2 tool mounts
- USB + Bluetooth
Smallest and simplest
Cricut Joy 2
Great for labels, cards and narrow decals. Anything wider than 4.5 inches is out.
- 4.5 in wide matless
- 4 ft max length
- Print then cut (narrow)
- 2.7 lb
Check price on AmazonLinks to a bundle with extra materials. Specs here are for the machine.Read the Cricut Joy 2 reviewCompact Silhouette
Silhouette Portrait 4
8.5-inch cutter with USB and Bluetooth, but only one tool and a 2 mm limit.
- 8.5 in wide
- 2 mm max thickness
- Single tool
- USB + Bluetooth
How to pick your first machine
Start with the widest thing you expect to make. Shirt designs and window decals often go past 8 inches, which rules out the Joy family. Cards, labels and sticker sheets fit any machine here.
Next, decide how you feel about software. Cricut machines all run through Design Space, which is free to use but pushes a paid Cricut Access subscription for its full image library. Silhouette machines use Silhouette Studio, a desktop program that needs no subscription, but opening SVG files needs the paid Designer Edition upgrade. Our software and subscriptions guide covers the details.
What beginners often forget
- Mats and blades wear out. Every machine here uses sticky mats or special matless materials, and both are ongoing costs.
- Matless has conditions. Cricut's long matless cuts need Cricut Smart Materials. Ordinary vinyl still goes on a mat.
- Print then cut has size limits. The printable area is smaller than the paper. See print-then-cut size limits.
Top three, side by side
| Spec | Cricut Explore 5 | Cricut Joy Xtra | Silhouette CAMEO 5 Alpha |
|---|---|---|---|
| CraftGearGuide editorial score | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Max cut width (matless) | 11.7 in (Cricut Smart Materials) | 8.5 in (Cricut Smart Materials) | 12 in class (11.6 in listed for lined material) |
| Max length (matless) | 12 ft (Smart Materials) | 4 ft (Smart Materials) | 16 ft (Silhouette's maximum cutting length) |
| Max cut area on mat | 11.5 x 11.5 in (12 x 12 mat); about 11.5 x 23.5 in (12 x 24 mat, per Jennifer Maker) | 8.2 x 11.7 in | 12 x 24 in guaranteed operating area |
| Print-then-cut max (US Letter) | 9.94 x 7.44 in | 9.94 x 7.44 in | Not stated by Silhouette (uses four-point registration marks) |
| Max material thickness | Not stated by Cricut; about 1.5 mm with the optional Deep Cutting Tool (per Jennifer Maker) | Not stated by Cricut | 3 mm |
| Tools | 6 compatible; one tool clamp plus a snap-in pen holder | Blade, Foil Transfer Kit, pens and markers (one tool clamp) | 2 plunger tool mounts; automatic blade adjustment |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth; USB cable included | Bluetooth | USB 2.0 and Bluetooth |
| Subscription | Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features | Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features | None required; SVG and PDF import needs the paid Designer Edition upgrade |
| Size (W x D x H) | 19.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 in | 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in | 22.28 x 6.94 x 4.89 in |
| Weight | About 10 lb (per Jennifer Maker; not on Cricut's page) | 6 lb | 11.5 lb |
| Links | Check price on AmazonBundle listingCricut Explore 5 review | Check price on AmazonBundle listingCricut Joy Xtra review | Check price on AmazonSilhouette CAMEO 5 Alpha review |