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Cricut Venture review
Research-based review. This model has not been hands-on tested by CraftGearGuide.
Quick verdict
The Venture is Cricut's wide-format machine for people who cut a lot of large vinyl, iron-on or print-then-cut work. Cricut claims 25.4 in/s and up to 75 ft of repeated cuts. It's also 34.7 lb, needs a lot of floor or table space, cuts only from the desktop app, and its matless path is built around Cricut's own 13 and 25 inch Smart Materials.
Buy it if
- You regularly cut designs wider than 12 inches.
- You run repeat jobs, like batches of shirts or signs.
- You already work in Cricut Design Space on a computer.
Skip it if
- You don't have a spot for a 35 in wide, 35 lb machine.
- You want to cut from a phone or tablet.
- You want to use ordinary 24 in vinyl rolls without a mat.
Specs
| Max cut width (matless) | About 24 in usable on 25 in Smart Materials (13 in rolls also fit) |
|---|---|
| Max length (matless) | 12 ft single image; up to 75 ft of repeated images |
| Max cut area on mat | 23.75 x 27.75 in (24 x 28 mat); 23.75 x 11.75 in (12 x 24 mat), per Jennifer Maker; mats sold separately |
| Print-then-cut max (US Letter) | 9.94 x 7.44 in (larger sheets supported; see review) |
| Max material thickness | Not stated by Cricut |
| Tools | 7 compatible |
| Cutting tool in the box | Performance Fine-Point Blade |
| Also in the box | Cutoff tool, roll supports, mat support extension, cleaning tools, USB-C and USB-A cables, Smart Vinyl samples |
| Claimed cut speed | 25.4 in/s; 400 gf max force |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth; USB cables included |
| Design software | Cricut Design Space for desktop (cutting is desktop-only) |
| Subscription | Not required to cut; paid Cricut Access unlocks the full library and some features |
| Size (W x D x H) | 34.82 x 8.81 x 10.4 in (Cricut lists 8.81 x 34.82 x 10.4 in) |
| Weight | 34.7 lb |
| Warranty (US) | 1-year limited |
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Claimed 25.4 in/s cutting speed and 400 gf maximum force.
- Up to 12 ft single images and 75 ft of repeated images on Smart Materials.
- Print then cut on sheets much larger than Letter.
- Cutoff tool, roll supports and cleaning tools in the box.
Limitations
- Cutting works only from Design Space for desktop.
- 34.7 lb and 34.82 in wide; the docking stand is extra.
- Matless cutting uses Cricut's 13 in and 25 in Smart Materials.
- No mats listed in the machine-only box.
What makes the Venture different
The Venture isn't a bigger Explore. Cricut lists a claimed 25.4 in/s cut speed, 400 gf maximum force, a servo motor and ±0.1 mm repetition accuracy. It takes Smart Materials in 13 in and 25 in widths and cuts single images up to 12 ft, or repeated images up to 75 ft.
Jennifer Maker ran a side-by-side timing test: the same design took 2:15 on a Maker 3 and 1:30 on the Venture. That's one design on one day, not a benchmark, but it points the same way as Cricut's claims.
Space, weight and setup
Cricut lists the Venture at 8.81 x 34.82 x 10.4 in and 34.7 lb. Jennifer Maker reports Cricut's recommended clear space as 34.8 x 42.5 x 41.3 in, because the machine tilts and material feeds through. The docking stand, with wheels and catch bins, is sold separately.
How much wider is it, in practice?
A 12 x 24 in mat on an Explore or Maker cuts about 11.5 x 23.75 in: 273 sq in. The Venture's 24 x 28 in mat cuts about 23.75 x 27.75 in: 659 sq in. That's roughly 2.4 times the area per load.
Calculated from Cricut's Maker 5 mat figures and Jennifer Maker's Venture mat figures. Usable area on your material may be smaller.
The software and materials catch
Cricut calls the Venture's Design Space desktop-only. You can design on a phone, but you have to cut from the Mac or Windows app. Its matless path is built for Cricut's 13 in and 25 in Smart Materials. Jennifer Maker points out that standard 24 in vinyl rolls won't feed matless.
Print then cut at size
This is where the Venture opens up new work. Cricut's help center lists support for large sheets, including 12 x 18, 13 x 19 and A2 paper, up to 26.94 x 22.94 in. Cricut's product page says up to 24 x 28 in. The two pages frame it differently, so check the help center for your paper size. Either way, you'll need a printer that handles those sheets.
Evidence and caveats
Jennifer Maker's review is the most detailed hands-on account we found. She says she bought the machine at a discount and isn't sponsored by Cricut. Her main complaints match ours: the cost, the 25 in Smart Materials requirement for roll cutting, and desktop-only cutting. We didn't find long-term reliability data from independent sources.
How it compares
The CAMEO PRO MK-II is the 24-inch Silhouette alternative. The CAMEO 5 Alpha Plus is a smaller 15-inch middle ground.
| Spec | Cricut Venture | Silhouette CAMEO PRO MK-II | Silhouette CAMEO 5 Alpha Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| CraftGearGuide editorial score | 7.5/10 | Not scored | Not scored |
| Max cut width (matless) | About 24 in usable on 25 in Smart Materials (13 in rolls also fit) | 23.6 in with lined material (roll feeder) | Up to 15 in (14.6 in listed operating width) |
| Max length (matless) | 12 ft single image; up to 75 ft of repeated images | Unresolved: 192 in (16 ft) with lined material in the spec table; 60 ft listed as maximum cutting length | 16 ft (Silhouette's maximum cutting length) |
| Max cut area on mat | 23.75 x 27.75 in (24 x 28 mat); 23.75 x 11.75 in (12 x 24 mat), per Jennifer Maker; mats sold separately | 23.2 x 24 in | 14.6 x 15 in guaranteed operating area |
| Print-then-cut max (US Letter) | 9.94 x 7.44 in (larger sheets supported; see review) | Not stated by Silhouette (registration-mark reading supported) | Not stated by Silhouette (uses four-point registration marks) |
| Max material thickness | Not stated by Cricut | 3 mm | 3 mm |
| Tools | 7 compatible | 2 plunger tool mounts; automatic blade adjustment | 2 plunger tool mounts; automatic blade adjustment |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth; USB cables included | USB 2.0 and Bluetooth | USB 2.0 and Bluetooth |
| Subscription | 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 | None required; SVG and PDF import needs the paid Designer Edition upgrade |
| Size (W x D x H) | 34.82 x 8.81 x 10.4 in (Cricut lists 8.81 x 34.82 x 10.4 in) | 34.49 x 7.68 x 6.69 in | 25.28 x 6.94 x 4.89 in |
| Weight | 34.7 lb | 19.84 lb | 12.7 lb |
| Links | Check price on AmazonSilhouette CAMEO PRO MK-II review | Check price on AmazonSilhouette CAMEO 5 Alpha Plus review |
Questions
- Can the Cricut Venture cut from an iPad?
- No. Cricut calls Design Space for the Venture desktop-only, and Jennifer Maker confirms you must cut from the Mac or Windows app.
- What's the biggest print then cut on the Venture?
- Cricut's product page says up to 24 x 28 in, while its help center lists a maximum of 26.94 x 22.94 in on the largest supported paper. Both are far larger than Letter. Check the help center for your exact paper size.
- Does the Venture use regular Cricut mats?
- It uses Performance Machine Mats in 12 x 24 in and 24 x 28 in, which Jennifer Maker says are designed for the Venture. They aren't listed in the machine-only box.
- Is the Venture loud?
- Jennifer Maker found it fairly quiet in her use. We haven't seen a measured noise level.
Bottom line
If you're outgrowing a 12-inch machine and already work in Design Space on a computer, the Venture is the fastest-claimed way to stay with Cricut at 24 inches. If you'd rather use any brand of roll vinyl, or need to save space, look at the Silhouette options first.