Cricut sells three main machine families. The right one depends on what you want to make, not on which is newest.
Cricut Joy family
Compact and portable. Good for cards, labels and small decals. If you mostly want to label jars and make cards, a Joy may be all you need. The cutting width is smaller than the larger machines.
Cricut Explore family
The middle option. Cuts vinyl, iron on, cardstock and more at a larger width. A popular pick for shirts, decals and home decor.
Cricut Maker family
The most capable machines, with support for extra tools such as rotary and knife blades for fabric and thicker materials. Worth it if you plan to sew, cut wood veneer or work with thick materials.
Questions to ask yourself
- What are the first three projects you want to make?
- Do you need to cut fabric or thick materials? If yes, look at Maker.
- How much space do you have?
- Will you cut without a mat? Some newer models support certain “Smart” materials without a mat.
Check Cricut’s official site for current models and prices, since the lineup changes. Shopping from Canada? Use Cricut’s Canadian site so prices and shipping are in CAD.
TREVOR: add photos of any machine you own and a short note on what you actually use it for.
