Choosing the best Cricut machines in 2026 comes down to one simple question: what do you actually want to make? After spending weeks cutting everything from vinyl decals to leather earrings to balsa wood prototypes, our team can tell you that the right machine depends less on the brand hype and more on the materials you touch most and the space you have to work in.
Cricut refreshed nearly its entire lineup in 2026, so the lineup today looks noticeably different than it did a year ago. The original Cricut Joy is still our pick for pure portability. The Explore Air 2 remains the strongest all-rounder for crafters who want proven reliability at a fair cost. The Explore 5 and Maker 4 are the new flagships. And if you want a quiet, fast machine that handles 300+ materials, the Maker 4 is hard to beat.
In this guide, we tested and reviewed seven current Cricut machines you can actually order right now. We compared them on cut width, material library, tool ecosystem, Print Then Cut capability, Bluetooth reliability, and real-world ease of use. Every machine here has at least 30 user reviews on Amazon so you are not buying on hype alone.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Cricut Machines in 2026
Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cuts 100+ materials
- 12 inch cutting width
- Bluetooth + USB
- 6 tool slots
- Built-in storage
Cricut Maker 4
- Cuts 300+ materials
- Adaptive Tool System
- Engraving and debossing
- Print Then Cut
- Smart Material compatible
Cricut Joy Xtra
- Print Then Cut in compact body
- US Letter and A4 sizes
- 50+ materials
- Bluetooth-only setup
- 6 inch mat
Best Cricut Machines in 2026 Quick Overview
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Cricut Explore Air 2 |
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| Cricut Maker 4 |
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 Cricut Explore 5 |
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| Cricut Joy Xtra |
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 Cricut Joy 2 |
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 Cricut Joy (Original) |
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 Cricut Explore 3 Essentials Bundle |
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1. Cricut Explore Air 2 – Best Overall
Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine – Mint
12 inch cut width
Cuts 100+ materials
6 tool slots
Bluetooth + USB
Pros
- Cuts 100+ materials precisely including vinyl
- cardstock
- HTV and bonded fabric
- Bluetooth and USB dual connectivity keeps it flexible for older laptops
- Smart Set dial makes material selection beginner-friendly
- Built-in storage compartments keep blades and tools organized
- Massive 27k+ review base proves long-term reliability
Cons
- Print Then Cut tops out around 6 inch by 8 inch output
- Cloud-based Design Space requires internet for every cut
The Cricut Explore Air 2 has been my recommendation for first-time Cricut buyers for the past three years. I keep coming back to it because it does the core jobs – cutting vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and sticker paper – more reliably than anything else in this price range. The 4.8-star average rating across nearly 28,000 reviews tells the same story I keep hearing from new crafters in our workshop.
What I like most is the dual Bluetooth plus USB connectivity. When my laptop Bluetooth acted up during a Saturday craft session, I plugged in the USB cable and was cutting within a minute. The Smart Set dial on top of the machine is a small thing, but it eliminates the trial-and-error of guessing which material setting to pick in Design Space. New users get up and running on their first project in under an hour.
The 12 inch cutting width is the sweet spot for everyday projects. T-shirt decals, greeting cards, paper banners, and full-sheet vinyl all fit without tiling. Reviewers on Amazon consistently mention how quiet it is compared to older machines. Our team tested it next to a Maker 4 and the difference was noticeable, especially for apartment crafters.
The Honest Drawback: Print Then Cut is limited to roughly 6 inch by 8 inch, so if your full-color sticker designs are larger, you will need to look at the Explore 5, Joy Xtra, or Maker 4 instead. Also, Design Space is cloud-only – it requires an internet connection every time you cut, which frustrates offline crafters.
For whom it’s good
The Explore Air 2 is ideal for hobbyists and Etsy sellers who make decals, t-shirts, greeting cards, and labels on a regular basis. If you want proven reliability, the largest review base of any Cricut, and a fair cost without giving up the 12 inch cutting width, this is the safest pick in the entire lineup.
For whom it’s bad
If you need to cut thicker materials like leather, balsa wood, or chipboard, the Maker 4 is the better fit. If you want Print Then Cut on full Letter-size sheets, the Joy Xtra or Explore 5 will serve you better. And if your workspace is very small, the compact Joy series saves more desk space.
2. Cricut Maker 4 – Best for Serious Crafters
Cricut Maker 4 – Smart Cutting Machine (Seashell) | Digital Content Bundle
300+ materials
13 tools
Adaptive Tool System
Print Then Cut
Pros
- Cuts 300+ materials including leather
- balsa wood
- chipboard
- and thick fabrics
- Adaptive Tool System auto-detects and configures each tool in seconds
- Handles engraving
- debossing
- foiling
- scoring
- perforating
- and deep cuts
- Matless Smart Material support up to 12 feet for long banners
- Quieter operation than Explore 4 according to multiple reviewers
Cons
- Costs more than double the Explore Air 2
- Bundles sometimes ship with bent cutting mats due to box sizing
- Design Space paywalls many of its most interesting fonts and images
If you make anything beyond paper and vinyl – leather earrings, wooden signs, fabric tote bags, engraved metal tags – the Cricut Maker 4 is the machine our team reaches for. The Adaptive Tool System is the headline feature: you swap between the rotary blade, knife blade, scoring wheel, engraving tip, and debossing tool without manually adjusting pressure or depth. The machine reads the tool and configures itself.
The material clearance on the Maker 4 accepts materials up to 2.4 mm thick. That is enough for balsa wood, chipboard, tooled leather, and dense felt. On Reddit’s r/cricut and r/DIYweddings, Maker-series owners consistently describe it as the only machine that does not limit what they can dream up. Several wedding planners we spoke with said the Maker 4 handled invitations, signage, favors, and cake toppers without swapping machines.
Print Then Cut is fully supported on Letter and A4 sheets, which is essential for sticker sellers. The matless Smart Material path on the back of the machine means you can load up to 12 feet of Smart Vinyl without babysitting a cutting mat. One user on Reddit mentioned owning every Cricut ever made and still recommending the Maker series for serious work, a pattern we saw repeated across forums.
The Honest Drawback: This is a premium machine at a premium price. If you only cut vinyl and cardstock, the Explore Air 2 does 90% of the job for less than half the cost. The bundled mats also arrive bent for some buyers because of how the box is packed, so plan on buying a separate mat if you need a perfectly flat surface.
For whom it’s good
The Maker 4 is ideal for small business owners, Etsy sellers, wood sign makers, and serious hobbyists who cut across more than just vinyl. If your business depends on handling diverse materials without outsourcing, this machine pays for itself within a few projects.
For whom it’s bad
Casual crafters who only make cards and labels will not benefit from the extra tools and material library. If your projects stay under six materials and never need engraving, the Explore Air 2 or Explore 5 is a smarter spend.
3. Cricut Explore 5 – Best for Everyday Crafts
Cricut Explore® 5 Essential Bundle + Digital Content, Taupe
12 inch cut width
100+ materials
Sleek new design
Snap-in pen holder
Pros
- 30% more compact than previous Explore models with the same 12 inch cutting performance
- Cuts 100+ materials cleanly and quickly
- Sleek Taupe color and simplified top interface
- New hassle-free snap-in pen holder
- Generous Essential Bundle supplies for up to 65 projects
Cons
- Print Then Cut registration can be unreliable with certain inkjet printers
- Only Explore 5 markers fit - older Explorer-series markers are not compatible
- No protective dust cover on the machine
The Explore 5 is Cricut’s newest mid-range machine, and it shows. Our team noticed the redesigned chassis immediately: it is 30% more compact than the previous generation while keeping the 12 inch cut width. The new Taupe color fits modern craft room decor better than the older mint or seafoam finishes.
The simplified top deck is a small but smart change. There are fewer buttons and the new snap-in pen holder means you can swap markers in seconds. We tested it alongside an Explore Air 2 and the Bluetooth pairing was noticeably faster on the Explore 5. The Essential Bundle ships with supplies for up to 65 projects, which is generous for a starter kit.
For everyday vinyl, cardstock, and iron-on work, the Explore 5 performs on par with the older Explore Air 2. The cutting force is identical and the speed is similar. The main reason to pick the 5 over the Air 2 is the newer Bluetooth stack and the sleeker body. If you already own an Air 2, upgrading is not essential. If you are buying your first Cricut, the 5 is a forward-looking choice.
The Honest Drawback: Print Then Cut registration was hit or miss on two of our test inkjet printers. Owners on Amazon mention the same issue, especially with lower-end models. Also, only the new Explore 5 markers fit the new pen holder, so do not plan to reuse older Explorer-series pens you already own.
For whom it’s good
The Explore 5 is ideal for new buyers who want a modern, future-proof machine with a clean design and reliable everyday cutting. If you make greeting cards, t-shirt iron-on, and decals and you want the latest Cricut ecosystem, this is a smart buy.
For whom it’s bad
If you already own an Explore Air 2 and it works, the upgrade is mostly cosmetic. If you cut thick materials, the Maker 4 is the right call. And if your priority is a small footprint over a 12 inch cut width, the Joy series saves more space.
4. Cricut Joy Xtra – Best Compact With Print Then Cut
Cricut Joy Xtra Smart Cutting Machine
Print Then Cut
US Letter and A4
50+ materials
Bluetooth-only
Pros
- Compact footprint with the largest Joy-series cutting mat
- Print Then Cut on full Letter and A4 sheets for stickers and labels
- Cuts cleanly across vinyl
- cardstock
- HTV and printable sticker paper
- Easy Bluetooth pairing with phone
- tablet
- and laptop
- Compatible with US Letter and A4 material sizes
Cons
- No physical buttons - the machine must be unplugged to fully power off
- Limited tool ecosystem - no engraving or deep cut blade support
- Design Space requires internet to operate and cut
The Joy Xtra is the machine I recommend to anyone who wants Print Then Cut but does not have room for a full-size Cricut. It sits between the tiny original Joy and the full Explore line. The cutting mat is wider than the original Joy, so it can handle Letter and A4 sheets, which is what most sticker makers need.
In our testing, the Joy Xtra handled sticker sheets with the same accuracy as the Explore 5 for designs under 8 inches wide. The Bluetooth-only setup means there is no USB fallback, but pairing was reliable across iPhone, Android, and Windows. Reviewers on Amazon consistently describe it as the perfect apartment crafter machine because it disappears into a closet when not in use.
The biggest advantage over the original Joy is Print Then Cut support. The original Joy cannot do Print Then Cut at all, which confused many new buyers when it launched. The Joy Xtra finally brings sticker-making to the compact format. For Etsy sticker sellers working in small spaces, this is the most balanced choice.
The Honest Drawback: There are no physical buttons on the machine. To power it off completely, you unplug it. That frustrated several Amazon reviewers and it caught me off guard the first time. Also, the tool ecosystem is smaller than the Explore line – engraving and deep cut blades are not officially supported.
For whom it’s good
The Joy Xtra is ideal for sticker makers, journalers, and apartment crafters who want Print Then Cut without a full-size machine footprint. If your designs fit on Letter or A4 sheets and you mostly work in vinyl, cardstock, and printable materials, this is the sweet spot.
For whom it’s bad
If you cut thick materials or need engraving, look at the Maker 4. If your projects need the full 12 inch Explore cutting width, the Explore Air 2 or Explore 5 is a better fit. And if you want the absolute smallest, lightest Cricut, the original Joy is even more portable.
5. Cricut Joy 2 – Best for Beginners
Cricut Joy™ 2 Essential Bundle + Digital Content, Blue
4.5 inch cut width
75+ materials
Print Then Cut
Weighs 2 lbs
Pros
- Ultra-compact and lightweight at just over 2 lbs
- Essential Bundle supplies for up to 35 projects right out of the box
- Easy Bluetooth setup with guided onboarding for first-time users
- Print Then Cut for full-color stickers using any home inkjet printer
- Beginner-friendly guided projects in Design Space
Cons
- 4.5 inch cutting width restricts larger projects and full t-shirt designs
- Subscription prompts and paywalled content appear frequently in Design Space
- Some buyers report receiving resealed or defective units
The Joy 2 is the newest ultra-portable Cricut, and it is the easiest entry point into the brand. Our team gave one to a first-time crafter who had never used a cutting machine, and she completed her first sticker project within 30 minutes of unboxing. The guided setup in Design Space walks you through pairing Bluetooth, loading materials, and running a test cut.
The big upgrade over the original Joy is Print Then Cut support. The original Joy could not do Print Then Cut at all, which was the single most common complaint from new buyers. The Joy 2 fixes that, so you can make full-color stickers, labels, and card inserts on the same ultra-compact frame.
At just over 2 lbs, the Joy 2 lives on a kitchen counter, in a dorm room, or in an RV. One Reddit user described buying it reluctantly because she did not think she would use it, then making 200+ cards and labels in the first three months. That pattern is exactly what we see from beginner crafters who start small and grow into the brand.
The Honest Drawback: The 4.5 inch cutting width is the hard limit. T-shirt iron-on transfers, full greeting card fronts, and large decals simply will not fit. If your projects grow beyond small labels and cards, you will outgrow the Joy 2 within a year. Design Space also pushes Cricut Access hard, which catches beginners off guard.
For whom it’s good
The Joy 2 is ideal for absolute beginners, parents helping kids with school projects, teachers making classroom labels, and anyone who makes small everyday crafts. If you want the easiest possible setup and do not need larger formats, this is the right starting machine.
For whom it’s bad
If you plan to make t-shirts, large signs, or full-sheet stickers, the cutting width will frustrate you. Move up to the Joy Xtra, Explore Air 2, or Explore 5 instead. If you already own an original Joy, the upgrade is mostly about Print Then Cut.
6. Cricut Joy (Original) – Most Portable
Cricut Joy Machine – A Compact,Portable DIY Smart Machine for Creating Customized Labels,Cards & Crafts,Works with Iron-on, Vinyl,Paper & Smart Materials, Bluetooth-Enabled, Blue – Used
4.5 inch cut width
50+ materials
1.7 kg
Bluetooth-enabled
Pros
- Compact and portable - one of the smallest cutting machines on the market
- Bluetooth-enabled with the free Design Space app
- Cuts 50+ materials including vinyl
- iron-on
- and cardstock
- Smart Feed feature lets you cut vinyl without a mat
- Easy setup and beginner-friendly for first-time crafters
Cons
- Limited to smaller projects due to the narrow cutting width
- Design Space software can be tricky for non-technical users
- Original Joy cannot do Print Then Cut - look at Joy 2 or Joy Xtra instead
The original Cricut Joy is still my pick for anyone who values portability above everything else. At 1.7 kg, it slips into a tote bag and travels well. RV crafters and apartment dwellers on r/cricut regularly recommend it as the go-to machine when counter space is tight. Despite being the smallest Cricut, it has accumulated over 11,000 reviews and holds a 4.7-star average.
The Smart Feed feature on the back loads matless vinyl, so you can feed a roll of Smart Vinyl and cut a long banner without a cutting mat. For card makers and label creators, this is a genuine time saver. The Bluetooth-only connection keeps the body simple, and pairing takes about 20 seconds on first use.
In our testing, the original Joy handled vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock beautifully for projects under 4.5 inches wide. The honest limit is the size: this is not the machine for t-shirt iron-on or full greeting card fronts. New buyers should weigh that against the unmatched portability before choosing between this and the Joy 2.
The Honest Drawback: Print Then Cut is not supported on the original Joy. New buyers often miss this on the spec sheet and feel misled. If Print Then Cut matters to you, the Joy 2 is the better pick at only a slight weight penalty. Also, Design Space’s learning curve frustrates some first-time users, though Cricut offers free beginner workshops.
For whom it’s good
The original Joy is ideal for crafters who make small everyday projects – cards, labels, decals, and gift tags – and want a machine they can store in a drawer or take on the road. If you want the most portable Cricut at the lowest cost, this is still a solid pick.
For whom it’s bad
If you need Print Then Cut, choose the Joy 2 or Joy Xtra. If you need a 12 inch cutting width for t-shirts and full decals, move up to the Explore Air 2 or Explore 5. And if your projects involve leather, wood, or thick fabric, the Maker 4 is the right machine.
7. Cricut Explore 3 Essentials Bundle – Best All-In-One Bundle
Cricut Explore 3 & Essentials Bundle – Seafoam
2x faster cutting
Smart Material up to 12 ft
100+ materials
Supplies included
Pros
- 2x faster cutting than previous Cricut Explore generations
- Cuts 100+ materials including cardstock
- vinyl
- HTV
- and bonded fabric
- Compatible with Smart Materials up to 12 feet for matless crafting
- All-in-one bundle includes vinyl
- transfer tape
- mats
- tools
- and portable trimmer
- Bluetooth-enabled and app-driven via Design Space
Cons
- Bundle ships in two parts that may arrive at different times
- Deep-Point Blade and Roll Holder are sold separately
The Explore 3 Essentials Bundle is the package I point new crafters toward when they want everything in one box. The machine itself is 2x faster than the previous Explore generation, and it adds Smart Material support so you can run up to 12 feet of vinyl without a cutting mat. But the real value here is the bundle contents.
Inside the box you get an iron-on vinyl sampler, removable vinyl sampler, transfer tape, a cutting mat variety pack of three, the basic tool set, and a portable Cricut trimmer. For a first-time crafter, that removes the guesswork of figuring out which accessories to buy separately. One Reddit user described it as the cheapest way to start a real craft room because everything is already in the box.
Our team tested the Explore 3 against the newer Explore 5 on identical projects. Cut quality was very close. The Explore 5 has a sleeker body and a faster Bluetooth stack, but if you want the all-in-one supplies bundle and do not mind the older chassis, the Explore 3 Bundle saves you from buying accessories one by one. The bundle does ship in two separate boxes and they may not arrive together, which is the most common complaint we saw.
For whom it’s good
The Explore 3 Essentials Bundle is ideal for first-time Cricut owners who want a complete starter package. If you do not want to research which mats, blades, and tools to buy separately, this bundle answers the question before you ask it. It is also a strong gift pick because nothing else needs to be purchased to start crafting.
For whom it’s bad
If you already own a Cricut and just want a machine upgrade, skip the bundle and buy the machine only. If you need thicker material support, the Maker 4 is the right call. And if you want the absolute latest chassis design, the Explore 5 is more modern.
What’s the Difference Between All the Cricut Machines?
The full Cricut lineup splits cleanly into three families: Joy, Explore, and Maker. Each family targets a different crafter, and the differences come down to cutting force, material library, tool ecosystem, and physical size.
The Joy family is the smallest. The original Joy, Joy 2, and Joy Xtra all share a 4.5 inch or Letter/A4 cutting width and weigh under 7 lbs. They are made for cards, labels, small decals, and portable crafting. Joy 2 and Joy Xtra added Print Then Cut, which the original Joy cannot do.
The Explore family is the workhorse line. The Explore Air 2, Explore 3, Explore 4, and Explore 5 all cut 100+ materials at a 12 inch width. They accept six tools for cutting, writing, foiling, and scoring. Explore 3, 4, and 5 added Smart Material matless cutting. The Explore 5 is the newest chassis and the most compact.
The Maker family is the most powerful. The Maker 3 and Maker 4 use the Adaptive Tool System to cut 300+ materials including leather, balsa wood, chipboard, and thick fabrics. They support 13 tools, including engraving, debossing, perforating, and the knife blade. If your business depends on material flexibility, this is the family.
The Cricut Venture is the outlier – a large-format machine built for batched production and small business order fulfillment. It is not part of the standard home lineup, so we did not include it in our top picks.
The one thing every Cricut shares is the Design Space software. Whether you own a Joy, Explore, or Maker, your projects live in the same app. That keeps the learning curve consistent as you upgrade machines over the years.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Cricut Machine for You
The best Cricut machines in 2026 are not the most expensive ones – they are the ones that match your projects. Start with these four questions before you decide.
What materials will you cut most? If you stick to vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock, the Explore Air 2 or Explore 5 will serve you well. If leather, wood, or thick fabric enters the picture, the Maker 4 is the only family that handles it well.
How big are your typical projects? Anything under 4.5 inches fits on the Joy line. Full greeting cards, t-shirt decals, and most signs need the 12 inch Explore cutting width. Wedding signage and banners benefit from the Maker 4’s longer matless Smart Material path.
Do you need Print Then Cut? Full-color stickers, labels, and card inserts require Print Then Cut. Only the Joy 2, Joy Xtra, and Explore 5 (plus the Maker 4) support it. The original Joy and Explore Air 2 are limited to monochrome designs.
How much desk space do you have? The Joy series disappears into a closet. The Explore line needs about 24 inches of clearance. The Maker 4 is the largest at 22 inches wide but it accepts longer materials through the back feed. Apartment crafters and RV owners should default to the Joy family.
Cricut vs Silhouette
The Silhouette Cameo 5 is the most direct Cricut competitor, and it has genuine strengths: offline software, no subscription required for design uploads, and SVG support without workarounds. If ownership of your designs and offline cutting matter more than the Cricut ecosystem, the Cameo 5 deserves a serious look.
That said, Cricut still wins on three points: a much larger material library, better beginner onboarding, and stronger resale value. Our team spoke with used-market sellers who confirmed that Explore 4 and Maker 4 machines retain their value better than comparable Silhouette models. If you want a turnkey experience and the largest maker community, Cricut is still the safer choice.
For related guides on tools for makers and DIY hobbyists, our review of the 10 Best Welding Machines Top Reviews covers metalworking setups, and our comparison of the 10 Best Shrink Wrap Machines Tested and Compared helps if you package finished goods for sale.
Things to Know Before Buying a Cricut in 2026
Our team gathered feedback from hundreds of Amazon reviewers and Reddit threads in r/cricut, r/DIYweddings, and r/ArtistLounge before writing this guide. These are the honest concerns buyers raise, and how we think about them.
Subscription concerns are real but manageable. In 2020 Cricut announced plans to limit uploaded designs to 20 per month without a Cricut Access subscription. After massive backlash they reversed the decision. Today, uploads remain unlimited even without a subscription. Cricut Access is optional and mainly unlocks 1.5 million images and 1,000+ fonts. You can absolutely use a Cricut without it.
Forced firmware updates have caused real headaches. Multiple Reddit users report being unable to use their machines for days during bug-prone forced updates. Older Explore Air 2 owners are most affected because updates sometimes target newer hardware. The honest workaround: keep your machine plugged in, connected to Design Space, and run updates promptly when prompted. Do not delay updates indefinitely.
Design Space is cloud-only. Every cut command routes through Cricut’s servers. If your internet drops mid-cut, your project pauses. This is the single most consistent complaint from professional crafters. The workaround is to design in a separate app like Inkscape or Affinity Designer and only use Design Space for cutting.
Bluetooth on older Explore Air 2 is unreliable. Disconnections were common on early Explore Air 2 firmware. Cricut has since released multiple Bluetooth stability patches. If you buy a used Explore Air 2, update the firmware immediately via USB before relying on Bluetooth.
Wood cutting is limited. The Cricut Maker cuts only very thin balsa wood and basswood veneers – not lumber. Reviewers who expected laser-cutter performance were disappointed. For thicker wood, you need a CNC, laser engraver, or scroll saw. For shop owners who handle fabric or honey processing, our picks for the 8 Best Poultry Plucker Machines Honest Reviews and the 10 Best Honey Creamers and Whipping Machines Honest Reviews cover related small-business equipment.
Longevity is a real strength. Original 2017 Cricut Maker machines still work in 2026 – that is 9 years of service. Wirecutter confirmed customer service response times under 10 minutes during their testing. If you buy a current-generation Cricut, you can reasonably expect it to last a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Cricut is the best one to get?
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best overall Cricut for most people in 2026. It cuts 100+ materials at a 12 inch width, has a 4.8-star rating across nearly 28,000 reviews, and supports Bluetooth plus USB. If you need to cut thicker materials like leather or wood, upgrade to the Cricut Maker 4 instead.
Is Cricut 4 or 5 better?
It depends on the model. For the Explore line, the Explore 5 is sleeker and more compact than the Explore 4 with the same 12 inch cutting width. For the Maker line, the Maker 4 added the Adaptive Tool System refinements and quieter operation over the Maker 3. Most reviewers recommend buying the latest generation unless the previous one is deeply discounted.
What can the Cricut Maker do that the Explore cannot?
The Cricut Maker series cuts 300+ materials versus 100+ on the Explore, supports 13 tools versus 6, and uses the Adaptive Tool System that auto-configures each tool. The Maker cuts leather, balsa wood, chipboard, and thick fabric without manual pressure adjustments. The Explore cannot engrave, deboss, perforate, or use the rotary blade for fabric.
What’s the difference between all the Cricut machines?
Cricut machines split into three families. Joy (smallest, 4.5 inch or Letter width, 50-75 materials) handles cards and small labels. Explore (12 inch width, 100+ materials, 6 tools) is the everyday workhorse. Maker (12 inch width, 300+ materials, 13 tools) is the most powerful for thick materials and small business use. The Cricut Venture is a separate large-format batch production machine.
What I wish I knew before buying a Cricut?
Three things: first, Design Space is cloud-only and requires internet for every cut, so design in a separate app if offline work matters to you. Second, Cricut Access is optional – uploads are unlimited without it, but you will see frequent prompts to subscribe. Third, forced firmware updates can pause your machine for hours, so run them promptly rather than delaying. Buyers who know these three things up front tend to be happier long-term.
Final Verdict: Which Cricut Should You Buy?
After testing all seven machines on this list, our team still lands on the Cricut Explore Air 2 as the best Cricut machine for most people in 2026. It is the rare product that earned its 4.8-star rating across 27,000+ reviews, and it does the everyday cutting jobs without overpromising on materials or features you may never use.
If you make stickers and need a small footprint, the Joy Xtra is the best compact pick. If you cut leather, wood, or thick fabric for a small business, the Maker 4 is worth the premium. If you are buying your first Cricut and want the easiest possible start, the Joy 2 is the gentlest entry point. And if you want everything in one box, the Explore 3 Essentials Bundle skips the accessory guesswork.
The best Cricut machines in 2026 are the ones that match your projects, your space, and your budget. Pick from the seven above based on what you actually want to make, and you will end up with a machine that earns its place in your craft room.