Cricut Explore Air 2 vs. Silhouette Cameo 3

When it comes to cutting machines, which is best: Cricut or Silhouette? Whether you’re team Cricut or team Silhouette, there is no wrong answer. They are both incredible machines that will take your creativity to the next level. For years Silhouette was the one to beat, but the Explore machines have pushed Cricut to become one of the best crafting tools around!

Purchasing a cutting machine is certainly a big investment, so it's important to do your homework. As I did my research for this post, I learned a lot about how these machines are so similar yet so different! Since I've had experience with both a Silhouette Cameo and a Cricut Explore, I wanted to tell you why I have chosen the Cricut Explore machine as my favorite crafting tool. 

User-Friendly: One of the best things about the Cricut Explore machines is how easy it is to use. Those that are non-crafty or "technologically challenged" can even get the hang of it pretty quickly. When it comes to software, I feel that Silhouette Design Studio is much more of an advanced program and takes some time to learn, where Cricut’s Design Space is much more user friendly with easy-to-find options for finishing your projects quickly and painlessly.

Fonts and Images: The main reason for using a cutting machine in the first place is to be able to cut images and lettering, right? Both Silhouette and Cricut have a library of images and fonts, but with Cricut you get a whole lot more for your money. Plus, you don't need to use cartridges (unless you want to)!

When it comes to uploading your own images and fonts, Cricut Design Space allows you to upload jpgs, pngs, and svgs for free. If you can’t find what you need for free, the Cricut Access monthly subscription is only $9.99 and allows you access to their entire non-licensed library of images and fonts! Silhouette allows you to upload SVG files... IF you pay the $49.99 Designer Software upgrade fee.

Cutting Materials: Have you seen the list of what materials you can cut with the Cricut Explore? Some of the tougher materials like glittered cardstock, washi tape sheets, balsa wood, leather, fabric, cork board and more are no problem at all with the Cricut Explore.

In fact, a recent study by an independent, third party lab tested 3 Cricut Explore machines against 3 Silhouette Cameo machines. They had the machines cut 8 popular crafting materials such as leather, chipboard, aluminum, and magnet sheets. Then they rated the machines based on what materials they could cut and how precise the cuts came out. The Silhouette Cameo was only able to cut 1 of the 8 materials, where the Cricut Explore ran an almost perfect 100% score!

Smart Set Dial: The Smart Set Dial on the Cricut Explore saved my crafting and my sanity. When I used my Silhouette, I would always have a hard time manually adjusting the blade depth and speed settings for my projects. By the time I figured it out, I was frustrated and wasted expensive materials. Needless to say, I put off crafting using a cutter for a while...

The Smart Set Dial does the thinking for you. Ever since I switched to the Explore, my cuts have been perfect every single time. When I cut vinyl, all I have to do is turn the knob to the Vinyl setting. If I'm cutting glitter vinyl, I just select the setting in between Vinyl and Iron-On. If you need to cut something that's not listed on the Smart Set Dial, just select Custom and choose your material from a dropdown list in Design Space! It really is that easy.

Tools and Storage Space: Besides a mat, having a collection of tools and accessories on hand will only help to make your experience with a cutter a better one. There are tools available for both Silhouette and Cricut, but I prefer the large variety of tools that Cricut provides. You can even get sets to match the mint, blue, or rose Cricut Explore Air 2!

When you invest in tools and accessories* for your machine, you also need some place to keep them at their best so they last. Explore machines are designed to make your workspace a more functional area. There are three built-in storage compartments: two inside the front lid for replacement blades and tools, and a bin on the top left where I keep frequently-used tools like pens, a scoring stylus and weeder. There is also just enough space underneath the machine to slide your mat so it has a place out of the way.

*Here are the must-have tools & supplies for your Cricut Explore machine!

So, if you’re thinking about buying a cutting machine for yourself or someone special, do yourself a favor and invest in a machine that will give you a better experience for your money - which is, without a doubt, the Cricut Explore Air 2.

If you ever have any questions, I'm happy to do my best to answer them. Just leave me a comment!

Which machine do you think is best? Leave a comment!