Silhouette vs. Cricket vs. Scan & Cut

Welcome!

Sorry of no help as I don't have any of these...

Just wanted to welcome you to 2Peas!!

I have the Silhouette Cameo and love it! It's a great machine with a lot of capability, whether you want to use designs created by others or create and design your own. It has excellent software (better than the Explore IMO), but my opinion is based on the fact that I know how to use the software to create literally any design I want. I can also adapt, adjust, tweak, whatever design I want to change. Their software is extremely versatile. I also like their subscription plan for when I want to be lazy and let others do the design work for me. With my sub, I can buy designs for between 11 cents (most designs) to 33 cents (alphabets) per design, and the subscription includes licensed designs (Marvel, Care Bears, and another one that escapes me at the moment). Depending on the sub you choose, you may pay a little more and have fewer downloads available, but they are yours to keep, even after your subscription ends.  Basically, the subscription is a way to buy designs for pennies on the dollar.

In contrast, the Cricut subscription is a flat fee per month. You do not have access to the licensed designs (they have Disney designs, as well as some others), but you can cut as many of the non-licensed designs as you want, while you have an active subscription. Once you stop subscribing, though, you do NOT continue to have access to the designs unless you buy them. You can buy individual designs or cartridges, but in the long run, for me the Silhouette subscription is a better deal. I don't have time to cut a bunch of stuff all in one month, or storage space if I did so, which makes the Cricut subscription far less appealing to me.

The Cricut Explore is reportedly a very good machine. I do not have it, but I can tell you a few things about it. It will cut heavier materials than the Silhouette Cameo. It requires you to be online to use it (at least so far). While you can use it to cut your own designs, the software is more geared to your buying Cricut designs and making projects they have designed for you.  Unless things have changed, you need a separate graphics program to create your own designs, then import them into the Design Space software.

I have considered buying the Explore because I want to be able to cut leather & other heavier materials, but a recent message thread about it made me decide to hold off for awhile for a couple of reasons. First is the Internet requirement, which potentially can mean that if you are trying to cut something at a time where there is a lot of "traffic" then you may have issues. We seem to have Internet issues when Skyping or using Google Plus video chats, so the idea of having difficulty for cutting a project I need to get done, and not be able to because of wonky Internet, really does not sit well with me. I currently live in a large metro area, and supposedly have the fastest, most reliable internet, but I have times when my internet is not reliable. I have heard they are working to make an offline software, so I am waiting till they do. Another issue is that I have a Cricut Expression and 104 cartridges that are all linked to my Gypsy. There seems to be some kind of issue with getting them to be usable with the Explore. I just don't have time to deal with it right now. However, if these issues are not something that would be a problem for you, the Explore might be a great machine for you, especially if you want to cut heavier materials.

Both the Cricut Explore and the Silhouette Cameo can cut tiny details. The Explore might have a slight edge over the Cameo, but I recently learned of a feature that helps the Cameo cut even better details than it normally does, so there may be little to no difference in their ability to cut tiny details.  I have no way to test that.

Both the Cameo and the Explore do print and cut. You can scan an image, then create a cutting line, and cut it out, but you don't just scan and cut, which brings me to the third machine you asked about:

I have read a little about the Scan N Cut, but not enough to say much about it. Most owners seem to like it, especially stampers who want the machine to cut out what they have stamped. Unless you do a lot of stamping, I don't think this machine would be as good a choice. I have thousands of stamps and use them, but I don't really feel a need for this machine (yet--maybe someone who has it can persuade me).

In the time it took me to type this, others may have responded. I suggest you also try a search here of previous message threads about these machines.

I, myself prefer the Silhouette. The trace feature is my favorite way of creating my own images for free! It takes some practice, but well worth it!

Here is a comparison of all three machines:

Thanks for the review htstepper - very helpful!

You got really great advice. htstepper's review was an excellent one.

I have the Cricut Explore & the Silhouette Cameo. I am happy with both of them. I heard a great tip about the Cricut Explore and Silhouette Cameo. If you just want to create then the Explore is for you. If you want to design then the Cameo is for you. I really thought that was a great tip especially if your new to the world of die cutting. I think this is the comparison video I saw that great tip about- www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx99aN10z7c

I think both cutters are great. I do enjoy my Explore. I don't like that it is online. I do love that I can cut designs only using my iPad on the Cricut Explore. Huge bonus for me because I don't like to take my computer into my art room. I am always dragging my iPad around with me.

I think Print & Cut is more accurate on the Explore. I also think the prints look a little faded. Not enough to be a problem. Graphic Designers would probably prefer the Cameo. Actually I would recommend the Cameo over the Explore for a graphic designer. I do get snobby about my Print & Cuts. I do plan to do a lot of Print & Cuts on my Explore. Making stickers or doing photos I will use my Cameo.

If your doing vinyl. Don't look at the Explore. The Silhouette will always be better for vinyl designers.

Both machines cut excellent. I will be fair and say that I do think the Explore has an advantage over the Cameo in cutting. The Cameo blade is not the best. I have a CB09 blade holder in my Cameo. My cuts are exactly the same as the Explore using that blade holder. There are a lot of reviews on the CB09 Blade holder. I will add one thing I never see on the reviews. You can buy German Carbide blades for your Cameo. This is something the Explore touts. It's not a Cricut thing. Those blades have been around for years. A lot of the Explore reviews make it seem like Cricut invented the blades. ProvoCraft did not.

My other con that bothers me about the Explore is there is no offset. You have to do workarounds. If you make a lot of stickers and you want a white border. If you make mats for your cuts then the Cameo is better. I will have to say the offset missing for Cricut almost made me pack it up and take it back. I use that function a lot in my Cameo.

Google Chrome is recommended to run Cricut Explore's software. I am a Firefox user. If you can only use one browser and it's not Chrome then you might have issues. I do have Chrome on my computer and only using it for the Explore.

Last plus for the Silhouette Cameo you can use a variety of cutting software. You can use MTC & Sure Cuts A Lot. Both excellent software. Cricut Explore you use Cricut's software. That will probably never change.

In htstepper's review she shared there was the Sizzix Eclips & of course the Scan Cut. I was going to buy an Eclips. It is still a maybe on my list. Sizzix makes good machines. I have heard great reviews about the machine. Sure Cuts A Lot forum will be a good resource to research. The Eclips has the same hardware as the Explore pretty much. It cuts at 700gsm. That is past Cricut's range. I heard Cricut was testing at 550GSM. That is still a powerful cutter too. Here's Eclips manual- d3r06h67fvmy8.cloudfront.net/media/uploads/pdfs/instructions/655934.pdf. I got it from Sizzix's site.

Brother Scan Cut- What I have seen in You Tube videos this is a good machine. It is really great for those who do not want a computer in their craft room. I did really look into this cutter for that reason. It's not a cutter for me because I do design & already have a Cricut. I highly recommend this cutter for those who quilt or are sewists. I admit I did completely geek out that you can actually put seam allowances in the designs. For new die cutting owners I never heard any one say "I hate this cutter." The more advanced users do have some issues with it. Brother is a good company I bet they are working to fix those issues. If you have a good quilting or sewing machine store in your area I bet you they have a Scan Cut you can actually try and ask questions about it. I do have a feeling I will be adding a Scan Cut in my home. My DH is a quilter.

I hope that helps. I was trying not to turn my reviews into a book.

I wanted to add another Cricut/Cameo thing. I have been working with my Explore a lot this week. I made my own SVG design that is complex. I used Inkscape for my designing. I did import it using Cricut Explore. I can say with 100% certainty if you design SVG's then the Explore is a bit frustrating to use. I made a node error. That is a common mistake. I just couldn't fix the error in Cricut Explore. I had to fix the error in Inkscape, then upload it again in the Explore. Then I made another mistake fixing the node error and had to go through all the same steps again. Cricut Explore won't let you see nodes.

Silhouette Cameo I fix my node and that's it. Doesn't matter if I designed in Inkscape. Silhouette will let me see the nodes. Cricut Explore you can't see the nodes. That is beyond frustrating, least for me. I guess you can tell I am still a bit frustrated, lol. That was a tiring session for a tiny mistake. I am one of those girls who always say it's a learning experience.

I will have to say I can't recommend the Explore if you do design. I think it's too basic as it stands right now. Maybe, in a year that will change. I do think Cricut would like to keep this machine basic and easy to understand for those who want to create and not make complex designs.

scrapnnana- I remember that Sizzix was opening an e-store when the new version of the E-clips came out. I don't know if that ever came about. If it did I am thinking it's not a very big store. You would think we would hear about the designs. I bet it's small like BossKut's e-store.

The Brother Scan N Cut doesn't require a computer ever if you don't want it. Very easy scan pictures in and then cut them. I love my mom's. You pretty much do everything on it without even opening a app up on the computer plus you can add to it by using a usb storage card. Does everything that the other two do without being dependent on cartridges or images that are really not yours(Cricut makes you pay for the use of them as does Silhouette). Plus make easier for people that are not tech savvy.

I would love to hear more about German carbide blades. Anyone have any info on those?

I have toggled buying the CBO9 blades, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I did join a FB group on CBO9 and they seem to cut nicely.

Those sound awesome. Where can I get Cameo ones and do they come in a plastic holder or are they the same as CBO9? 

I've been trying to find 3rd party "better" blades for the scan n cut. Do you know if anyone has been making them for that machine? 

Gale- I was watching videos this weekend of the Scan n Cut. I think it's a Roland machine. The motor sounds like a Roland Machine.

I just went and looked at the blades. No, those are not standard Roland blades. I read on the MTC forum somebody said they used their Wishblade blades.

I didn't realize the Scan n Cut blades are that expensive for the machine. My DH wanted to know about the machine because of quilting. I knew that was going to happen. I saw the Scan N Cut is importing PES files. I am so intrigued to know about this. I have my Brother embroidery machine. I am glad you brought up the blades. That is pretty expensive consumable. I will keep researching and see if I can find anything. I will post if I find an alternative.

Cameo users I did an Ebay search for you on the CB09 blade holder with the carbide blades- www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=graphtec%20cemented%20carbide%20cb09%20blades&clk_rvr_id=964886791259&mfe=search I hope that is a good start for you.

Just so you know Cricut will add your carts manually. You would have to take pictures of the physical carts and email them. All my carts linked to my Gypsy were linked to Cricut Craftroom when I  used my Expression 2. When I got my Explore, I  used the same sign in for Design Space and all my carts were there. I no longer use the Gypsy and have sucessfully added new carts from the port in my Explore into Design Space. There are some problems with certain cartridges like George which have to be manually put into Design Space.

Though from what I know you have to link your Gypsy to Craft Room to get your cartridges into your account. You can't link the Gypsy to Design Space. HTH.

Thank you, OntarioScrapper. I appreciate knowing that I can get my carts added manually by Cricut/Provo Craft. I do have the physical cartridges. I just don't have time to sit down and take pictures of over 100 cartridges. We are renovating, selling, and then moving halfway across the country. Maybe by Black Friday 2016 I can consider this issue a bit more when I have unpacked and actually have a scrapbook room. Maybe by then they will have fixed the things I don't like, such as the online requirement and lack of design ability within the software.

I don't need the Explore. I would love to cut my cartridge designs more accurately when sizing down. I want to be able to cut leather. Other than that, I am perfectly happy with my Cameo. I cut vinyl with it all the time, I make my own designs and cut them. It handles the things I need most, and I can cut my cartridge designs on my Expression.

But maybe someday.

Okay, here is my opinion on what is happening with Cricut, but keep in mind, all that follows is only my opinion:

I remember the days when the Wishblade was the first personal electronic cutters available to crafters in the U.S.  It was challenging for many to learn to use.  I saw lots of reviews from frustrated users saying the Wishblade was crap.  It wasn't.  It was a good machine, but it took a lot of determination and persistence for me to learn, even using the written tutorials of experienced users.  I had paid more for mine than those who bought theirs later, so I made myself spend the time to learn how to use it.  Once I knew the ropes, it was fairly easy for me. I loved that machine!  Most people absolutely hated it. With a passion. And they were very, very vocal.  You don't see the Wishblade anymore. Xyron gave up on it, although Silhouette survived.  The Portrait is basically the same machine.  Their software was slightly different, but really, I think it came down to Silhouette got smarter about customer service and survived.  Xyron didn't seem to want to spend the effort, so they went back to focusing on the Xyron adhesive tools and dumped the Wishblade.

The Explore is not as easy to use as the Cricut Baby Bug and the first Expression.  I feel that the Expression was the easiest electronic cutter for crafters, especially crafters who were not used to using graphics programs.  It was targeted to that group.  The problem was the cost of cartridges really added up over time.  The Provo Craft customer service has often been a problem, yet they have managed to stay in the cutter market.  The relative ease of the Expression to use is a big reason why.  Another reason was that third party software allowed those who wanted to design their own cutting files to have the best of both worlds.

The lawsuit changed everything and customers suddenly dumped their Cricuts for Silhouettes.  Provo Craft had to get more competitive to win customers back.  They finally had a winner when they came out with the Explore.  The Explore is a great machine from all accounts, even if the software isn't the best.  Also, I could be wrong, but I think that the Provo Craft CEO created the software (based on some things I read online) or at least had a hand in it.  He has a computer programming background. That's part of the reason they hired him.

So I think the squelching opposition tactics they are using is to keep people from saying the machine is crap, like what happened with the Wishblade.  It's a good machine, but there is room for a lot of user error, especially with their software.  Unhappy customers can really submarine sales by bad mouthing the machine.  Some unhappy customers will just say the machine is junk, not realizing the software (and user error) was probably their problem.  Potential buyers might see reviews claiming the machine is crap, which discourages the potential buyers from taking the plunge. Even those who realize the software is the issue, are going to discourage potential buyers.  Provo Craft undoubtedly spent a lot of money to bring the Explore to the market. They can't afford to have another machine lose money for them like the Imagine did.  Besides, if the CEO was at least partly involved in developing the software, I suppose that it might be hard for him or Provo Craft to admit that anything about the software is faulty or causing problems for customers.

All of that is my opinion, but it makes sense to me that they are trying to silence any who don't praise the Explore.  A lot of money is on the line, after all.  It's really kind of sad, though, because if they'd had good software that could be used offline like Silhouette, it would probably steal the lion's share of the electronic cutter market.  The Explore is a great machine for the price, but a lot of potential customers may not believe it because of the frustrated customers who bad mouth it.

Anyway, I think that is probably the reason behind why customers are being silenced (unless they are part of the cheerleading squad).  I had really hoped that Provo Craft was actually starting to listen to customer concerns and be responsive to them, but it doesn't really seem like it.

At this point, I don't have time for a new cutter. Maybe I'll consider the Explore for this year's Black Friday, after we have moved and gotten unpacked.  In the meantime, I will be watching to see what direction Provo Craft customer service goes, and just keep on using my Cameo as I have time.