Please educate me on the latest die cutting machines

None of the newer machines use cartridges. The Cricut Explore Air 2 has a slot for the cartridge, but only to upload it to your account. I don't know about the Cricut Maker. I have the Explore Air 2. It is an excellent machine, but the software is limited. You can, however, use your fonts and SVG files with it. The Explore will cut heavier materials, including soft leather, which is the reason I bought it.

The Cricut software is easy to use, but it is online only. You need a good internet connection, and it goes down frequently at peak times.

The Cricut Maker is even newer. It was designed for those who sew. It had some issues soon after release, but they may have fixed them. I don't know enough about it.

I also own the Silhouette Cameo 2, and the Brother Scan N Cut 2.

I bought the Scan N Cut for cutting out stamped images. Sometimes it works well, sometimes not. It depends on the stamp. It needs a good, solid outline, or a fully colored stamped image to cut well. I use it as a stand alone machine. I do not want to connect it to my computer. For one thing, my Cameo is connected to my computer, and I can do more with my Cameo.

I use my Silhouette Cameo for nearly everything, but especially scrapbooking, card making, and vinyl projects. Of the 3, it is my preferred machine, but the software is not as easy to use as Cricut's. There are tutorials online, though, and I think it is worth it, because the software has far more capability than Cricut's.

In a nutshell, the Silhouette Cameo is a good machine, with exceptional software that lets you turn pretty much anything you want into a cutting file.

Cricut Explore cuts slightly better detail, heavier materials, but has mediocre software. The software is easy to use, though. It's made for those who are content to buy Cricut designs and cut them.

The Scan N Cut appeals to stampers. It can be used for other things, too, but it is geared to people who stamp but don't want to have to buy matching dies. They now have a newer, more expensive version. I don't think it's worth the higher price tag, however.

Just my 2 cents. And yes, I have all three machines: Silhouette Cameo, Cricut Explore, and Brother Scan N Cut. I had to save up for each one. If I had to stick with only one, it would be my Silhouette Cameo, especially since I mostly do paper crafting and vinyl projects.

I agree with everything that scrapnnana said above. I will add that the Silhouette software is a free download. You can always download the software and play around with it while watching tutorials. That way you can get an idea if the software is for you or not before deciding on a purchase.

Have fun!

I have an old Cricut Expression with SCAL (pre-lawsuit) and it works fine for my needs but if it dies, I won't be buying another Cricut. I don't care for Provo Craft's business practices and customer service.

I would go with Silhouette Cameo if I were buying today.

I have several machines and my favorite is the Silhouette Cameo. I just used to make a vinyl sign for my friend today. I have hundreds of free fonts loaded and it was pretty easy to learn.

I started with the baby circuit and went to the Silhouette. I didn't find it that technically challenging because there are so many helpful YouTube videos. I love not having to use cartridges or be connected to the internet to use it.

I got rid of my Cricut when we moved. I now have a Gemini and really like it. No cartridges and no computer. The new refreshing ideas from Crafters Companion in England are making card making exciting, ex...check out the new storybook die set...sold out on HSN right away this week.

This exactly. 

I have a Cricut Maker and I adore it. I started with a baby bug years ago (like when it first came out) and moved onto an Expression. I was pretty meh about both machines. They only cut OK and using it with SCAL was frustrating.
I upgraded to a Sizzix Eclips and adored it. You can use both SCAL and cartridges, which I enjoyed. It was a workhorse machine and cute everything really well. I really enjoyed it and I'm sure the newer one (I think Eclips 2?) is also excellent.
My craft space changed and it was very difficult for me to use a computer with my machine. Even using a laptop meant dragging it upstairs, plugging it into the machine and fiddling around to cut stuff. So I just never used it.
I decided to try Cricut again and I am so very glad I did. For me, the ability to use my ipad sealed the deal. I can cut with bluetooth with no problem. However, we have excellent wifi, so using the software online to cut has never ever been an issue for me. I know some find the software limiting, but I have never had that experience. Everything that I have wanted to create I can do. I have done page titles, print and cut with photos, etc. You can very easily convert virtually any image you find to one you can cut with Cricut. Simple shapes are fast and easy with my tablet as well. You can get a cricut access subscription and have access to most of their images, or not. Basic shapes are part of the software.
I have a Maker. I am not a sewer and would probably be alright with the 2, but I like the capability's of the machine and that is the only one that will accept some of the newer "blades" like the rotary and the rotary score.

I have a bit of a weird story! I am lagging behind, but I use Cricut design studio, and a rehabbed Cricut cake machine that I picked up for 50 bucks and put a cutting blade into rather than the blade for fondant, etc. Works great! (not sure how much $ you have to work with, but this could be a pretty cheap solution)

I am going to add More:

An electronic cutter is an investment. You want and expect to be able to use it until it wears out. All machinery will wear out eventually.

In my opinion, Silhouette has a better "track record" for longevity than Cricut. By that, I mean that Cricut has had a tendency to discontinue machines eventually, and no longer support them. Their biggest fiasco was the Imagine (a print and cut machine, which had a tendency to catch on fire). Cricut/Provo Craft makes money by developing and selling new machines. They sued the third party software companies that made their older machines more versatile. The Gypsy (small, portable device for allowing users to weld designs, etc.) was discontinued and replaced with Cricut Craft Room, but which is no longer an option for most who own the older machines. If you weren't using it frequently and regularly, you got dumped when they stopped supporting it and the older machines.

Silhouette, on the other hand, uses machines made by Graphtec, who have been in business for a very, very long time (longer than Cricut). They have added features to their newer machines, but they do not just ignore the needs of customers with older machines that still work. They have been savvy about their software. You can still download older versions of their software. The blades and mats work with all the machines, older as well as newer.

My overall experience with customer support for both Cricut and Silhouette has been far better with Silhouette. Neither is perfect, but Silhouette at least tries to get you to someone who can actually deal with your problem. Maybe it has changed, but my experience with Cricut support is that they have a script, and if your issue does not fit the script, they are clueless. Silhouette at least seems to have people who know more than I do, not less.

For additional context, here is my history with electronic cutters:

My first was the old blue Wishblade in 2005. It never stopped working. It can still work with the Silhouette software. I just moved on.

My second machine was the Bosskut Gazelle. I wanted the 12x12 capability, and I wanted a machine that would allow me to create my own designs as I had been able to do with my Wishblade. I got it in exchange for creating file designs for someone who was selling them. I loved it, until it stopped communicating with my computer, and even my techie husband, and a new computer did not correct the issue.

Third machine was a Cricut Expression, because I wanted half a dozen cartridges (which grew in number and cost me far more than I ever intended to spend. I also bought the Gypsy, which malfunctioned and had to be replaced (fortunately, it was still under warranty).

When my Gazelle died, I bought the Silhouette Cameo 2 on Black Friday to replace it. It gets continual use and is still going strong.

The next machine I bought was the Cricut Expression 2, because I heard that it cut better details than the original Expression. I also had so much invested in cartridges by then, that I wanted a back up in case my Expression died.


In 2016, my son wanted to be able to cut leather, since he designed leather projects, so I bought a Cricut Explore. It's an excellent machine, but the software is not nearly as good as Silhouette's, as I mentioned above.

In January of 2018, I got tired of buying dies and bought the Brother Scan N Cut 2, because I do a lot of stamping.

Yes, I absolutely love electronic cutters. I have had to save up to buy each one, and I agonized over spending the money each time.

I have been researching, buying, and using various electronic cutters for almost 15 years. If I had to pick only one machine that met my needs and gave me the best value, use, and longevity for my dollar, as well as the best customer support, it would be the Silhouette Cameo.

You are the only one who can decide how to spend your money. I do recommend doing your own research into the various machines. You should consider your own needs. There is no machine that is going to be the perfect answer for everyone, because we have different needs.