Cricut or silhouette

I love my Silhouette. I've not used a Cricut in years as my Silhouette will cut any file I find that I want.

I had an original Cricut years ago that I sold in order to buy an original Silhouette. The Cameo was released a few months later, I sold the Silhouette and bought the Cameo. About a year or so ago, I sold my original Cameo and bought the Cameo 3. Obviously I'm a Silhouette girl! I can't comment on the newer Cricuts, but from what I understand they have come a LONG way. Hedgehog Hollow has a Youtube video comparing them, and she opted for the Cricut... Silhouette has a couple of new machines coming out very soon. Depending on your needs, you might want to wait. I'm actually thinking about selling my Cameo 3 and buying one of the new ones when they become available.

Another happy Silhouette user.

Team Silhouette here

I am a long time Silhouette user. I have the Cameo 3 now. I also just recently purchased the Cricut Explore Air 2.
I do think the Cricut is easier to use. I also think it cuts intricate designs a little better. I purchased it because I needed Disney designs, and while I could get them for the Silhouette- Cricut has license rights and its just easier. I also had old cartridges I wanted to be able to use.
With all that being said I love my Silhouette, if I had to choose its a definite winner. I like the software better and also the designs.

*You can download the software for both and try them out without the machines. It lets you see how they work! (Cricut is online. Silhouette you dl to your computer)

**Do watch Silhouette has new machines coming out in the next couple of months I believe.

I have both a Silhouette Cameo and a Provo Craft Cricut Explore Air 2.

Cricut is easier to use for a novice, but the software is limited. It is geared towards those who want to just buy or download files. Cricut hopes you’ll just buy their designs. Most Cricut owners will end up buying some. I have bought more Cricut designs than I ever expected to buy. They do have Disney designs and other cute files.

Silhouette, while not quite as easy to use out of the box, can do so much more than Cricut IMO. There are tons of easy tutorials to help you to learn just about anything.

Cricut will cut thicker materials than Silhouette. That is why I bought my Explore, but I don’t use it very often. I prefer my Silhouette because it has better, more capable software.

Another issue is whether or not your internet connection is good. While Cricut has promised eventual offline software, they can be slow to keep promises.

Cricut users have waited years for a simple offset function to create mats for letters, words, shapes, etc. An offset function is considered basic and is one of the most used functions for cutting software, but the Cricut software doesn’t have it even though customers have requested it for years.

Silhouette has had the offset function and has never required the internet to work, other than to install the software. It does use the Cloud to store files now, but you can make back up copies of their designs. Cricut is paranoid about their designs being shared. It is a valid concern, but they take it to the extreme. When too many people are online, the software has been known to bog down, crash, or not be able to cut. Silhouette doesn’t have that issue.

If you are willing and able to watch online tutorials to learn how to use the software, I would recommend the Silhouette. If that seems too overwhelming and intimidating, or if you need to cut thick materials such as soft leather, you might prefer a Cricut.

I second the suggestion to download the software for both. Watch some tutorials for each. You can use both softwares to do everything but actually cut, so you can see which you prefer.

I always found the Cameo harder to use. I like that they have new images all of the time. I just did not like having to use a computer with it all of the time. They have an app but I can’t get it to do anything.
I like the Cricuts better, either Maker or Explore. More user friendly, in my opinion. You do need fast internet and you need to be online to use it. I use it with my IPad. I love not having to use my computer with it. I like the Maker better than the Cameo. Just my opinion.

I have done extensive reviews on the cutters. If you search you can find my threads.

I am going to touch base on a few points the ladies have made.

My big advice, this is the biggest advice and most important you need to feel comfortable using the software. Both Cricut & Silhouette software is free. Try them both out and see what feels best for you. You will spend all your time using the software for your choice machine.

You can cut thicker material on the Silhouette. I do all the time. You can cut leather on the Cameo and it cuts nicely. You do not need to buy a Cricut to cut out heavier material. Yes, the Maker & the new Cameo 4 coming out are a different type of machine for heavy duty cutting. The Explore and Cameo 2-3 lines do just fine cutting out heavier material. Don't get that in your mental space that you need to pick one machine over the other to work with heavier material. Cameo will need to do more passes for cutting. That is not a bad thing or deal breaker.

For years I carried two machines just so I could have one to cut out heavy materials. I even reviewed them like that. That is now outdated info. The software improvements in the Cameo allow for heavy cutting. It is cheaper to buy a deep cut blade for your Cameo than a seperate machine.

Cricut will be releasing offline software in the next couple of months. You will be able to work offline on your iPad and your computer.

Which one do I choose? My Brother ScannCut, lol. It fits my needs. At my experience level I can make it do everything the Cameo can. I retired my Cameo to my DH's garage.

I also have a Cricut Explore Air. I don't use it much. It really has nothing to with any Cricut cons. I just use my ScannCut more. I do love my Cricut for paper piecing. That is a personal preference. All the machines do paper piecing wonderfully. I am just use to Cricut since I have used it for years to make my layered files.

I do like it for Print & Cut. This was another thing I gave harsh reviews on when Cricut came out. The Print & Cut has improved. I know how to back door a lot of things when I need my special things for printing.

I use to say the Cameo was my sticker machine. If you love to make stickers. Then Cameo really does shine. With the recent improvements with Cricut it has become my new sticker machine. One again personal preference and expertise level.

Cameo & Cricut are both good machines. They have their strong and weak points. The big thing is the software and your comfort level using it.

Also you can use Silhouette store files with your Cricut. You need to buy it in SVG format.