Cricut Explore Air 2 vs. Cricut Maker Comparison: Read This Before Buying!

cricut maker vs explore air 2 comparison

First of all, if you’re reading this you’re probably thinking about purchasing a Cricut – yay! But when you see that there are different types your next question is, “What’s the difference and which one should I buy?”

Not to worry, I’m going to break down the Cricut Explore vs. Cricut Maker Series comparison below as clearly and simply as possible so you can confidently make a decision at the end of this post which is right for you.

Now if your question is whether you should buy a Cricut machine at all then that is easy!

YES! This machine will seriously change the way that you craft forever. Prior to buying my Cricut, I would hoard DIY projects on a Pinterest board, but never do them. But, when I purchased my Cricut, actually started doing them because it makes it so much easier and fun to finish handmade projects in a fraction of the time!

This post is NOT sponsored and all opinions are completely genuine and honest. It does contain affiliate links, which help SVG & Me make money on your purchases at absolutely zero added cost to you. Awesome right? Thanks for your support that makes it possible for us to offer so much free content to you.

Goals of this post:

  • Decide which Cricut machine is right for you
  • Save you time and confusion by simplifying the decision as much as possible
  • Clarify any questions you have on the differences between the machines

Only have 5 seconds because the kids are screaming at you? Scroll to the bottom to read my final verdict. However, I do recommend reading through the post to make sure which machine is right for you.

Personally, I like to review tables and bulleted lists much more than long paragraphs of text, so that’s typically the style I use when writing these types of posts to keep things as simple and clear as possible. I hope you find it helpful.

Cricut Maker vs Explore Air 2 Comparison: Which is right for you?

Back to the old Venn diagram days of elementary school, I think they are actually helpful when summarizing the capabilities of the Explore Air 2 vs the Cricut Maker:

Essentially, the Cricut Maker can do everything the Explore Air 2 can and MORE!

Cricut Explore Air 2 vs. Cricut Maker Comparison

I have an Explore Air 2 now. Do I need to upgrade?

If you have an Explore Air 2 already, do NOT feel like you immediately need to upgrade. It is kind of like when the latest iPhone comes out and you can get sucked in by all the hype of the new features, but your current one still works perfectly well.

So, if you really want the latest and greatest features you can upgrade, but don’t feel like it is a necessity because Cricut will stop supporting your current machine because that’s not the case at all.

However, I will say that I ended up upgrading to the Cricut Maker and absolutely love it, so you will definitely not regret it when you do. Plus, the Maker is now starting to go on sale compared to when it was first released so it may be the time to start considering the upgrade if you’ve been thinking about it.

Best deal I’ve found for the Explore Air 2

Click here to get the lowest price on the Cricut Explore Air 2

What’s new with the Cricut Maker? aka What can it do that the Explore Air 2 can’t?

  • It’s got a rotary blade so it cuts fabric and patterns WAY better than the Explore Air 2! This bad boy is definitely the star of the Cricut Maker and an amazing improvement on previous machines. The rotary blade cuts difficult materials like felt and fabric flawlessly (I am still amazed everytime!).  I used to never cut felt before either because it was always a pain with inconsistent results on the Air 2, but now with my Maker it is one of my favorite materials to cut!
    • To clarify, the Explore Air 2 can cut fabric but it requires a backing or stabilizer like Heat n’ Bond added to the fabric when matting and is no where near as effective because the blade pulls on the fabric and doesn’t give it those clean cuts like a spinning rotary blade does.
  • You can use colored or patterned paper when you print + cut. Life changing? No. Nice to have? Absolutely. The way I envision using this is that you can now print a graphic like Happy Valentine’s Day on a cute heart pattern paper and then die cut around it. So, you don’t have to waste your ink printing the background on white paper, which is great.
  • The knife blade allows you to cut with 10x more pressure and through thicker (up to 2.44mm thick), sturdier materials than the Explore Air 2. So, if you like to be able to cut wood with your machine, then you should absolutely buy a Maker.
  • QuickSwap tool system – this fancy phrase basically means that the Maker was built to grow with you as a crafter and fit a whole host of new tools that Cricut has up their sleeves. I have heard rumors of up to 40 new blades they are talking about creating. So, if it will bum you out to not be able to use newly released attachments and blades, go with the Maker.

Now for the physical design changes of the Cricut Maker:

  • Charging port/device display holder – allows you to charge your phone or iPad as well as display it easily when creating projects.
  • More storage space for tools. The Maker now has an additional storage cup (2 instead of 1) and a larger storage drawer built in.
  • Got rid of the smart dial to select the material type: At first I wasn’t sure if I would like this change, but I can now say that I love it! Why? Instead of having to get up and adjust your dial on your machine, you can easily make all material changes from your computer as you’re setting up your design to cut. Plus, it teaches you to use the wide range of custom materials instead of just the ones that can fit on the smart dial.
  • No open button. You can watch how it opens in the video above, but basically you just pull up on the cover slightly.
  • No cartridge port. If you are a long time Cricut user and still have cartridges from one of your older machines, you have to buy an adapter to be able to use them with the Maker. For new users that haven’t owned a Cricut before, you don’t have to worry about this.

QUICK DECISION GUIDE: Which Cricut machine fits your specific needs?

Perhaps my favorite part of this post that you can pin on your Pinterest boards to refer back to are the two graphics below. The first summarizes the feature differences we described above in a quick and easy format and the second helps you decide which machine suits your needs?

Cricut Maker vs. Cricut Explore Air Comparison: Which is Better?

Where should I buy my Cricut to get the best deal?

Here’s the best deal I know about for the Explore Air 2.

You can get the Cricut Maker here. Personally, I recommend buying it through the Cricut website to ensure if anything were to go wrong with it, you can easily work directly with Cricut and don’t have to deal with the third party too. Shipping is free for large purchases like this so you don’t have to worry about that.

You may be thinking “Oh, I should get it at Michael’s and use their 40% off coupon. It doesn’t work apply to buying this item. I tried when I was making sure I gave you the best recommendation possible.

THE VERDICT IS IN!

I highly recommend you buy the Cricut Maker

It is hands down the best long term investment because you can get a ton of use out of it and it will work with all the latest and greatest upgrades and add-ons that Cricut releases. There’s no denying these machines are expensive, so it’s best to buy one that will last you the longest and is the most powerful and versatile with what it can cut!

With the Cricut Maker, you can cut fabric, felt, wood, and leather SO much better than you ever could with the Explore series machines – I have been seriously blown away!

Plus, it has started to go on sale recently so you can find some great deals on it if you already have an Explore series and are looking to upgrade.

Best deal on the Cricut Maker

Click here to get the deal

My only caveat to this recommendation is if you really just want to focus on paper crafts and are totally content with the current features of the Explore Air 2 (and won’t be upset if they release new blades you can’t use), then go with it and save the extra money.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: New Versions of the Explore and Maker Released!

Recently, Cricut released a new version of both the Explore and the Maker series machines: the Cricut Explore 3 and the Cricut Maker 3.

Which version should you buy?

Many people try to overcomplicate it but the main difference is really just that the newest machines (3 series) can cut without a mat using Smart Materials.

This allows them to perform longer cuts (up to about 4 feet for some materials).

Read in depth on the comparison here:

I hope this comparison helped you come to a clear and confident decision about which machine is right for you. If you still have any questions, let me know in the comments below and I will try to help.

11 Shockingly Useful Cricut Accessories You’ll Be Rushing to Buy

11 Shockingly Useful Cricut Accessories You Didn't Know You Needed

Sometimes the most useful tools come in the most surprising packages. That is the case for each of these “Cricut” accessories. I put that in quotes because none of them were created for Cricut users and yet they are surprisingly perfect for many needs of the Cricut crafter.

Intrigued? Let’s go ahead and check out these weird but insanely useful Cricut accessories that you didn’t know you needed.

Please note this post contains affiliate links that may give me a small percentage of of the purchase at zero added cost to you!

1. Wrapping Paper Cutter

While this little tool was created to cut wrapping paper, what Cricut crafting item is very similar to wrapping paper?

If you guessed vinyl rolls then you are correct! This baby doubles as a vinyl cutter and is a great addition to the Cricut crafter’s toolbox. Scissors can lead to jagged edges and these long rolls can be a pain to try to feed through a paper cutter. So, this is the perfect solution to use instead!

Buy Now (or this cheaper alternative but mixed reviews)

2. Dental Hook

While these hooks are marketed and manufacturer for a dentist, they can also be a crafters best friend! Don’t you see the similarity to a weeding hook! Yep, these are a great inexpensive alternative or replacement for your trusty weeding hook to use on all your vinyl projects.

Buy Now

3. Clip-on Level

One of the toughest parts about applying vinyl to a large surface (e.g. a wall decal) is trying to make sure it’s straight when you apply it. Here is the key to getting this right that will save you from tons of wasted vinyl:

Using the hinge method so you have ample time to play around and perfect the placement of the decal before sticking it down. I teach you step-by-step how to do this in Mastering Your Cricut in 21 Days.

Now, the beauty of the hinge method, you have plenty of time to readjust and make sure your design is straight. However, that becomes MUCH easier to do with large wall decals and similar projects if you have this tool!

You can clip this level on to the bottom of your vinyl design and adjust the top hinge until you have it just right!

Buy Now

4. Painter’s Tape

Painter’s tape is one of those items that I am still discovering new uses for it when I am crafting. It is SO versatile and helpful in countless ways like securing materials to mats or taping down stencils. You won’t believe how often you’ll be reaching for it in your craft drawer.

Buy Now

5. Nail Polish Holder Ring

You know when you are weeding intricate designs and you have those tiny pieces of vinyl stuck to your weeding hook and you keep having to pull them off with your fingers. Well, no more!

This genius solution using a nail polish holder ring allows you to weed without having to constantly pause and pull off those vinyl bits. Instead, you put it on your non weeding hand that is holding down your vinyl and simply slide your weeding hook in and up the side of it to remove the vinyl bits hands-free!

Buy Now

P.S. If you don’t want to buy this item, you can also do this by wrapping painter’s tape (see, I told you there are a million uses!) a few times around your non-weeding hand with the sticky side up. It’s a bit messier, but it works in a pinch.

6. Silicone Pad

If you apply HTV (heat transfer vinyl) with an EasyPress or iron, this is a must-have accessory in my book! It is much cheaper than the Cricut EasyPress Mat and is so sturdy and heat resistant that it is the perfect solution to apply HTV on.

Forget using towels or the other items they recommend, this is a much flatter and heat resistant surface for a much better HTV application.

Buy Now

7. Freezer Paper

Who knew that this kitchen item could be the secret to creating shirt stencils for SO much cheaper than other products. I use freezer paper all the time when painting designs on shirts using SpeedBall screen printing ink. This is actually my favorite method for creating shirts because it can get that more natural distressed which I prefer over HTV.

Freezer paper is quite fragile and can tear easily, so just be careful with your cut settings and don’t try to cut overly intricate designs.

Oh, and make sure you get the “plastic coated” type!

Buy Now

P.S. In Mastering Your Cricut in 21 Days, I let you in on my secret hack for cutting freezer paper without it tearing, which will save you so much frustration (speaking from experience).

8. Heat N Bond

Cricut Explore series owners (Explore One, Explore Air 2, etc) listen up! This product is the secret to cutting fabric and felt with your machine. This is the best backing to add that stiffens it to be able to cut and it adds an adhesive backing so you can then apply to tote bags, pillows, etc. I love this stuff!

If you have a Cricut Maker, you don’t have to add this stuff thanks to the amazing rotary blade that cuts fabric and felt without backing, but I still use it sometimes for the adhesive backing.

Buy Now

9. Foam Brush

Do you love rhinestone projects? Well, then you need this accessory! It may look quite simple, but I am telling you this little foam brush will save you SO much time when applying rhinestones into your templates.

You know that painstaking process of ensuring that all the rhinestones are facing up? Well, just brush the rhinestones over your template in a circular motion with this brush and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be finished!

Buy Now

10. Foam and Teflon Sheets

If you’ve attended our free Common Cricut Mistakes MasterClass, you may remember this hack! You can create your own pressing pillows for a fraction of the cost in minutes using just foam and Teflon sheets. Check out the Masterclass for more details, but basically you just create a cover for the foam using the Teflon sheet and sew around the edges.

Pressing pillows are a serious lifesaver when applying HTV because the #1 reason your HTV isn’t sticking is because you aren’t getting good contact and pressure with your design. That’s where pressing pillows come in and this DIY solution can save you over $50!

Buy Now: Foam // Teflon Sheets

11. Handheld Squeegee

I got my first one of these as a free bonus when I bought some transfer tape and I prefer it hands-down over the Cricut scraper for a couple reasons: 1) it’s longer so you can burnish down those vinyl decals faster and 2) it has a foam edge so it gentler on your designs and prevents you from damaging the vinyl as you burnish. I seriously love these things and will never go without them again! They’re definitely my best friend when applying vinyl decals.

Buy Now

Which of these shocking but super useful Cricut accessories have you already rushed over to buy? Let us know in the comments below or share you own surprising must-have accessories! Thanks for reading!