Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: Which One Is Right For Your Needs?

 Today we will compare the Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3 from every angle to understand better which machine is right for you according to your needs and budget.


It is very exciting to enter the Cricut world. But, if you don’t research enough, you could buy the wrong Cricut machine or equipment. On the other hand, if you already have a Cricut machine, you may wonder whether you need to upgrade or if the equipment you already have will work with these new Cricut machines.

No matter what part of your journey, this comparison of Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3 will provide you with all the information you need to see which is right for you and your budget.

Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: Overview


For the serious crafter who wants to work with a variety of tools and materials or anyone who wants to sell their work, it’s probably worth spending on a more costly and comprehensive machine.


Some serious crafters get everything they need from the Cricut Explore 3; it’s definitely no slouch. If it does everything you want to make, why pay more money on Cricut Maker?

Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: Similarities

Here are some of the similarities between Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3. Both Cricut Maker 3 and Explore 3 are great cutting machines. They both are high-quality, heavy, and strong.

Sometimes you buy products that you think are about to break. These Cricut machines feel sturdy and are built with class and good taste. With both Cricut machines, you will have:

  • Both Cricut machines work free with the same software, Cricut Design Space.
  • Upload your personal projects and designs.
  • Free Ready to Cut Projects: Each Cricut machine has over 100 free projects. Projects ready to cut typically cost money that you can get through individual purchases or a monthly or annual subscription called Cricut Access.
  • Both Cricut machines cut over 100 different materials – the most common – including paper, vinyl, fabric, leather, and more.
  • With both Cricut machines, you can cut, draw, score, and add foil effects with the “Foil Transfer Kit.”
  • Both Cricut machines cut 2x as fast as their predecessors when using smart materials.
  • Both Cricut machines have a sampler sheet of Smart Vinyl, Iron-on, and Smart Sticker cardstock.

Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: Major Differences

The Cricut Maker 3 is the top machine in the Cricut family. You can use this machine to create almost any type of project you can dream up. The Cricut Explore 3 does almost as much as the Cricut Maker 3 with little money. So, which machine performs best for you? Let’s take a look at what both these machines have to offer.


  • Comparison: Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3
  • Cricut Maker 3       
  • Cricut Explore 3

  • Material compatibility | 
  • 300+ | 
  • 100+
  • Insertable tools | 
  • 13 | 
  • 5
  • Cuts | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Writes | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Scores | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Debosses | 
  • Yes | 
  • No
  • Engraves | 
  • Yes | 
  • No
  • Commercial-grade performance |
  •  Yes | 
  • No
  • Print-then-cut | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Works with Design Space app      | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Bluetooth connectivity |
  •  Yes | 
  • Yes
  • USB connectivity |
  •  Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Utilizes Smart Materials | 
  • Yes | 
  • Yes
  • Maximum material width | 
  • 13 inches | 
  • 13 inches
  • Maximum material length    |
  • 12 feet | 
  • 12 feet
  • Color | 
  • Soft pastel blue | 
  • Soft mint green


The Cricut Maker 3 includes two clamps inside the machine that can hold up to a dozen interchangeable tools, so you can cut, write, and score more than 300+ materials, including leather and basswood. You can use the same size material in the Cricut Explore 3 as you do in the Cricut Maker 3, up to 13 inches by 12 feet with the smart materials, or up to 13 by 12 inches on the cutting mat.


But, instead of a dozen tools, you can use with Cricut Maker 3, you can only use 5 in Cricut Explore 3. You can cut, write and score but not deboss or engrave. You can use more than 100+ materials with the Cricut Explore 3, and you can’t use thicker materials like basswood and leather.

Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: What’s Included in the Box


Cricut Maker 3 | Cricut Explore 3
Cricut Maker 3 machine | Cricut Explore 3 machine
Power Cable | Power Cable
Fine Point Blade | Fine Point Blade
Free trial subscription plan to Cricut Access (for new users) | Free trial subscription plan to Cricut Access (for new users)
Materials for practice cuts | Materials for practice cuts

Cricut Maker 3 vs Explore 3: Which Machine You Should Get?

While you can’t cut thicker materials with the Cricut Explore 3, you can still do quite a bit. You can use more than 100+ different materials like paper, cardstock, vinyl, HTV, infusible ink, and more.

You can cut, score and write. You can use the print-then-cut feature, which involves sending a design to your printer and then inserting it into the Cricut machine to be cut out. This is great for making cards and stickers. Also, you can put a pen in the tool clamp and write on your creations directly. Make no mistake; the Cricut Explore 3 is still a serious cutting machine with plenty of space for newbies. You’ll still need some dedicated area in your house for doing projects. You can undoubtedly start a small business using Cricut Explore 3, and you won’t be able to cut thick materials like wood and leather. If you don’t see yourself taking advantage of Cricut Maker 3, why pay the extra money?
Visit for more info:-   Cricut.com/Setup 
Cricut.com/Setup 

Location: JP92+8C Sevier, UT, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Use Cricut Pens ?

Have you been looking for  a way to make your Cricut machine even more useful? Have you found that traditional scissors, which are often used for cutting and trimming fabrics, are not enough because the little blades tend to break and create uneven cuts? If so, you may want to try using the Cricut pens. These pens allow users to cut fabric with ease without worrying about unnecessary wear and tear on their machine or having a difficult time implementing their design. This blog post is ideal if you're looking for ways in which your Cricut machine can be better utilized. It will also help beginners learn how they can use these pens to make all of their designs come true. What Are Cricut Pens? Cricut pens are simply markers that can be used to cut materials like paper and fabric. They are available in different colors, making it easier for users to find the ones they need. Like other types of ink pens, they can also be used on magnets, glass, mirrors and more. They might not be as eff
Read more

What is Cricut EasyPress 2 Machine? [Design & Specs]

Image
Since the pandemic, working from home has become the new norm, and most of us have too much free time on our hands as we don't have to waste our time commuting. With so much free time, we often let our imagination run wild and devise a certain idea that would surprise us. Although our dream may not have boundaries, we are resources indeed limited. Finding tools and materials that can transform our vision into reality.  Since our limited resources, we must invest in such tools and materials carefully. The market is full of tools and materials that can help you with craft making, but only some tools prove useful; one such tool is Cricut EasyPress 2. This blog will discuss everything you need to know about it and whether it is worth buying. What is EasyPress 2? EasyPress 2 is a heat press machine from Cricut that allows users to easily imprint graphic designs to a variety of materials, most usually fabrics and clothes. Iron-on and heat-transfer vinyl methods are the most effective way
Read more

How To Use Cricut Heat Transfer Vinyl on A Cricut Machine?

If you are a beginner in the world of heat transfer vinyl , this blog is dedicated to you. Here, you will learn how to use Cricut heat transfer vinyl on Cricut. The Heat transfer vinyl helps you customize T-shirts with your favorite design or quote. However, the iron-on vinyl is not good for T-shirts. But you can use it on tote bags, leather notebooks, shoes, and wood. Let’s move to making your craft using heat transfer vinyl on Cricut.  We are using Cricut Maker and Cricut Design Space in this blog. The Design Space is software integrated with all Cricut machines, such as Cricut Explore, Explore Air 2, and Cricut Maker. The steps we provide will be applied to all types of Cricut machines but will definitely have some different points for the Cricut Maker.  Materials & Tools You Will Need To make this craft, you will need heat transfer vinyl, a blank shirt, a tote bag, a onesie, etc. Also, there is a huge variety of Cricut heat transfer vinyl you can choose from.  Tools & Equ
Read more