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What Cricut Actually Sells
Cricut makes home crafting cutting machines — essentially precision cutters that connect to an app on your phone or computer and cut designs into vinyl, paper, iron-on material, fabric, and a long list of other materials. Beyond the machines themselves, they sell the materials, tools, and a subscription service called Cricut Access that unlocks a library of fonts and premade designs.
Is Cricut Worth It?
Honestly, it depends entirely on whether you'll actually use it regularly. Mine sat unused for two months because I underestimated the learning curve, and I know a few other people who bought one for a single project and then let it collect dust. For someone who genuinely gets into it — making gifts, labels, shirts, home decor — it pays for itself over time compared to buying those items premade. For a one-off project, it might not be worth the upfront cost and the time it takes to learn the software.
Finding a Cricut Discount Code Before You Buy a Machine
Cricut runs sales fairly often, especially around holidays and back-to-school periods, and codes tend to apply as a percentage off machines, material bundles, or sometimes the Cricut Access subscription itself. Machine bundles that include starter materials are usually a better value than buying the machine alone and materials separately, so it's worth comparing the bundle price against a code applied to the base machine before deciding which route saves more.
I almost bought the base machine alone with a discount code, not realizing a bundle deal running at the same time actually worked out cheaper once you factored in the starter materials I'd need to buy separately anyway. Comparing both options before checking out saved me about $40 in the end.
Here's what it actually looks like once a working code is applied and the discount shows up in the order total below.
Choosing Between Joy, Explore, and Maker
This is the question that stalled me for weeks before I even bought mine. Broadly: the Joy is the smallest and most limited, good for simple projects and portability, but not built for more advanced or larger projects. The Explore line sits in the middle, handling a wide range of common materials for most hobbyist needs. The Maker is the most capable, able to cut thicker and more specialized materials like leather and fabric with the right blade attachment, and it's the one I'd recommend if you're planning to get seriously into crafting rather than dabbling occasionally.
A Rough Guide Based on What I've Learned
- Joy — best for simple, small projects and portability; not ideal if you want to do a wide range of materials
- Explore — the middle ground, handles most common crafting materials well for regular hobbyist use
- Maker — most versatile, handles thicker materials, worth it if you're planning to actually stick with crafting long-term
- Don't buy based on price alone — buy based on what materials you actually plan to cut regularly
Do You Need Cricut Access to Use the Machine?
No, the machine works without a subscription — you can use your own designs or free ones available in the app. Cricut Access is a paid subscription that unlocks a large library of premade fonts and designs, which is convenient if you don't want to design everything from scratch, but it's genuinely optional rather than required for the machine to function.
The Blade Depth Mistake I Made (And How to Avoid It)
My very first cut failed because I skipped the material setting step, assuming "vinyl" was close enough to whatever default the machine started on. The app actually walks you through selecting your exact material before cutting, which adjusts blade pressure and depth automatically — skipping that step, or picking a similar-but-wrong material, is probably the single most common reason a first project goes wrong. Once I started actually selecting the correct material every time instead of guessing, the failed-cut problem basically disappeared.
Material Compatibility and Beginner Project Ideas
Depending on the machine model, Cricut can cut vinyl, iron-on transfer material, cardstock, paper, fabric, and with the Maker specifically, thicker materials like leather or basswood using specialized blades. For a first project, I'd genuinely recommend starting smaller than you think — a simple vinyl decal or an iron-on design on a plain shirt — rather than jumping straight into something ambitious like I tried to on day one.
Mistakes I Made So You Don't Have To
- I ruined my first roll of vinyl by not adjusting the blade depth setting before cutting
- I let the machine sit unused for two months because I underestimated the learning curve
- I almost bought the base machine with a code instead of comparing it against a bundle deal that worked out cheaper
- I bought the wrong machine tier for what I actually wanted to make, and had to learn workarounds instead of just having the right tool
People Also Ask
Is Cricut worth it?
It depends on how regularly you'll actually use it. For frequent crafters making gifts, decor, or apparel, it pays for itself over time. For a single project or occasional use, the upfront cost and learning curve might not be worth it compared to buying premade items.
Do you need Cricut Access to use a Cricut machine?
No, the machine functions without a subscription. Cricut Access is an optional paid add-on that unlocks a library of premade fonts and designs, but you can use your own designs or free ones without subscribing.
What is the difference between Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker?
The Explore handles a wide range of common crafting materials well for most hobbyist projects. The Maker is more versatile and powerful, able to cut thicker and more specialized materials like leather and fabric with the right blade, making it the better choice for more advanced or varied projects.
Does Cricut offer student discounts?
Student discount promotions have been offered at various points, though availability isn't constant. Check for a currently active code or promotion rather than assuming a past student discount is still valid.
What materials can a Cricut machine cut?
Depending on the model, Cricut machines can cut vinyl, iron-on transfer material, cardstock, paper, and fabric, with the Maker able to handle thicker specialty materials like leather or basswood using the appropriate blade attachment.
