Cricut Joy vs. Cricut Maker: Which to buy? (2023)

If you are serious about creating and have the funds, I highly recommend thecricut maker. It's clearly the more capable machine of the two, but they're not really competing in the same space. The Cricut Joy is a niche Cricut machine designed specifically for certain uses. Depending on the type of boat you want to do, I can suggest theCricut Joyinstead, or even both.

Cricut Joy vs Cricut Maker: Key Differences

The Cricut Maker is the top-of-the-line, full-size Cricut machine. You can do almost any type of project you dream of with this machine. The Cricut Joy is the cheapest of the Cricut machines and the smallest. For someone just starting to create who doesn't want to spend time, money and space on a state-of-the-art machine, Joy is the way to go. It can also be a second machine for the experienced craftsman who wants to create on the go or do some niche projects. Let's see what both models can do.

Two clamps inside the Cricut Maker hold up to a dozen interchangeable tools, allowing you to cut, engrave, score, engrave, and engrave on over 300 different materials, including leather and even linden. You can use materials up to 12 inches wide and two feet long with the Maker.

On the other hand, only the Cricut Joy lets you use Smart Materials for baseless cutting, as well as Card Mat for quick and easy greeting cards. You can use materials up to 5.5 inches wide but up to 20 feet long with the Cricut Joy.

Cricut Joy vs Cricut Maker: How They Fit Into Cricut's Lineup

There are three Cricut models:cricut maker,cricut explore air 2, youCricut Joy. Serious craftsmen will see theCricut Maker e Cricut Explore Air 2, which are the mid- and high-priced machines, respectively. Many of the Maker and Explore Air 2 accessories, tools, and materials are interchangeable; while Cricut Joy has its own range.

All machines can be used by beginners and have room to grow with more complex projects, but the Cricut Joy is quite different from the other two. This little "companion" or beginner's machine has its own line of accessories, tools and materials. It's great for traveling or for anyone who doesn't want to devote a lot of space to their craft. It also costs the lowest of the three. In addition, it has some features that the other two lack.

Cricut Joy vs Cricut Maker: What do they do?

So what do you do with a Cricut machine? So far, I've made mug decals and iPhone cases, various cards, a wedding invitation, an intricate napkin and other paper cutout shapes, iron-on fabric projects, paper flowers, and Infusible Ink T-shirts. I'm a beginner who's barely scratched the surface; there's so much more you can create.

Make custom home decorations, banners, cards, stickers, decals, gifts, jewelry, bags and clothing. If you can think of it, you can create it with a Cricut machine,cricut tools, and acessories. As the Joy is a totally different size, you will need someaccessories for Cricut Joy.

All three machines connect to your MacBook, iPad and/or iPhone and work through Cricut's Design Space software. Additionally, the Cricut Joy has its own iOS app. It's more streamlined and easier to use than Design Space, although you can also use Joy with Design Space. There are many projects you can do for free, and you can even upload or create your own images and fonts on Design Space. In addition, you can subscribeCricut accessfor more designs. Design Space isn't the easiest or most intuitive software to learn, but once you get the hang of it, using the machines themselves is a breeze.

Cricut Joy vs. Cricut Maker: Cricut Maker does more

If you're a serious crafter, have a craft business or online store, or plan to do so, Maker is the way to go. The Maker is a full-size machine that lets you make projects up to 12 inches wide and 24 inches long. With Maker, you can create with six times as many different materials (over 300) as with Joy (over 50).

Print and Cut is a fun feature that lets you make stickers, cards, and more with your home printer and Cricut Maker. You have a lot more cutting tool options with Maker, like a knife blade and a rotary tool. With over a dozen plug-in tools, you can mark, stamp, and engrave with Maker. Unique to the manufacturer is the ability to cut leather, cardboard and linden. You can't do any of that with the Cricut Joy, as you only have two tool options: a blade or a stylus.

Since you can cut leather with the Maker, you can use it to make jewelry and other leather accessories. You can even make clothes and costumes. Mat cutting means you can professionally paste your artwork; no need to take it to a framer. Basswood is too fine as wood, certainly not for furniture construction. But there are several creative applications, such as sculpture and even musical instruments.

You can cut fabric for sewing projects without backing material. Quilters will love not having to cut each piece by hand! There are over 500 digital sewing patterns and quilt blocks available (for purchase) from popular brands Simplicity®, Riley Blake™ and more.

Cricut Joy vs Cricut Maker: Cricut Joy has unique qualities

The limited width of the items you can make with the Cricut Joy, at just 5.5 inches, will put you out of the running for a lot of people. But if that's not an issue for you, keep reading. The Cricut Joy has some special qualities worth considering. You might even consider buying both!

While it can only do projects up to 5.5 inches wide, it can do things up to 20 feet.largo, while you are limited to two feet in length with the Creator. This is ideal for banners and signs, for example. Perhaps my favorite Cricut Joy accessory is the Cardboard Mat. It allows you to make cards so easily. Card Mat is only compatible with Cricut Joy.

The Cricut Joy app is much simpler than the Cricut Design Space. This app is pretty limited in what it can do, but for the handful of features featured in the app, it's easy to use. For a novice crafter, tackling Design Space can be intimidating. The streamlined Cricut Joy app makes it perfect for beginners. As you learn and grow, you can also use the Design Space app for more complex projects as long as they fit within the limitations of the Cricut Joy.

Smart Materials are specially designed to be used without the sticky mat you must use for all projects in Maker. Using smart materials lets you skip a step. That said, you're certainly not limited to smart materials - you can use dozens of papers, vinyl, infusible ink and other materials with Joy.

Cricut Joy vs. Cricut Maker: Which One Should You Buy?

When it comes to general crafting, the Cricut Maker is hard to beat. It does more overall as it is a full-sized machine. If you plan on doing a lot of projects, Maker can't be beat.

Here's my point for the Cricut Joy: It's great for beginners, with an easier learning curve than the Cricut Maker. You don't need an entire crafting room or even a crafting corner, as the Joy and all of its accessories are much smaller than the Maker. The Cricut Joy is also a great second machine for serious crafters who may already have a Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2.

It's portable, so you can take it with you when you're doing crafts with friends. And it makes these projects long, up to 20 feet long, compared to the maximum length of two feet for Maker projects. Let's not forget the smart materials and my favorite, the card mat. I am no longer interested in buying greeting cards as I can create my own in just a few minutes with the Cricut Joy.

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Cricut Design Space para Mac(opens in new tab) (Free and Cricut)

This flexible software lets you create anything you can imagine for your Cricut machine.

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Cricut Design Space para iPhone/iPad(opens in new tab) (Free on the App Store)

Use your iPhone or iPad to create your Cricut projects.

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(opens in new tab) (Free on the App Store)

Accomplish multiple projects quickly with this streamlined, easy-to-use app.