Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4: Which is Better?
By Linus T.
Updated Feb 2024
Cricut and Silhouette are prominent brands in the smart cutting machine market. Both companies have been in existence for years and have launched many cutting-edge design tools and crafting machines.
To learn more about Cricut and Silhouette, we will compare the Silhouette Cameo 4 to the Cricut Maker in this review. We will explore the differences between the two and determine which one is better suited for your needs.
On our list
#1 Price
#2 Design & Specs
#3 Software
#4 Cutting Capabilities
Cricut Maker
The ultimate smart cutting machine
Cricut Maker has the power to cut 300+ materials and now smarter and faster than ever.
Silhouette Cameo 4
Full-featured cutting machine
Cricut Explore 3 lets you cut, draw, score, and more with jaw-dropping speed and precision.
1. Price
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
The Cricut Maker is priced at $249 USD, while the Silhouette Cameo 4 comes in at $299 USD. Excluding seasonal promotions and bundle deals, the Cricut Maker is typically more affordable than the Silhouette Cameo 4.
It is worth noting that the Cameo 4 is also available in 'Plus' and 'Pro' versions, which are priced at $399 USD and $499 USD, respectively. These models are similar to the original Cameo 4 but have a longer cutting width.
However, when comparing the Maker and Cameo 4 models, they are priced rather similarly. This does not make a huge difference if you are investing in a machine for the long term. Let's consider more factors in this review of Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4.
2. Design & Specs
The Cricut Maker and Silhouette Cameo 4 are modern, smart cutting machines. Both machines feature built-in Bluetooth technology to seamlessly connect to your devices, are compatible with their respective native mobile applications, and are designed with a dual-carriage system for attaching different tools.
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
In terms of design, the Cricut Maker has a polished exterior and provides a better user experience. The Silhouette Cameo 4, on the other hand, looks a little edgier and focuses more on utility.
The Cricut Maker offers ample storage space around the machine for blades, tools, and pens, allowing for easy tool swapping during crafting. The machine's top features a tablet slot for resting your devices, and a built-in USB charging port on the side lets you power your devices while using the Cricut Maker. Additionally, its premium construction with round edges and button controls gives it a nice overall look and feel.
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
The Silhouette Cameo 4 has a more clunky design compared to the Maker 3. It offers less storage space but includes two additional built-in utilities. These are a roll feeder, which helps keep your materials in place when working on large designs, and a cross cutter for easily cutting your material. These features provide added value to the machine, as you won't need to purchase additional external accessories. The Cameo 4 also features a backlit touch panel for controlling the machine, which is a nice touch.
Cricut Maker
The ultimate smart cutting machine
Cricut Maker has the power to cut 300+ materials and now smarter and faster than ever.
3. Software
Cricut Design Space
Cricut and Silhouette have both developed impressive software to use in conjunction with their machines.
Cricut offers the Cricut Design Space, which is compatible across all devices, from desktop to mobile. Silhouette, on the other hand, has the Silhouette Studio for desktop and Silhouette Go for mobile. Both apps can be used offline with their respective machines, providing a great benefit for users.
Silhouette Studio
Both Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio are available for free download. Trying out these software programs can help you decide which machine is right for you, as the accompanying software will play a crucial role in your crafting journey.
Both software options offer a large library of templates and designs that you can use. However, a significant amount of content is gated and can only be unlocked with a subscription. When you're just starting out, the basic software will likely be sufficient, unless you already have experience using these tools. As you become more proficient, you can consider investing in a subscription to unlock additional features and let your imagination run wild.
Now let's get into the specifics. The Cricut Design Space is extremely user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for beginners to get started. It provides simple tools for cutting your materials. To get started, simply import or choose an existing design, adjust the parameters like size and cutting material, and hit "go".
The Cricut Design Space is really straightforward and simple to use, but when compared to Silhouette Studio, it lacks in design features and customisation. In Silhouette Studio, users can access tracing, warping, welding, free-hand drawing, and vector tools; they can also connect to Adobe Illustrator® or CorelDRAW® via an additional software called Silhouette Connect to send projects directly to Silhouette Studio.
If you're new to design and want an uncomplicated program, Cricut Design Space will do the job. But if you want more intricate design options and capabilities, then Silhouette Studio is the better choice for you.
Silhouette Cameo 4
Full-featured cutting machine
Cricut Explore 3 lets you cut, draw, score, and more with jaw-dropping speed and precision.
4. Cutting Capabilities — Force, Speed & Function
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
Last but not least, it is essential to examine the cutting capacities of the Cricut Maker and Silhouette Cameo 4. Both machines are extremely powerful and quick, and they can cut through a broad range of materials for your creative projects.
Nevertheless, the Silhouette Cameo 4 is more powerful than the Cricut Maker when considering the specs. The Cameo 4 has the capacity to cut with up to 5kg of force, whereas the Maker only has 4kg of cutting force, which affects the cutting capability for denser materials. If you are only cutting materials like vinyl and iron-on, then this difference will not be noticeable.
Furthermore, with the Silhouette Cameo 4, you can make longer cuts up to 10ft without a cutting mat, which is not possible with the Cricut Maker as you must use a mat for materials with liners or backing such as vinyl and heat transfer and will be restricted to the length of the cutting mat.
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
The speed of cutting varies depending on the material. In some cases, the Maker was more efficient than the Cameo 4, while in other instances, the Cameo 4 was faster. However, it's clear that Maker is much quieter and calmer to work with in comparison to the Cameo 4, which is louder and less serene.
Regarding the range of tools, the Silhouette Cameo 4 has a modest selection of five, while the Cricut Maker has an impressive thirteen. The Maker's tools include the Fine Point Blade, Deep Point Blade, Bonded Fabric Blade, Knife Blade, Rotary Blade, Foil Transfer Tool, Scoring Wheels, Engraving Tool, Debossing Tool, Wavy Blade, Perforation Blade, Scoring Stylus, and Pens & Markers. Do note that apart from the basic blade in each machine, the rest of the tools are sold separately. That said, the Cricut Maker does open up a lot more possibilities for you with an extensive selection of tools to choose from.
When it comes to capabilities in cutting, both the Cricut Maker and the Silhouette Cameo 4 have their own advantages. The Cameo 4 has the upper hand in terms of power and length of cut, while the Maker has a great user experience.
Compare Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
Final Thoughts
Cricut Maker vs Silhouette Cameo 4
To sum it up, if you want a fantastic user experience, the Cricut Maker is a great choice, but if you want to experiment with design customisation options, then the Silhouette Cameo 4 is the best way to go.
If you like to read more on Cricut smart cutting machines, check out our other relevant guides here:
Cricut Buyer’s Guide
Cricut Maker 3 vs Cricut Maker
Cricut Maker 3 vs Cricut Explore 3
Cricut Easypress 3 vs Cricut Easypress 2
Explore the full collection for Cricut on Amazon or visit the Official Cricut Singapore Store.
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