Pre-Prime Day is the ideal time to get the latest craft tech for a little less. Cricut has led the way in the new digital crafting trend, and I've been covering these smart cutting and engraving machines for years – so I know a thing or two about them, and use them personally. But Cricut machines don't come cheap, so ahead of the big deals I've gathered some that are already worth a look.
In this pre-Prime Day Cricut guide I'll be rounding up the hottest deals as they happen, which means you can get a Cricut machine for less. This includes the new Cricut Maker 3, EasyPress 3 and the excellent Cricut Joy. Read my guide to the best Cricut machines for a quick idea of which is right for you. Cricut has its own software to design on and it works wonderfully on iPad (there's a tablet slot on the top of Maker 3). Visit our Apple pre-Prime Day deals hub for the latest offers and maybe treat yourself to a new iPad too.
You can often get some good money off of a Cricut machine during one of these big sale events, but from experience I would also suggest you look at some of the Cricut bundle offers. If you're on the fence about upgrading from a Cricut Maker to a Maker 3, I would say go for it – I recently did just this and found the new machine quicker and quieter.
Helpful quick links
- Amazon: Cricut deals, including $40 off Cricut Joy
- Best Buy: Get $24.50 off Cricut Maker 3 with a tool set
- CraftStash: The best UK Cricut deals on all machines
- Cricut: Money-saving bundle deals on all Cricut machines
Best pre-Prime Day Cricut Maker 3 deals
Best pre-Prime Day Cricut Explore 3 deals
Best pre-Prime Day Cricut Joy deals
Best pre-Prime Day Cricut EasyPress 3 deals
What does a Cricut machine do?
Cricut is an American brand of digital cutting machines for craft hobbyists and increasingly for anyone looking to set up a small creative business. Cricut machines used for cutting materials such as paper, felt, vinyl, fabric, leather, matboard, and wood, using pre-programmed designs. You can buy extra 'blade' attachments that enable you to engrave, score and even draw designs by swapping your blade for a pen.
Do you need a computer to use a Cricut machine?
You need either a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet to use a Cricut machine. That's because you need to prepare your designs on Cricut's own app, Design Space. Cricut also its own subscription service, called Cricut Access, that offers hundreds of pre-made designs, as well as discounts on materials and the option to sell your own designs and make money. Read our guide, 'Ten-reasons to get Cricut Access'.
If you're using an iPhone or iPad, you can down the Cricut Design Space app from the Apple App Store. If you're using an Android phone or tablet, you can find the Design Space app in the Google Play Store. A new Cricut mobile app is available for Cricut Joy users, too.
Are there alternatives to Cricut?
Yes, there are two main rivals to Cricut's craft machines. First there's Silhouette, a US company that produces machines that match up to Cricut in most categories. Take a look at our guide to the best Silhouette machines for more details. Secondly, sewing machine manufacturer Brother has a range of machines called ScanNCut; these differ in that they include a built-in scanner and CPU, so there's no need for a laptop (design, scan and cut directly in the craft machine). Read our Brother ScanNCut SDX2200D review for more info.
How do I choose a Cricut machine?
What should you be looking for when choosing the best Cricut machine for you? Well, if you're after a cutting machine, the most obvious factor to consider is the types of materials you want to cut.
The more expensive Cricut models are capable of cutting a huge variety of materials: the first two on our list, for example, can each tackle more than 300 materials. However, if you just want to cut a few simple light materials, such as paper, card and felt, you may not need all that, and you may prefer a lighter, cheaper model.
Some Cricut machines are also capable of cutting smart materials. These are special materials you can cut without a cutting mat. This means you can load large pieces into your machine and cut them in one go, which is useful for big projects. Smart materials include Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Smart Label Writable Paper, and Smart Label Writable Vinyl.
If you have no need for cutting, and instead want to print custom designs onto items, take a look at numbers 6, 7 and 8 on our list above. These are the best Cricut machines for this purpose.
Can you make money from Cricut?
Yes, this is the whole point! Cricut machines offer professional, quality crafting from the home. Using a Cricut means you can create projects good enough to sell on marketplaces and in craft stores. More so, you can create and offer patterns and designs for sale inside Cricut's Design Space. If you want to learn more about selling your crafts, take a look at our guide to how to sell on Etsy.
