Cricut Maker vs. Silhouette Cameo 4

You guys might remember that I was gifted a used Silhouette Cameo in April 2015. I upgraded to a Cameo 3 in 2016 and I have always I loved my Silhouette! But I will admit some jealousy at the variety of materials the Cricut Maker. So let’s examine the Cricut Maker versus Silhouette Cameo 4.

The Cricut Maker can cut: felt, wood, fabric, and vinyl. Plus embossing and engraving! I’m drooling! Enter the new Cameo 4! It has many of the same capabilities as the Cricut Maker. So which is the better machine to buy this Holiday Season?

Read on for a comparison of the Cricut Maker versus Silhouette Cameo 4.

Research

All my research says the two machines line up pretty well with each other. In fact, because the two machines are so comparable, it has not made the decision of which machine to buy any easier!

Personally, if I can save enough money for a new machine, my question is whether I want to stick with the machine and software I know (Silhouette) or buy a Cricut and learn the Design Space software so that I can give you guys more choices for learning… (if you have a vote, please let me know.) It is the battle of Cricut Maker versus Silhouette Cameo.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy. 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two machines:

Cutting Size

The Silhouette Cameo 4 clearly wins in the amount of cutting space because you can attach a vinyl roll to it and cut for up to 10 feet! That’s a ton of cutting. The Cricut Maker can cut up to 2 feet, which is a perfect amount of space. To be honest, I have never cut more that 2 feet at a time. It would be a rare project that required that much cutting.

If you run a crafting or vinyl cutting business, cutting up to 10 feet at a time could be a huge time saver. Silhouette also says it will be releasing machines in 2020 that cut 15in wide and 20in wide. Again, for the average user on the typical project, it won’t make much of a difference. But if you are often cutting multiple designs or designs for large signs, a wider or longer cutting size will be a huge asset.

Versatility

They are both great machines. Based on history, the Cricut Maker has a little more versatility with cutting tools and materials, but the Cameo 4 is definitely catching up in this area. It sounds like they will continue to release more tools in the future for various materials. That means that as of right now, the Cricut Maker is a winner in variety, but the Cameo 4 is catching up fast.

Software

I love Silhouette Studio, but it’s because I’ve been using it for years and I know my way around it. I’ve tried Cricut Design Space an it looks like it will be easy to learn. It actually seems like it might be a little better suited for beginners, but both programs are pretty comparable.

Also, Silhouette Studio has some amazing features for the more advanced user, but you need to upgrade your software to Designer Edition or even Business Edition to access many of these features.

Color Choices

Cricut Makers come in 5 different colors: Blue, Champagne, Lilac, Mint, and Rose. It also has rounded edges that give it a sleek look.

Cameo 4 comes in 3 colors: Blush Pink, Black and White. It is pretty boxy with sharper corners.

In my opinion, both machines look great.

Designs

The Silhouette Design Store has 100,000+ designs (including some free designs.) Silhouette has Club Silhouette which is a monthly service that gives you free shipping, 10 exclusive designs each month, a free blade and mat (or Mint stamp kit and stamp sheet) 3 times a year, and a 10% discount at Silhouette America.

You can also purchase directly from the Silhouette Design Store when you need a font, design, or project.

Cricut has a subscription service called Cricut Access where you can pay monthly or annually. It gives you unlimited access to fonts, cut-ready images, and savings when you shop at Cricut and when purchasing premium licensed fonts, images, and projects.

You can also purchase fonts, designs, and projects directly from Cricut.

The two seem pretty even on this. Plus with so many people creating their own designs, you can find fonts, designs, and projects all over the internet (often for free.)

The Verdict

From everything I’ve read, the Cricut Maker vs. Silhouette Cameo 4 is pretty comparable. There isn’t a clear winner. The Maker has a few more cutting tools as of Black Friday 2019, though Cameo users will continue to get more choices in 2020.

If you’re in the market for a new machine, your best things to consider at the versatility of project you need at this moment and price. (If you are upgrading, consider if you want to learn a new platform, or stick with what you know.)

Check out my Black Friday/Cyber Monday post for all the best deals I could find on the Cricut Maker and Silhouette Cameo 4.

Or you can head straight to Cricut to see their deals or check out Swing Design where I bought my Cameo and where they have some fantastic bundle deals.

Happy (lazy) shopping!