Which digital die-cut machine is most versatile?

I'm looking to buy a digital die-cutting machine, and was thinking about the Silhouette Cameo 4 (I had it on my Christmas list, but nobody purchased one for me).

I'm wondering which of the several different machines out there, including Cricut, Silhouette, and any others, 1) work best; 2) are most economical overall; and 3) are most versatile?

Thanks in advance for your experienced advice!!

Food for thought. I recently purchased the Cricut Explorer Air 2 and I absolutely love it! I chose it because of its rich features and excellent ratings. It's not as elaborate as the Cricut Maker (which is on par with the Cameo) but the reviews for the Maker are not excellent at 3 stars. Since this is not Cricut's latest machine, it has a proven track record. You can get the CEA2 on Amazon for $179.00 and it has nearly 25K 5 star reviews! That's a phenomenal rating for any machine!

I have Cricut and Cameo older models.

I started with a little Cricut. Years later switched to the Silhouette Cameo and it still runs. I use the SCAL program (Sure Cuts A Lot) and buy whatever I want from various outstanding designers. I also use the free program that comes with the Cameo. I believe you are a little more limited on your choices if you stay with the Cricut.

Thanks for asking about this, Croisdaidh. I am contemplating an Christmas 2022 gift for myself. I have an old “heritage” Cricut Expression with all of the cartridges. Love it, but I want more versatility cutting titles and downloading die cuts to do paper/traditional scrapbooking with. Any feedback is appreciated.

Does Cricut still go by that practice, or can you download any brand to use on their machine?

Hi Sandy, There is a lot of out of date information about Cricut's Design Space here. Let me give you the latest. I'm familiar with the latest version of Cricut's Design Space (7.0). I can't speak to their past practices, but today their software is free to download. They have more than 225,000 images, and its being added to daily. Any kind of SGV file can be uploaded, they are not all exclusive to Cricuit any more. So if you have a favorite designer file, you can upload it and use it. You have three options to build your library. You can download and use their free images which stay with you forever; or, you can pay a fee, most are $.99 cents or $1.99 for Disney and other branded manufactures and you keep those forever; or you can subscribe to "Access" which is a monthly subscription service at a cost of $9.99 to have unlimited access to everything (except the Branded images like Disney). With Access the branded images are at a reduced rate, usually $.99 per image. So far, I've been able to download and keep the images I've used in Access. I hope that helps clear up their current practices.

Yes it does, thank you!

With a Cricut Air 2, which I am considering, can you make up your own titles? Die cuts? Be able to run letters together? I am oblivious as to how it all works. I just love those die cuts you can buy pre-cut, is that something I would be able to do on the newer Cricut?

Cricut has a notorious history of poor customer service. I would choose a Silhouette.

I have never used a Cricut, but I will tell you my experiences with my Cameo. I started with one in 2014ish after a nightmare experience with the Xyron Wishblade (anyone remember that one??) I wanted to cut basics (lettering, mainly) when I started. I purchased my Cameo 3 two years ago. It can have its kinks, for sure. Right now I am battling bluetooth issues (I am on a Mac), but I just plug the sucker in when it is being fussy. You can use ANY FONT. You can get freebies off the internet and they work. You an import SVG files from anywhere and cut them. The designs in the design store are endless. The other beauty of it is you can purchase an SVG version of them (Cameo uses Studio3 files). It can take some time to get used to what your machine does...and it's settings. Sometimes I have to set a blade a bit different than what Silhouette recommends for various reasons and it can take trial and error. I have much of the basics of the software down. I don't DESIGN fancy things, but other things I did learn as I went. Between you and I, I use Hobby Lobby's brand of mats as they are much cheaper AND the fact that they aren't CLEAR. The clear mat from Silhouette made things harder for me to see what was going on with the paper and lining up. Many frown on non-Silhouette mats claiming it's an issue, but I haven't experienced anything obvious. There is a FB group ran by a Silhouette expert (I think she is formally trained/taught) you can turn to for help, etc. I won't buy a Cricut unless it's my only option down the road. Just my own opinions

@SandyJay Yes, the Cricut Air 2 will handle all of these cuts. You will need to log into Cricut Design Space and create your titles, weld letters together, ect., then when you have completed your design, you complete the task by "making it." Your CA2 will cut out anything you design. Be sure to search the words you want as there maybe already something you like, which makes it very simple to simply cut it out.