Compare What is it? Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
It is an innovative DIY speed machine that assists with you making projects with over 100 different materials.

Cricut Explore
It is a sophisticated electronic cutting machine for DIY projects and crafts that comes with embedded Bluetooth® for wireless cutting.

Silhouette Cameo 3
A versatile DIY machine, the Silhouette Cameo 3 uses a small blade that cuts more than 100 materials such as paper, vinyl, cardstock and fabric up to 12 inches wide. It can also register and cut printed materials.

Silhouette Cameo 2
It is a sharp electronic cutting tool for personal use that can create many DIY projects. It works like a home printer that uses a small blade to cut paper, fabric, vinyl, cardstock and other material up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long.

 

Compare What does it do? Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2

It functions like a personal DIY machine, cuts and writes up to two times faster than previous
models and assists with preparing projects with more than 100 types of materials. Cricut Explore Air 2 can make custom vinyl stickers, custom designed apparel, custom-made home furnishings, greeting cards and more.

Cricut Explore

This machine has been created for making DIY projects and crafts featuring, embedded Bluetooth for wireless cutting, a dual carriage to cut and write or cut and score in one step and also the Cloud-based Circuit Design Space™ software required for computer and iPad.

Silhouette Cameo 3

It helps with making creative projects by cutting thinner material and also performs tasks that need a die cut machine including dual carriages and Bluetooth feature. Cameo 3 can support your efforts even when there’s no Internet connection. It also produces custom designs with the help of its software.

Silhouette Cameo 2
This DIY machine can perform a variety of tasks like cutting titles, background designs or shapes to embellish scrapbook pages or cards. It lights up projects by cutting a template with Silhouette CAMEO and brushing Silhouette rhinestones on design. It creates screen printed look by cutting stencil with Silhouette CAMEO and also applies inks to fabric projects. The machine can also cut intricate designs on vinyl and apply them on surfaces like wall, car and several others. Assisting with customised apparel, accessories, custom invitations, boxes, stencils, temporary tattoos and home décor by cutting out heat transfer material and ironing designs onto any fabric project are its other uses.

 

Compare Features: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
• Speed up to two times faster than usual. Fast Mode option for even faster speed provided
• Ideal for quick projects- More than 3,000 ready-to-make projects available along with facility to create quick cuts from extensive image library
• Can be used on computer, tablet, or smartphone.
• Implanted Bluetooth for wireless cutting facility

• Can cut over 100 materials
• Smart Set dial for easy material settings
• Comes with double tool holder for cutting and writing or cutting and scoring in one step
• Facilitates uploading of own images (.svg, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, .dxf) without havng to pay anything
• Thousands of designs and ideas
• Cut Smart technology guarantees accuracy in cutting and with easy and pre-calibrated material selection
• Integrated storage compartments
• Operates smoothly with Cricut cartridges
• Allows uploading and using newly created images files or fonts without paying
• Works with Cricut cartridges
• Cuts printable images

Cricut Explore

Provides seamless Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth to facilitate transfer of projects from computer or mobile directly to the cutter
• Guarantees best quality cuts at budget price from Explore Air and precise cutting from Cricut Explore with lifelong German carbide blade
• Creates desired results with minute designs with Explore Air’s flexible and sharp blades.
• Explore Air provides best cutting capabilities measuring from 0.25” to 11.5” and 23.5” get the perfect output
• Gives best cutting results in minimal time when combined with Cricut Explore’s dual carriage as it does cutting/writing/scoring in one step
• Competitively priced
• Suitable for entry level craft cutter with its user interface that’s easy to navigate.
• Perfect cut with Cut Smart technology from Cricut Explore
• Provides perfect cut by selecting your own material
Other adjustments done by Smart Set dial function that includes speed, depth and more.
• Pre-loaded Image Library with more than 50,000 images, fonts and projects
• Smart Set dial for easy material settings
• Designs compatible with all Cricut cartridges

Silhouette Cameo 3

• Designed to cut over 100 materials with its “Do it yourself” Silhouette Cameo 3 machine
• Features a unique sharp blade that can cuts paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric and more smoothly
• Performs tasks instantaneously with the Pixscan features

Comes with largest cutting space flexible
Highly flexible
• Dual features to ensure printing and cutting are done at the same time
• Bluetooth technology for seamless wireless connection to save time
• Inventive, compact design guarantees effortless cutting with different blades and pens
• Facilitates cutting of thicker materials like leather, chipboard and more with sharp blade and 2mm clearance
• Eliminates use of wires with Silhouette Cameo 3’s wireless connectivity having Bluetooth
• Gives access to more than 100,000 ready to use templates from the Silhouette studio
• Comes with additional blades in its storage compartment
• 2mm clearance for very deep cuts
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• Connects smoothly to computers, tablets and smartphones
• Autoblade feature to simplify tasks through ‘click and create’ function by setting correct blade depth for projects
• Facilitates selection of material type in the software and let the cameo do the rest.
• Pixscan technology to capture image with a smart phone, import image and to convert it into a cut file
• Unlimited design options to customize project (from 100,000 ready-made designs available in the Silhouette design store/ free software to create own designs)
• Extra storage provided
• Blade and other storage compartments to store extra blades
• Silhouette tools provided for convenient storage in easy to access storage compartment.
• Silhouette Studio software created to ensure suitability for any cutting system
• Silhouette Studio software provided with features found in highly sophisticated illustrating software- simple and easy to use besides being available for free for all Silhouette users.
• Silhouette Connect feature provided offers facility to design and cut directly while working on a project
• PixScan Technology, a newly introduced feature added to the Silhouette cutting system aims to impart complete finesse by cutting precisely around printed design or by placing cut lines in a specific location on material with the help of a scanner, camera, smartphone or tablet.
• PixScan algorithm allows the Silhouette Cameo to recognize specially placed registration marks on PixScan cutting mat for perfect results
• PixScan designed to be used for saving scanned or photographed images into personal digital library or to turn a handmade sketch into a new custom cut file.

Silhouette Cameo 2
• Comes with NEW DIGITAL DISPLAY, full-color LCD touch screen for easy navigation and step-by-step tutorials
• NEW STEEL SPRING ROLLERS to hold project materials intact.
• NEW CROSSCUTTER to trim and cut materials fed directly from a roll with built-in Silhouette crosscutter
• NEW GUIDE MARKS offering superior visual alignment
• NEW USB DRIVE PORT created to assist with reading and cutting saved files directly from USB drive without being connected to computer
• NEW STORAGE COMPARTMENT to store spare blades or crosscutter tool sharp in
• NEW SLEEP MODE for a custom sleep schedule with newly introduced power-saving sleep mode
• NEW PIC SCAN TECHNOLOGY for setting up a contour cut around design by scanning or photographing design on PixScan mat. Works with smart phone and tablet too
• Fiberglass-reinforced synchronization belt for precise results
• Light in weight
• Offers matless cutting facility
• Guide marks provided in Silhouette blue for easier visual alignment of materials and mat at the time of loading
• Over 60,000 ready-made designs made available through Silhouette Design Store

 

Compare what does it cut: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
It has been designed to cut more than a hundred materials. It has been successfully tested to cut a wide range of materials such as basic and specialty vinyl colors, iron-on vinyls, faux leather, specialty paper, cardstock, adhesive foils, poster board and others. It can also be used to make cards, personalised T-shirts, home décor articles and more.

Cricut Explore
It is able to process more than a 100 materials of different types including paper, fabric, vinyl and cardstock (can be selected on the machine’s dial). It also works with materials like aluminium, leather and foam when additional deep-cutting blades are used with them.

Silhouette Cameo 3
This machine can cut over 100 materials such as paper, cardstock, vinyl, craft foam and rhinestone template material. It also cuts tissue paper, iron-on transfer, cereal box chipboard and fabric up to 12 inches wide. Though it’s not effective for balsawood or thin sheet metal, it does a fine job of creating scrapbook, cards and working for vinyl projects. The Studio software that Silhouette Cameo 3 uses has a ‘double cut’ feature, which works well on thicker materials too.

Silhouette Cameo 2
This DIY machine can cut different types of material such as vinyl, cardstock, heat transfer
material, magnet paper and fabric.

 

Compare Cut Sizes: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
12 inches wide by 24 inches long (11.5 by 23.5 inches)

Cricut Explore
11.5 inches, maximum height being 23.5 inches

Silhouette Cameo 3
12 inches wide and 10 feet in length

Silhouette Cameo 2
Up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long

 

Compare system requirements: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
The system requirements of Cricut Explore Air 2 are as under:
• Operating System: Windows 7 or advanced
• Operating System Mac v10.9 or advanced
• Display: 1024 x 768 resolution
• Browser: Current version of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Processor: 2.33 GHz (Windows) or 1.83 GHz (Mac)
• Mobile Devices: iOS 7.1.2. or later, iPad 2 or later, iPad mini or later, iPhone 4 or later and iPod Touch 5th generation or a later version
• Free Disk Space: 50MB
• iPod Touch 5th generation or a later version
• RAM: 4GB
• Software: Current version of Adobe Flash
• Port: USB
• Internet: Broadband connection

Cricut Explore
Cricut Design Space, the free design software or app used with this machine runs on latest technology. Recommended minimum system requirements for Cricut Explore and/or Cricut Design Space software and app tend to change in order to enhance software performance while fulfilling operating system updates. As updates are made to the software and /or app, a few minimum system requirement updates are mandatory, which are as follows:
• Internet connection
• Browsers: Latest version of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
• CPU: Intel Core series or AMD processor
• RAM: 4GB
• Broadband connection
• Available USB port or Bluetooth connection
• Minimum 2-3 mbps download
• Minimum 1-2 mbps upload
Windows OS: Windows 8 or later version
• 50MB free disk space
• Display: Minimum 1024px x 768px screen resolution
(As per Microsoft OS support)
• Display: Minimum 1024px x 768px screen resolution
• Mac OS- X 10.11 Capitan (Version 10.11) or later
• RAM: 4GB
• CPU 1.83 GHz
• Browsers: Latest version of Safari, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
• 50MB free disk space
• Available USB port or Bluetooth connection
(Based on Apple OS support)

Mobile Devices:
• Latest version of iOS
• iPad
• iPad 2 or a later version
• iPad mini or later
• iPad Pro
• iPad Air or a later version
• iPhone
• iPhone 4S or later
• iPod
• iPod Touch 5th generation or later
Offline
• Only available for iOS devices
• Memory needs subject to usage
•Tendency of design features and functionality to vary between computers, tablets and smartphones

Silhouette Cameo 3
The following figure as minimum system requirements to run the Silhouette Studio® software:
• Internet connection
• Operating System: 1) PC (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10) or
2) Mac (OS X 10.6.8 and higher)

• RAM: 1 GB of RAM (though 2 GB yields better results)

Silhouette Cameo 2
Given below are the system requirements for Silhouette Cameo 2:
• Operating System: 1) PC (Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10) or
2) Mac (OS X 10.7 and higher. (Chromebook currently not supported)
• Internet connection: Highly recommended for updates and access to the Silhouette Design Store and for upgrading to Designer Edition version
• Memory: 2 GB hard disk space
• RAM: 1 GB of RAM (2 GB would be better
• Processor: 2 GHz (or faster) processor speed
• USB Port: USB 1.1 Port or higher

 

Compare Scanning Area: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
Not mentioned

Cricut Explore
No PixScan Technology

Silhouette Cameo 3
The Scan and Cut feature allows users to print designs from their printer and then have the Cameo cut them out. PixScan technology is available for this DIY machine. Also, instead of printing the design from a printer, you can place the image is placed on the PixScan cutting mat(where the mat contains the registration marks), take a picture from a camera or smart phone and then uploaded to the design studio. Trace lines will appear on the surface, along which you can cut the material

Silhouette Cameo 2
It offers PixScan technology, through which a contour can be set up to cut around by scanning or photographing design on PixScan mat. (A smartphone or tablet can also be used here).

 

Compare Designs: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
It allows you to upload and cut out your own artwork for free and upload files to decorate furnishings, cards, gifts and more. You can also design on computer, iPad and iPhone with Design Space with this machine as it has access to free cloud-based, user-friendly software for editing, customizing, and previewing projects. Ready-to-make projects and thousands of Cricut images and option to upload your own designs are also provided for. The Design Space app for iOS needs to be downloaded which also gives access to new offline feature to design even if Internet connection is not available.

Cricut Explore

This DIY machine comes with Design Space software which makes it easy for beginners too to create designs. First time users are likely to find it user-friendly and easy to use. What works in the favour of this machine is that its software works offline too. With Design Space you can create basically simple designs and complete projects in little time. Cricut Design Space is compatible with only iPhone and iPad and requires the user to be online to access or edit saved designs.

Silhouette Cameo 3
It comes with Studio Software which allows users to buy, import or create their own designs. People having good knowledge of graphics would find this software useful. Beginners have access to a vast pool of free videos to learn how to use the software. The Studio Software makes it possible for you to complete your project in less time.

Silhouette Cameo 2
It comes with a software that allows users to complete their projects successfully with its built-in images and clip arts. Silhouette Cameo 2 also offers paid images that look highly professional and can be used anywhere. The basic edition of the software that coes with this machine is free where one can use .jpg, .bmp and .png files. (.svg files require upgradation). Also, Silhouette Design Store comes with more than 100,000 designs, which can be used to create your own design library.

Silhouette Studio software
This particular software apparently is the most efficient software for any cutting system. It gives access to numerous readymade projects and is easy to use. With Silhouette Connect you can use Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator for projects. The software is provided for free to Silhouette users.

 

Compare Quilt Patterns: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
920 printable patterns

Cricut Explore
Not mentioned

Silhouette Cameo 3
Not mentioned

Silhouette Cameo 2
Not mentioned

 

Compare LCD Display: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
Not mentioned

Cricut Explore
Not mentioned

Silhouette Cameo 3
Full-LCD touch screen

Silhouette Cameo 2
Full-colour LCD touchscreen for navigation that performs multiple functions like choosing from different languages, setting sleep time, changing the colour scheme, displaying help icons and viewing a tutorial.

 

Compare Max Material width it can handle: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
Handles 2-ply type material

Cricut Explore
Not mentioned

Silhouette Cameo 3
2mm cutting clearance (for cutting more materials) and 12 inch cutting and drawing width

Silhouette Cameo 2
3 inches wide by 3 in length

 

Compare Price: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2
$249.00

Cricut Explore
$179.99

Silhouette Cameo 3
$249.99

Silhouette Cameo 2
$239.99

 

Compare REVIEWS: Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Cricut Explore vs Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 2

Cricut Explore Air 2 REVIEW

Wilbert Dawson complains in his Cricut Explore Air 2 review that there is no installable software provided with the machine and that he suspects Cricut has locked out all third party software vendors from working with it. He also says the vendors force you to use an online only version with limited benefits due to which he’s unable to use its wireless function no matter how hard he tries. He says it works with his iPad but since he designs on his computer, he feels helpless.

James Castillo, another user of Cricut Explore Air 2 says in his review on the machine that it’s not any good but just hype. He says the machine looks fabulous only because of its advertisements, which are misleading. Its Design Space feature doesn’t work on Android tablets or phones but only on iPad. He says he’s been following all online instructions and has tried multiple OS systems and applications but none of the software work smoothly. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is an online only use, and worse, one can only print or cut 6.25 by 8 sized materials.
Further, he says that problems with plugins are a regular occurrence with Cricut Explore Air 2. Images get converted into low resolution with this machine and the printed piece is also inadequate. However, he’s also of the view that the machine works quite

Felix Hoffman has also said that the Design Space feature of Cricut Explore Air 2 does not work. He’s also exasperated with ineffectiveness of online instructions and the multiple switches he has to make between OS and the time it consumes. Lena Crawford asserts that Cricut Explore Air 2 is a slow operator as it takes very long to finish even simple jobs. Since it does not come with instructions, a basic tool kit and even a basic craft project material, it becomes expensive. She also has to spend a lot of time to know how to use it through YouTube. If there’s no internet connection, the machine cannot be used.

 

Cricut Explore REVIEW

Arnold Nash, who purchased Cricut Explore a few weeks back, says in his review about the same that he’s not satisfied with its quality and performance. He’s listed a number of drawbacks about the machine, such as its Print-Then-Cut feature being limited to 5.5×8″ in size and its maximum image resolution being 72dpi. Due to this, the printed images turn out hazy and unclear. He says he can’t get cuts where he wants on the paper fed into it.
He’s also unhappy with the fact this the machine does not sync with any third-party software.

Sonya Renolds, who’s an avid designer, purchased Cricut Explore but says in her review about it it’s not very useful for her. It functions only when it is connected to the Internet. She doesn’t find the finishing she gets from Cricut Explore that good, which make the project appear shabby and inferior. Further, Sonya says she’s totally disappointed and can’t rely on this amchine because she needs high-level finesse in her craft. Further, its web-based software also doesn’t work often and takes a lot of time to get activated, no matter whether she uses Bluetooth or USB. It lacks good tool functionality and makes her task of designing multi-element cards a harrowing experience. She wonders why the makers didn’t provide Wi-Fi connectivity as Bluetooth doesn’t offer a very wide range.

Gregory Torres, another customer who’s been using Cricut Explore has written in his review of it that its Mac Design Space app is poor and doesn’t do what it should no matter how hard he tries. He’s left with no other option but to use the iPad app with it. Cricut Explore also doesn’t handle foam properly as it doesn’t cut neatly and make it look shabby. He also says that it’s difficult to insert more items on a single page as there’s no proper finishing. The machine is unable to tell the app to maximize the number of items on a page. He once tried cutting his own custom images but it turned out to be a disaster. There was no finishing and he also wasted a lot of time over it. Also, there is no proper canvas option and a software for PC available with it.

Kevin Harris says that he only finds the machine sleek in looks and decent in some respects; other than that, it’s a non-performer. There’s no facility to purchase images through Cricut Explore, and the Print and Cut feature also needs improvement. He feels that its makers should also have supplied a starter materials packet as an add-on to offer a better deal. The whole things get very expensive and hassling. The cable provided with it also doesn’t work and cannot detect Cricut Explore when connected by it. When he tried installing and connecting the machine, he got a security software warning to not proceed with the installation as the Provo site one gets connected to with it is known to be unsafe. He had to take steps to sidestep the security software to install the software. He’s also described details like how some smaller cutting work look a bit untidy and ripped. The machine also can’t work smoothly for long.

 

Silhouette Cameo 3 REVIEW

Henry Murphy purchased Silhouette Cameo 3 three weeks back, but has said in his review that it stopped working in just two weeks. He says the problem surfaced with the machine slowing down initially, and errors creeping in soon. He’s complained that it actually began making cuts at least an inch above where they should be. It also started stopping in the middle of cutting job for no apparent reason. He also noticed the screen started flashing random things which made no sense. Its Bluetooth also malfunctions and the blade doesn’t adjust to settings for cutting properly and the paper wouldn’t stay steady while being cut. He says that there’s no such thing as “auto” about Silhouette Cameo 3 even though it sets itself incorrectly most of the time and cuts anywhere haphazardly. He feels the machine is of inferior quality and a total dampener.

Sarah Lewis complains in her Silhouette Cameo 3 review that she finds it very difficult to connect it to her computer. The software downloaded for it also doesn’t run nor installs any update. Even a simple job like cutting paper feels like a task. She doesn’t find Silhouette Cameo 3 user-friendly at all. Worse, instructions provided with it also don’t help. She says on YouTube videos demonstrate it proper usage. Like Henry, Sarah doesn’t find its autoblade function effective as the depth don’t come up right and the cuts don’t come up where they should. Its manual blade and deep cut blades doesn’t work properly. According to her, it can’t handle larger areas properly. It seems suited only to work on smaller areas and limited materials. Since she works with professional duty crafting machines, Silhouette Cameo 3 seems very clumsy to her

Another user, Shawn Ross, has stated that the Silhouette Cameo 3 software keeps crashing and nothing, even its LCD screen seems to function properly. Its registration marks also don’t work, and there’s no support available. There’s no efficient help page and no instructions. He says he depends on Google and YouTube to figure thing out. The Bluetooth also does not work properly no matter how much he tries. Its loses connectivity constantly even in the middle of a cutting job, due to which his projects don’t turn up well.

 

Silhouette Cameo 2 REVIEW

Brian Sanders, a customer of Silhouette Cameo 2 has said in his review of it that it just doesn’t function properly. It doesn’t function with his laptop (Toshiba) at all despite all his efforts; it doesn’t show seem to gel with its CD and can’t download anything. When he contacted the seller for a solution, they simply asked him to return the machine and get a refund. He was aghast on hearing it. He’s now wondering what he should do as he’s already spent a lot on buying the machine.

Carl Bennett, another user who is regretting buying Silhouette Cameo 2 has written in his review that buying this machine is a colossal waste of money. He’s actually said that he’d like to give a strong advice to readers to buy a good vinyl machine instead of Silhouette Cameo 2. He says almost everything seems to malfunction with this machine. It doesn’t cut materials neatly and can’t produce good images too. Its instruction guide is also pathetic as instructions are very ambiguous and too short. Like others, Carl is also dependent upon YouTube to learn its functions and get solutions.

Daniel Richardson, one more customer of has said in his review on Silhouette Cameo 2 that it’s very difficult to adjust the rollers on it. He has to request others to do it because it’s too rigid. He finds the machine very complex and some of its components like the blades and mat a bit costly. However, he appreciates the tutorials created by its makers as they make things easier.