Cricut Air 2 VS Silhouette Cameo 3

Getting my FIRST machine! Yay! I don't know much about either. Help! Which do you prefer and why?

I have a Cameo b/c at the time the Cricut was still using cartridges but that is no longer true. There is a section that compares to the 2 but not sure if all the info is current.
I love the Cameo but don't use it to its full capacity.
Check out some you tube videos as they will definitely help you decide.
Congrats on getting your e-cutter!

I have both a Cricut and Silhouette...hands down I use my Silhouette more as I love it for title work and I find more options for images that are not juvenile in nature. I have purchased a subscription for the Silhouette 2 times (year long) to purchase my images. I have had my Silhouette for 10 years and have not had to replace it.
Now the Cricut I have had to replace 3 times, once due to size the other just because and I knew once Provo Craft went to digital they would eventually quit supporting all their cartridge based machines. Which in fact they did!!
The only reason I stay with my Cricut is because I have so many images from cartridges in my account and I can still cut if I want.

As far as cutting quality I really have no preference, they both work well.

I don't know how Cricut works for purchasing images, not all of them come with Cricut Access which you have to pay for every year after your "free" months.
Silhouette has sales during the year where you can get your images at 50% off. With a subscription you get more credit than what you have to pay. They also have sales on their subscriptions too, like 20% off and more if you pay for the year up front.
The average I had to pay for each image turned out to be 15 cents by taking advantage of as many of the sales I could. You do have to read the fine print because I have lost a few credits when I did not "spend" it in a timely fashion. Once I figured out how it worked then I worked it out to my advantage!!

Many things have changed with Silhouette images and I don't use it to its fullest potential but I am more than happy with the amount invested in the machine and images.

Once advantage with Cricut, I think (not sure) they have a limited amount of time that you have free access to most of their images with a new machine. As with any machine, you will want to review what comes with the machine.

I found once I went to digital cutting there was no going back, no new punches purchased and few dies needed although I do like them.

It is exciting to get your first machine...take a look at YouTube as mentioned and see what types of images you want to cut with it. I have never tired to import images to my Silhouette but I have done a few with my Cricut. Again, I don't use either machine to it's full potential!!!

I cant compare-I had the Cricut Expression w/cartridges--easy to use but I don't have the one you want to compare...
I do have a Silhouette Cameo 3 (I also had the original and donated it to an art teacher)…
I think its all what you get used to-I LOVE the Silhouette Cameo..I don't subscribe as they have a newer feature where you can bank a certain dollar amount (the higher the more discount) and they have tons of sales and daily deals-so I think its reasonable.

I also have the Brother Scan n cut which I ONLY use to scan and cut-I do NOT think it is user friendly, maybe the newest version is.....

Have you considered Brother Scan N Cut? It does all there 2 do and more. It scans a stamp/drawing/design and cuts it out. NO MORE FUSSY CUTTING!

Thanks for the input ladies!
I actually ordered the Cricut Air 2 this morning. After watching many (MANY) videos about both machine's programs I felt like the Cricut was going to be a little more user friendly for me. I could be wrong, but it looked easier to learn for this girl who isn't terribly high tech savvy.

Wonderful! Congrats and happy cutting!

Congrats on your machine choice. I have the Explore and the Cameo 3. I love them both but design space is easier to learn. An added plus, at the end of the year, we will be able to use our cricuts off line.

I use both a Maker and cameo 3. Hands down I love the cameo more. The software is easier for me to use, I can do all kinds of stuff that I can’t do with design space. I like to design my own files. Can’t do that very easily is design space. The only options for pressure when cutting (at least with the maker) is default, more, less. The cameo has all kinds of pressure, speed, and force settings.

I use my cameo with sure Cuts a lot 4. I also use it to design files for the maker since it exports SVGs that are DS compatible. SCAL4 also works with most other cutters out there - Roland, MH, Graphtec.

Good post! I want to get a new machine and not sure which one. Thanks!

@Shcrappy which one did you end up with eventually?

I'm on the market for a good table top vinyl cutter. I'm conflicted which one is the best?

So far what I've read was pure hype and I got bored of it. Just today I've found a site that's
different. This blog highlights shortcomings of brands. It was a bit strong but it got my attention.

Here's a comparison between https://freshlypickedblog.com/silhouette-cameo-vs-curio/. What do you think are those negatives
deal breakers? Did you have any issues with bluetooth or it that's a goner?

The different machines and abilities have gotten so overwhelming. I have, what are now considered, obsolete Cricut machines with a bunch of cartridges. With the newer Cricuts are you still able to use your old cartridges and then create your own graphics by scanning? I doubt I would be interested in the subscription. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Mikki - Your Cricut cartridges will need to be linked to your Design Space account. Cartridges can only be linked ONCE, if you happen to have a cartridge that is linked (from a previous owner maybe) then they will no longer work.  If YOU are the only owner of the cartridges and they have never been linked to an account set up with Cricut then you  should be able to work with the contents after you link the cartridges. The images will then always be available to you when you sign into design space.
They use to link to an account using the original Explore, there is a spot to insert the cartridge. No to use the cartridge to design with, just to link it. Then you take the cartridge out of the machine.  I have no clue if Provo Craft has done away with the linking capability with the newer machines since they no longer sell cartridges. I have never had a subscription to Cricut! 
Check YouTube for videos about the process of linking cartridges to a cricut account. 
 

Hi all, my friend is thinking of going about her business and starting to craft postcards. She recently gave birth to a girl, so this is more of a hobby than a full income.