Well, is the Cricut Maker 3 really the "best Cricut machine for small business," or is that just what Cricut wants you to believe so you drop $400 on the newest model? I've been running my sticker and vinyl shop out of my basement for six years, and I've owned an old Explore, a second-hand Maker, and now the Maker 3.
I've got a 65-pound lab mix named Roscoe who sleeps on my shop floor, and I've cut through more 120-pound cardstock at 2 a.m.
than I care to admit. Here's the truth: the best machine for your business might not be the one Cricut is pushing this quarter.
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I've had my Maker 3 for two years now. Before that, I ran my shop on an old Explore that I bought used and basically tortured until it finally gave up. The Maker 3 is the machine I use for almost every order that goes out of my shop.
I've cut through 200-plus rolls of vinyl, gone through dozens of mats, and I keep a notebook where I track blade types, pressure settings, and which materials lie about their thickness.
I'm not a sponsored influencer who opened a box once. I'm someone who has lost money on bad cuts and cursed at a dull blade at midnight.
I don't track prices day to day, so I won't pretend to know what these machines will cost next week. What I can tell you is what they cost me, what they've survived, and which one I'd buy again if my shop burned down tomorrow.
The Cricut Maker 3, the machine I actually run my business on
Let me start with the flaw, because that's the honest way to do this. The Maker 3 is locked into Cricut's software, and that software has a subscription tier that wants you to pay monthly for features that used to come with the machine. I've seen too many beginners buy this machine, hit the paywall, and quit. That's the real cost of this machine, and it's not on the box.
But here's the thing. After two years of running full-time Etsy orders through my Maker 3, the hardware has never let me down. The cut speed is the big difference. When I'm behind on an order and need to cut 40 sheets of vinyl before dinner, the Maker 3 finishes in about half the time my old Explore did.
The smart set dial means I don't have to guess at material settings, and I've cut everything from 120-pound cardstock to foil poster board to leather without a single misaligned cut.
The housing unit matters more than the blade, and I learned that the hard way when I bought my original Maker second-hand without a blade or housing. I've tested aftermarket housings, and they're a toss-up. Sticking with the genuine Cricut housing has saved me from ruined projects. The Maker 3 uses the same housing, so I didn't have to rebuy anything when I upgraded.
One buyer named Grace & Grains said the Maker 3 is "fast and quiet," and I'd agree. It's not silent, but I can run it while teaching a class over Zoom without anyone hearing it. Another reviewer, Kelly B., said she "didn't realize how much faster it was until I used my old machine again." That matches my experience exactly.
My 95-pound golden retriever Roscoe has knocked this machine off my workbench twice, and it's still cutting true. I can't say that about any other piece of equipment in my shop.
Choose the Maker 3 if you're selling seriously and need speed plus material versatility. Choose the original Maker if you find a good deal on the used market, because it's the same engine without the speed boost.
The original Cricut Maker, the used market is where the real value lives
I bought my original Maker second-hand for $180, and it came without a blade or housing. That's how I learned how important the housing unit is. I grabbed a genuine Cricut housing and a premium fine-point blade, and that machine ran my shop for a year before I upgraded.
The original Maker is slower than the Maker 3, and you'll notice it when you're cutting intricate designs. But it cuts the same materials, handles the same tools, and the only real difference I noticed was speed. If you're starting a shop and money is tight, a used Maker with a new blade and a fresh mat will outperform a new entry-level machine every single time.
One buyer, Teresa's Favorit Things, said her Maker "handles everything I throw at it," and she's had hers for three years. Another reviewer mentioned that the original Maker is "still going strong" after hundreds of projects. That durability is the reason I recommend the used market so strongly.
The downside is that you're buying someone else's wear. Check the blade housing for fit, ask about the mats, and be ready to replace the blade immediately. But if you're okay with that, the cost per cut on a used Maker is unbeatable.
Choose the original Maker if you want the professional capabilities without the professional price tag. Just budget for a new blade and a fresh mat on day one.
The Cricut Explore 3, the budget option that still works
I haven't owned an Explore 3, but I ran my old Explore for years, and I've taught enough classes to know how these machines behave. The Explore 3 is a fine machine for stickers, vinyl decals, and cardstock. It's the same software, the same design space, the same basic cutting experience.
The problem is that you'll outgrow it. The Explore series can't cut fabric, basswood, or the thicker materials that the Maker line handles. I've had students come back to my class a year after buying an Explore, frustrated that they can't do the projects they see on Pinterest. That's not a machine failure, it's a capability ceiling.
At $279, it's a reasonable entry point. But for a small business, I'd rather see you spend a bit more on a used Maker than buy a new Explore. The cost per cut over three years will be lower on the Maker, and you won't hit that ceiling.
Choose the Explore 3 if you're strictly doing paper and vinyl and you're sure you won't want to branch out. Choose anything else if you think you might grow.
The Cricut Joy Xtra, cute but not for production
The Joy Xtra is the machine I almost bought for travel, and I'm glad I didn't. It's small, it's cute, and it's fine for making a few stickers at a kitchen table. But for a small business, it's a toy.
The mat size is the killer. You're limited to small projects, and you'll spend more time loading and unloading than actually cutting. I've seen buyers say it's "perfect for small projects," and that's exactly the problem. Small projects don't pay the bills.
One reviewer noted that the Joy Xtra "works great for cardmaking and small labels," which is true. But if you're selling, you need volume, and this machine can't deliver it.
Choose the Joy Xtra if you're a hobbyist who wants to make a few things for fun. Choose a full-size machine if you're trying to make money.
The software problem, the subscription trap
I can't write this review without addressing the elephant in the room. Cricut wants you to pay monthly for software features that used to come with the machine. The subscription tier is a tax on hobbyists, and it's the reason I always recommend buying the machine you need and ignoring the subscription.
The free version of Design Space handles everything I need for my shop. I cut vinyl, cardstock, and foil, and I've never hit a paywall that stopped a project. The subscription adds some fonts and images, but I've been designing my own files for years, and I don't need their library.
One buyer said it best about the blade housing: "I've learned to stick to Cricut housings, it seems using anything else can be a toss up." That's the same logic Cricut wants you to apply to everything, stick to the brand, pay the premium, ignore the fact that third-party alternatives work just as well. The subscription is the future Cricut wants, and it's the future I'm fighting against.
The bottom line
If you're starting a small business tomorrow, buy a used Cricut Maker and a new blade. If you're already selling and speed is your bottleneck, the Maker 3 is worth the upgrade. Skip the Explore and the Joy unless you're absolutely sure you won't outgrow them.
And ignore the subscription. The software you need is the software you already paid for. That's what I'd tell any student who asks me, and it's what I'd tell you.