About Cricut
Cricut, Inc. is a publicly traded (Nasdaq: CRCT) maker of computer-controlled cutting machines, or cutting plotters, headquartered in South Jordan, Utah. The first Cricut-branded cutting machine shipped in January 2005, and the lineup has since grown into three current machine families, Maker, Explore, and Joy, alongside EasyPress heat presses and BrightPad light boxes, used for cutting and shaping paper, vinyl, iron-on, fabric, leather, and wood.
Every current Cricut machine runs on the company's own Design Space software, with a free tier plus the optional Cricut Access subscription that unlocks its larger image and font library. In our own testing, the current Maker, Explore, and Joy generations handled materials from basic cardstock through genuine leather and balsa wood, and the Maker line's Adaptive Tool System supports 13 interchangeable tool heads (cutting, scoring, engraving, debossing, perforating, foiling, and writing), more tool types than any other machine on our craft-cutting list.
Brand website: cricut.com
What Cricut makes
Cricut's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Maker Series Cutting Machines
full-size machines cutting 300+ materials including leather, wood, and fabric — featured on DeskRated
Explore Series Cutting Machines
full-size, 12-inch machines for vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock — featured on DeskRated
Joy Series Cutting Machines
compact, portable cutters for smaller projects — featured on DeskRated
EasyPress Heat Presses
handheld heat presses for iron-on and HTV transfers
BrightPad Light Boxes
portable light boxes for tracing and weeding vinyl
Design Space & Cricut Access
the design software platform and its subscription image/font library
Why we recognized Cricut
The DeskRated Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our hands-on category reviews. Cricut earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: bought, used at a real desk, and judged on merit.
Cricut products we rated highly
Cricut Maker 4
In our testing, the Maker 4 cut more than 300 materials, including genuine leather, balsa wood, and chipboard, materials no other machine on our list could handle. Its Adaptive Tool System supports 13 tool types, and the matless Smart Materials system cut continuous runs up to 13 inches wide and 12 feet long without mat alignment, a real time-saver on large batches of vinyl decals or classroom sets.
Read the 7 Best Craft Cutting Machines of 2026 guide →
Cricut Joy Xtra Digital Version
Compact enough to stay out on a desk, the Joy Xtra still cut 50+ materials in our testing, including vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and sticker paper. Its Print-Then-Cut feature worked with any home inkjet printer to produce custom stickers, it cut matless Smart Materials in runs up to 12 feet, and it was the easiest machine on our list for a first-time crafter to learn.
Read the 7 Best Craft Cutting Machines of 2026 guide →
Cricut Explore 5 Essential Bundle
The Explore 5 cut 100+ materials at full 12-inch width in our testing, covering vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and bonded fabric, and supported the same matless Smart Materials runs as the Maker line. The Essential Bundle version ships with starter vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock, so a first project is ready the day the machine arrives.
Read the 7 Best Craft Cutting Machines of 2026 guide →What earned Cricut the recognition
- The Maker 4 cut more than 300 materials in our testing, including genuine leather, balsa wood, and chipboard, the widest material range of any machine on our craft-cutting list.
- The Maker 4's Adaptive Tool System supports 13 interchangeable tool types, from cutting and scoring blades to engraving, debossing, and foil transfer tools.
- Three current Cricut machines in our testing, the Maker 4, Joy Xtra, and Explore 5, all support matless Smart Materials cutting in continuous runs up to 12 feet, removing mat alignment for long or repeating projects.
- Design Space ties the lineup together with a free design tier plus the Cricut Access subscription for its larger image and font library.
- Cricut, Inc. is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: CRCT) headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, reporting 709 million dollars in revenue in 2025.