Silhouette Cameo 3 vs Cricut Explore Air – the differences
Below you can compare the differences between the Silhouette Cameo 3 and the Cricut Explore Air, and find out which is best for you.
| Silhouette Cameo 3 | Cricut Explore Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting Width | 12 inches x 10 feet | 12 inches by 24 inches |
| Cutting Force | 210 grams | 350 grams |
| Cut | Yes | Yes |
| Draw | Yes | Yes |
| Print and Cut | Yes | Yes |
| PixScan Technology | Yes | No |
| Autoblade | Yes | No |
| Smart Set Dial | No | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Dual Carriage heads | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Works Without Internet | Yes | iOS only |
| Software | Silhouette Studio Designer | Cricut Design Space |
| MSRP | $299 | $299 |
| Amazon Price | Check price | Check price |
What machine is stronger, the Silhouette Cameo or the Cricut Explore?
While both machines have pros and cons, when it comes to strength, the Cricut Explore is stronger than the Silhouette Cameo. The Cricut Explore isn’t considered a heavy duty cutting machine like the Cricut Maker, but it can cut more materials than the Silhouette Cameo. The Cricut Explore comes with a German carbide blade, making the blades last longer. Deep cut blades are available for both machines.
There has been independent testing done on the Silhouette Cameo vs the Cricut Explore. You can view the strength test online. Here is a quick summary of the results:
| Material | Silhouette Cameo | Cricut Explore |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | Failed | Pass |
| Cork | Failed | Pass |
| Leather, Soft | Failed | Pass |
| Leather, hard | Failed | Pass |
| Chipboard | Failed | Pass |
| Chipboard, dense | Failed | Pass |
| Magnet sheet | Failed | Pass |
| Aluminum | Failed | Pass |
It should be noted that the Silhouette Cameo can cut some of these materials, but not at the thickness that was tested. For example, you can cut magnet using the Silhouette Cameo, but you need to use Silhouette’s magnetic paper.
Silhouette Design Studio vs Cricut Design Space
One of the big differences between the Silhouette Cameo and the Cricut Explore is the software that the two machines use.
The Silhouette Design Studio is far more powerful and advanced than the Cricut Design Space. The Silhouette software allows users complete freedom to create their own designs from scratch. The images that can be purchased are also more professional looking, rather than the simple, clip-art looking designs from the Cricut store. There is more of a learning curve with the Silhouette software compared to the Cricut software.
The basic edition of the Silhouette software is free, which allows users to use jpg, bmp, and png files. If you want to us svg files, you must upgrade the software for $50.
The Cricut Design Space software is easier and more simple to use compared to the Silhouette Design Studio software. This is good for users who want to create simple designs and won’t be creating designs from scratch. You can create designs from scratch using the Cricut software, but options are very limited. The Cricut Design Space was designed for importing existing designs created in other programs into the Cricut software. One important difference to know is that the Cricut Design Space requires an internet connection and that projects and linked cartridges are stored in the cloud.
Compatible file types for the Cricut Software are .svg, .png, .dxf, .gif, .bmp and .jpg