Crafting and DIY projects have seen a huge resurgence in recent years. With people spending more time at home, hobbies like scrapbooking, cardmaking, vinyl projects, and more have become more popular than ever. Two of the leading electronic cutting machines on the market are the Silhouette Cameo 4 and the Cricut Maker 3. These high-tech tools can cut various materials like paper, vinyl, and fabric to assist crafters in creating professional-looking projects with ease.
But with two feature-rich machines to choose from, how do you decide which is the right pick for your needs? In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine the key differences between the Silhouette Cameo 4 and Cricut Maker 3, from design capabilities and cutting specs to software and accessories. Read on to discover which machine is the best for avid crafters.
Overview of the Silhouette Cameo 4 Cutting Machine
The Silhouette Cameo 4 is the newest model in Silhouette America’s popular line of electronic cutting machines. It was released in 2021 as an upgraded version of the previous Cameo 3 model. The Cameo 4 features a sleek, compact design in white with an interactive touch screen display. This machine is marketed towards hobbyist crafters looking for an affordable but powerful cutting machine.
The Cameo 4 can cut over 100 different materials including vinyl, paper, cardstock, and fabric up to 12 inches wide. It comes with a built-in roll feeder and crosscutter so you can load and cut 12-inch vinyl rolls with ease. The Cameo 4 boasts 2mm clearance when using the auto blade, giving you the ability to cut thicker materials. It has a maximum cutting force of 5kg and cutting speed of 10 inches per second.
One of the biggest upgrades with the Cameo 4 is the addition of a dual carriage system. This allows you to load two tools at once so you can cut and score in a single pass. The Cameo 4 is also WiFi enabled so you can send projects wirelessly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Overview of the Cricut Maker 3 Cutting Machine
The Cricut Maker 3 is Cricut’s most advanced electronic cutting machine available for home crafters. Released in 2022, this model replaces the previous Maker machine with upgrades including faster cutting speed, more cutting force, and a bigger cutting area. The Cricut Maker 3 has a premium white finish with an intuitive full color touch screen.
This cutting machine is designed to handle over 300 different materials from thin paper and iron-on vinyl to thick materials like leather and balsa wood. It comes with rotary and knife blades so you can cut fabric, create perforated scores, and more. The Maker 3 has a cutting area of 12 x 24 inches, twice the size of the Cameo 4.
Cricut packs a lot of power into the Maker 3 with its high-torque rotary and fast Auto Blade that deliver up to 4kg of cutting force. This allows the machine to quickly cut through thick materials with precision. Cricut advertises cutting speeds up to 2x faster compared to the Maker—up to 20 inches per second.
Like the Cameo 4, the Cricut Maker 3 has dual carriages for using two tools at once, built-in roll storage, and wireless connectivity. Overall, it’s designed to be an ultra powerful machine for avid crafters looking to cut a wide variety of materials.
Key Feature Comparison Between the Cameo 4 and Maker 3
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what each machine offers, let’s compare some of the most important features for crafters: cutting specs, accessories, software capabilities, and more.
Cutting Specs The Cameo 4 and Maker 3 are both impressive cutting machines, but the Cricut edges out the Silhouette in a few key specs:
- Cutting force – Maker 3 has up to 4kg of force compared to 5kg on the Cameo 4
- Cutting speed – Maker 3 advertises 2x faster cutting speeds up to 20 in/sec vs. 10 in/sec max on the Cameo 4
- Cutting area – At 12 x 24”, the Maker 3 has twice the cutting width of the 12” Cameo 4
So the Maker 3 is designed to cut thicker materials faster across a wider workspace. But for most crafters cutting vinyl, paper, and cardstock, the Cameo 4 has plenty of power and speed to handle these everyday materials with ease.
Blades and Accessories Both Cricut and Silhouette offer a variety of blade types and tool sets to enhance your cutting machine. Here’s an overview:
Cricut Maker 3:
- Rotary blade for fabric cutting
- Knife blade for precision cutting
- Scoring wheel for creating fold lines
- Cricut brand tools like pens, engraving tip, debossing tip
Silhouette Cameo 4:
- Auto blade for everyday cutting
- Ratchet blade for thick materials
- Silhouette brand sketch pens and embossing tool
Cricut’s rotary blade gives it more flexibility for cutting fabric. But the Cameo 4’s tools are generally more affordable than Cricut’s. Both offer enough versatility to handle most DIY crafting projects.
Software Comparison To design and cut projects with these machines, you need compatible software. Here’s how the programs compare:
Cricut Design Space: Cricut’s free design app works on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. It has a library of images and projects plus tools to create your own. Design Space connects wirelessly to Cricut machines. The software is beginner-friendly but can feel limiting for advanced users.
Silhouette Studio: Silhouette’s design software is also free for basic functions and connects wirelessly to machines. The program works on Mac and Windows (not mobile devices). Studio offers more robust tools for graphic design along with a library of content. It has a steeper learning curve but more versatility.
Both programs allow you to buy and download extra fonts, images, and projects for an added fee. Overall, Silhouette Studio caters better to advanced crafters who want more design flexibility.
Wireless Connectivity The Cameo 4 and Maker 3 both offer wireless connectivity to cut untethered from your computer. You can send designs wirelessly from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone using the Silhouette Bluetooth adapter or Cricut wireless adapter.
Both adapters are sold separately. Silhouette’s adapter costs around $15 whereas Cricut’s is pricier at $50. Keep in mind Cricut’s wireless adapter also enables cutting from Design Space on iOS and Android, a feature Silhouette lacks.
Machine Size and Footprint While these machines have similar tech specs, there are some physical differences:
- The Silhouette Cameo 4 is more compact at 8.5” wide vs. the Cricut at 20” wide.
- But the Maker 3 is shorter at 5.5” tall vs. 12.5” tall for the Cameo 4.
- The Maker 3 is heavier at around 24 lbs vs. 10 lbs for the Cameo.
Thanks to its smaller size, the Cameo 4 takes up minimal space on your craft table or can be tucked away easily. But the Maker 3 offers a larger cutting area.
Cost Comparison Pricing is often a key factor for crafters choosing a new cutting machine. Here are the MSRPs for the Cameo 4 and Maker 3 bundles:
- Silhouette Cameo 4 starter bundle: $299.99
- Cricut Maker 3 Everything Materials Bundle: $599
The Cameo 4 is significantly more affordable especially when comparing the basic bundles. But Cricut’s everything bundle does include $350+ worth of materials and tools which help justify its higher price.
Keep in mind you can often find these machines discounted, sometimes deeply, at major retailers like Amazon, Michaels, and Joanns as well as the manufacturers’ websites. The Cameo 4 often retails between $199-$250 while Cricut Maker 3 deals bring it down to $400-$500 typically.
Standout Features of Each Machine Beyond the major factors compared above, here are a few unique advantages for each machine:
Silhouette Cameo 4 Highlights:
- Pause function to temporarily stop cutting
- Barcode scanning to cut pre-printed projects
- Distinct lid opening for quick media loading
- Can cut longer projects up to 10 feet
Cricut Maker 3 Highlights:
- Fast Mode for up to 2x cutting speed
- Linked sets to cut multiples of a project
- Cut Smart feature automatically selects settings
- Cross-cutter for roll vinyl
- Dual tool carriages
Cricut Maker 3 vs Silhouette Cameo 4: Which is Better? With the key comparisons covered, which machine ultimately comes out on top? Here’s a brief pros and cons summary:
Cricut Maker 3 Pros:
- Twice the cutting width and force
- Faster cutting speeds
- Advanced fabric cutting with rotary blade
- Link sets and other convenience features
- Cricut’s Design Space is beginner-friendly
Cricut Maker 3 Cons:
- Much more expensive, especially for the full bundle
- Design Space feels limiting for advanced users
- Bulkier machine size
Silhouette Cameo 4 Pros:
- Significantly more affordable price
- Silhouette Studio offers more tools and control
- Compact size great for storage
- Longer cutting lengths up to 10 feet
Silhouette Cameo 4 Cons:
- Not as powerful for thick materials
- No fabric cutting capabilities
- Must buy Bluetooth adapter separately
For most crafters, Silhouette’s Cameo 4 offers the best mix of price point and performance. The well-rounded feature set can handle everyday vinyl, paper, and light-duty cardstock projects with ease. At under $300, it’s an incredible value that won’t break the budget.
The Cricut Maker 3 does justify its higher cost with ultra powerful cutting and wider material capabilities. The added cutting force and speed make it the best choice if you work with thicker materials like leather and balsa on a regular basis. It also excels at fabric cutting. But for casual crafters, it’s likely overkill.
The Verdict: Silhouette Cameo 4 is the Best Cutting Machine for Most Crafters For hobbyists new to die-cut machines or those simply looking for an affordable workhorse, the Silhouette Cameo 4 is our top recommendation for most users in 2023. Compared to the more expensive Cricut Maker 3, the Cameo 4 still delivers professional cutting results and impressive design software at a fraction of the price.
Sure, the Maker 3 edges out the Cameo 4 when it comes to raw cutting power and speed. But the Cameo 4’s specs can handle typical craft materials with ease, especially for the price. Plus, Silhouette Studio offers more advanced design options compared to Cricut’s software. For crafters on a budget or those delving into die-cut machines for the first time, the Silhouette Cameo 4 combines user-friendly design with incredible value.
