Best Vinyl Cutters

Review & Comparison, Last Update September 24, 2024
Cutting vinyl and other tender materials by hand can be a really difficult task. That’s why it is important to have a reliable machine that will do it for you. The vinyl cutters are the best tools for that. But what kind of cutter do you actually need? Take a look at our best vinyl cutter reviews and find out which one will make your art truly unique. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Max Cutting Width
Blades
OS Compatibility
Connectivity
Accessories
Warranty
 
PROS

This machine comes with an exclusive rotary blade that won't damage soft materials. On top of that, you will get a Fine Point Pen that will help you in planning your final design or decorating it, depending on the complexity of the project.

CONS

The additional parts are somewhat expensive.

OUR VERDICT

Cricut Maker will make contouring an easy ask. Since the decorating is performed automatically, all you have to do is just upload the design to the device and turn it on to start the process. Thanks to the wireless capabilities of the device, you can upload them from your mobile gadget or computer without too much of a hassle.

detailed parameters
Type

Tabletop

Max Cutting Width

12"

Blades

Rotary Blade, Premium Fine Point Blade

OS Compatibility

Windows, Mac, iOS and Android

Connectivity

Bluetooth, USB

Accessories

Fine Point Pen

2 x 12” x 12” cutting mats

USB cable

Power adapter

Design apps

50 x free ready-to-make projects (including 25 sewing patterns)

Materials for your first project

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The model comes with a spooling feature that can effortlessly create multicolor designs. The cutter will conveniently detect the colors you have selected and omit the others so you won't have to change the sheets too often.

CONS

The cutter is quite bulky.

OUR VERDICT

USCutter is a multifunctional stationary scrapbooking cutter that has a dual ball-bearing media roller system that can cut various single-layer materials. Moreover, the machine is equipped with three adjustable cutting blades and a full set of vinyl to start crafting right away.

detailed parameters
Type

Stationary

Max Cutting Width

30.63"

Blades

3 Vinyl Cutting Blades

OS Compatibility

Windows, (Mac is not officially supported)

Connectivity

Serial (COM), USB

Accessories

5 x rolls Greenstar vinyl

2 x sheets 12" x 24" magnetic blanks

TransferRite Ultra Clear 1310G (Grid)Application Transfer Tape - 6" x 10yd

TransferRite Ultra 592U Paper Application Tape, High Tack - 6" x 10yd

Hobby knife

Squeegee

USB Cable

Warranty

1 year, Free lifetime technical phone support

PROS

The product features a smart dial that will help you choose the correct material type. What is more, a custom mode makes it easy to set the height and width of the cut.

CONS

The setup instructions could be more thorough.

OUR VERDICT

A compact cutting plotter from Cricut is one of the fastest cutting machines on the market today. Furthermore, an evergrowing library of designs and cutting patterns will help you in creating actual masterpieces out of over a hundred materials.

detailed parameters
Type

Tabletop

Max Cutting Width

12”

Blades

German Carbide Premium Blade

OS Compatibility

Windows, Mac, iOS and Android

Connectivity

Bluetooth, USB

Accessories

Cricut Design Space™ software & app

USB cord

Power cord

Accessory Adapter

100+ free images

50+ free project ideas

Pen & cardstock sample

Cricut® 12" x 12"

StandardGrip cutting mat

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The PixScan compatibility makes this device highly versatile and appealing to professional artists since you can draw your own designs by hand.

CONS

The cutting width is small compared to similar models.

OUR VERDICT

The Silhouette Portrait 2 will be a great addition to the toolbox of any artist. Alternatively, the great packaging makes it suitable for amateurs as well, since it has all you need for making signs, business cards, and basic decorations for your house and business.

detailed parameters
Type

Tabletop

Max Cutting Width

8"

Blades

AutoBlade, Ratchet Blade

OS Compatibility

Windows, Mac

Connectivity

Bluetooth, USB

Accessories

Power cable

USB cable

Bluetooth adapter

2 x 8" x 12" cutting mats

50 x digital cuttable designs

24 sketch pens

Silhouette Studio Software

1-month Silhouette Design Store subscription

Warranty

1 year

PROS

This model allows for scanning any material pattern with saving the cutter's memory for future use. On top of that, an ergonomic screen makes the editing of your design almost effortless.

CONS

The supplied cutting mat deteriorates too fast. 

OUR VERDICT

Brother CM350 is a multifunctional device, which allows you to combine your custom patterns with more than 600 included designs for making even more sophisticated ones. Perhaps one of the best vinyl cutters to unleash your creativity.

detailed parameters
Type

Tabletop

Max Cutting Width

11.7"

Blades

German Premium Carbide Blade

OS Compatibility

Windows

Connectivity

USB, Wireless Network Ready

Accessories

12” x 12” Cutting Mat

Red pen

Black pen

Stylus pen

Simple Spatula

Accessory pouch

631 x built-in designs including 100 quilt patterns and 7 lettering fonts

Warranty

25-year limited warranty, Free technical phone support

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Cricut Maker

Vinyl Fantasy

The Cricut Maker 2003925 is an entry-level cutter that has all you could possibly need as a beginner scrapbooker or craftsman. It is ideal for cutting decals, shapes, circuits, and outlines from literally every material that the rotary blades of this little beast can cut. Just to name a few, the sharp blades of the machine can easily cut through fabric, thermal paper, cardboard, balsa, chipboard, and, of course, vinyl.

The machine comes equipped with a 12” x 12” mat that will help you materialize all of your great ideas. Additionally, you can order an optional 24” x 12” version of the mat that is suitable for the most sophisticated DIY projects. As for the blades, the standard edition of the machine comes supplied with both rotary and knife blades. The first will help you deal with fabrics without tearing them, while the latter is capable of cutting soft types of wood. The blades will help you in cutting small decals, stickers, and even contours so you can decorate your projects with even more details.

This electronic vinyl cutting machine from Cricut may not look like something special at first glance, however, it has all the features of a professional model, if not more. Perfect for home use and easy to maintain, this cutter is the perfect scrapbooking tool that you’d be glad to have by your side.

Review of Cricut Maker Champagne

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $320.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B072VYPWM4

What customers say about this product

Features

Only had it for a few days, hooked it up, downloaded software, started using right away. I’m a first time user of any die cut tool so can’t compare to others, but this Cricut Maker is super easy!

Key Specs

The rotary blade is amazing and I've made about 70 mats worth of items with no issues so far, except for a couple times when I didn't clean my mat off well enough.
 

USCutter MH 34in

A Versatile Professional Cutter

The model in question has two outputs to connect it to your computer via USB or to the monitor via serial (COM) port. Additionally, you can use all the features of the cutter right from your desktop with some help from the proprietary software. Despite the fact that the Mac version of the software is not officially supported, it can still be used quite effectively (though some functions of the application may not work as intended).

In terms of performance, the model comes with a spooling feature that can effortlessly create multicolor designs. It will conveniently detect the colors you have selected and omit the others so you won't have to change the sheets too often. Plus, it has a dual ball-bearing media roller system that can cut various single-layer materials. Unfortunately, the quality of the vinyl that comes with this machine leaves quite a bit to be desired. So, when you're done experimenting with your first projects using the cutter, we strongly recommend purchasing materials from premium brands as it is the only way to achieve a top-notch quality in your craft.

While assembling the cutter doesn’t take a lot of effort or engineering skills, once you get the device up and running, you need to be careful since it may go off-rail while cutting if you haven't assembled it properly. Since the product is stationary, it is important to install it on a flat surface for stabilization and to avoid possible deviations from the initial design of your project.

All things considered, the MH Sign Making Kit from USCutter is perhaps one of the few stationary vinyl cutting machines that you could find in the low to medium price range and that will be suitable for both amateur and experienced craftsmen.

Review of USCutter MH 34in Sign Making Kit w/Design & Cut Software, Supplies, Tools

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $449.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00CDQGCTW

 

Cricut Explore Air 2

Not Just a Regular Plotter

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is one of the best vinyl cutters for beginners available today, thanks to its ease of use and an array of built-in presets that will bring to life the bravest of your ideas. The only downside of the pre-designed patterns is the fact that you only get a trial access to the online library. Having said that, if you start cutting from the get-go, the one-month trial should be more than enough to learn all the ropes so you probably won’t actually need the Cricut Access application anymore.

The machine comes together with a premium-quality German carbide blade that will last you for a long time and, even if it gets dull, you can always order a replacement one. The blade itself can easily cut almost every material from the list that the manufacturer added to the specifications such as colored vinyl, cardstock, leather, foils, papers, and many more.

As for the ease of use, all you have to do in order to start the cutter is turn it on and put the material inside the machine. Everything else can be initiated with just a few pushes of the button or right from your mobile device thanks to the built-in Bluetooth support and the Cricut mobile app. All in all, the Cricut Explore Air 2 requires little involvement on your behalf and can do all of the basic vinyl cutting jobs with ease.

Review of Cricut Explore Air 2 Personal DIY Cutting Machine

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $187.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01GSOMVRG

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Cuts very intricate details with ease. Easy to use interface. Fast cutting/drawing.

Features

Admittedly, it can be difficult to cut small intricate images and words. I've found the "print and cut" feature a good solution to this problem. That feature allows you to print an image off on your computer and simply have the Cricut cut out the shape of it. I use this technique to make stickers.
 

Silhouette Portrait 2 Starter Bundle

When You Don't Know Where to Start

The starter bundle from Silhouette is perhaps one of the best options for entry-level scrapbookers since it has everything you need to get started. The machine itself may prove to be a bit small for experienced DIYers but it will suffice the needs of beginners that have just gotten into this hobby. To be more specific, the vinyl cutter has a maximum cutting width of 8 inches, which some may find a bit limiting, especially if you plan on doing large-scale projects.

As mentioned above, the bundle has a lot of convenient features as well as additional tools that will help you get into the hobby much faster than the other models. The machine is supplied with regular USB and power cables as well as a Bluetooth adapter that will come in handy for pairing the device with your phone. Additionally, the package includes 24 pens of different colors, two 12” x 8” cutting mats, as well as a 1-month subscription to the Silhouette Design Store that has a variety of different designs that can be used on various materials. The basic subscription plan will give you an instant access to the 50 digital designs so you will be able to get some practice with them from the get-go.

So, despite some minor flaws, the Portrait 2 from Silhouette is a great pick to start scrapbooking right away, mostly thanks to the AutoBlade features and the overall ease of use.

Review of Silhouette Portrait 2 Starter Bundle Electronic Cutting Machine (Starter Bundle)

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07B13KLZQ

 

Brother ScanNCut 2 (CM350)

Scan Any Materials You Wish

The Brother company introduced the multifunctional Brother ScanNCut device intended to help creative people in the implementation of their projects. With this scrapbooking cutting machine for vinyl, you can easily cut even complex geometry parts made of paper or fabric instead of doing a painstaking manual cutting. This device will be highly appreciated by anyone who is engaged in making products from scrap materials or a patchwork. 

The most prominent advantage of this model is its ability to scan any images, pictures, drawings and even photos for saving them to the memory and future reuse. The built-in 300 dpi scanner with RGB color recognition will enable you to create your own complex design. Moreover, you can even combine your own patterns with the 100 quilting designs already stored in the cutting machine memory, with 531 available card and package cut designs, etc. and 7 different fonts. The large display of the device makes managing and editing various projects a no issue. We recommend you to take a closer look at the starter kit, which makes it possible to apply your creative skills right away.

Review of Brother ScanNCut 2 (CM350) Cutting Machine

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B014T1CI1E

VIDEO
Brother™ ScanNCut Feature: Direct Cut and Scanning

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Now I'm cutting my own stencils and all kinds of things on the machine. I'm very happy with my purchase. I will say that when using a new material you should always do a tiny test cut to be sure of the blade setting.

Features

You can cut custom images all day long. You are not limited to an exclusive set library. (Very nice!)
 

What Is a Vinyl Cutter?

It is a machine that visually resembles a regular desktop printer and that is not limited to only cutting vinyl. Some of the vinyl cutter models are even capable of cutting sturdy materials such as thin types of wood or faux leather. Depending on the material, you will have to choose between a cutting blade or a rotary blade since cutting blade can damage fabrics, decals, and various types of vinyl.

Some cutter models come equipped with various pens, additional blades, and special accessories so it is important to figure out what kind of additional hardware you will need for a particular task.

So, how do the cutters actually work? In order to use a vinyl cutter properly, you will need a vector image that is usually made using such software as Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. After the image was uploaded to the machine and the desired material was chosen, the cutter will start removing the unwanted parts.

Don’t be discouraged though, with a variety of pre-set designs that come together with the software of a vinyl cutter, you don’t actually need to be a designer or engineer to make a composition for your project.

And if you are looking for more sophisticated tools for creating arts and crafts, we recommend taking a look at the scrapbooking cutting machines and engravers.

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Publish Date: 2018-09-07 13:33:35