Last updated: October 2026

The Silhouette CAMEO 5α and Cricut Maker 4 are both 12-inch cutters at similar prices (about $280 and $329 in October 2026). The CAMEO cuts longer (16 feet) and thicker (3 mm) material and can cut lined vinyl from any brand without a mat, while the Maker 4 has two tool clamps, a 13-tool system and larger print then cut sheet sizes. The Cricut Joy Xtra (about $149 on sale) is the compact, cheaper choice for 8.5-inch-wide projects and small sticker sheets.

How we picked: compiled from manufacturer specifications, published prices and owner feedback patterns. We have not tested these machines ourselves. Our method.

A note on model names

Silhouette now sells the CAMEO 5α (Alpha) as its 12-inch CAMEO. Silhouette’s help center describes the CAMEO 5 and 5α together, and Silhouette’s store lists the 5α rather than the original CAMEO 5, so “CAMEO 5” below means the 5α. There is also a 15-inch CAMEO 5α Plus at $399.99.

On the Cricut side, the Maker 3 is discontinued and no longer sold new on Cricut’s store. Its current replacements are the Maker 4 ($329, list $399) and the newer Maker 5 ($349, listed out of stock when checked). This page compares the Maker 4 because it was in stock and is the closest match to the CAMEO’s price. Cricut groups the Maker 3 and Maker 4 together in its material settings list, so most cut settings carry over.

Comparison table

Silhouette CAMEO 5αCricut Maker 4Cricut Joy Xtra
Price (October 2026)About $280 ($279.99)About $329 ($399 list)About $149 ($179 list)
Max width12 in mat (11.6 in on lined material)12 in materials on a mat; 13 in Smart Materials8.5 in
Max cut on a mat12 x 24 in mat11.5 x 23.5 in (12 x 24 in mat)8.2 x 11.7 in
Max cut length16 ft12 ft (Smart Vinyl only)4 ft (Smart Materials)
Max material thickness3 mm2.4 mm (3/32 in)Not listed by Cricut
Cut speedUp to 300 mm/s (about 11.8 in/s)Up to 14.1 in/s5.65 in/s
Tool holders2 plungers2 tool clamps, 13 compatible tools1 tool clamp
Matless cuttingLined material, any brandCricut Smart Materials onlyCricut Smart Materials only
Print then cutYes, 4-point registration; up to 12 x 12 in materialYes, A4 to A3 page sizesYes, Letter and A4
ConnectionUSB 2.0, BluetoothBluetooth, USB-CBluetooth
SoftwareSilhouette Studio (Basic free; upgrades $39.99 to $79.99, one-time)Design Space (free; Cricut Access $9.99/month optional)Design Space
Best forLong vinyl runs, other-brand vinyl, desktop software usersWidest tool range, fabric and thicker craft materialsSmall projects, cards, labels, small sticker sheets

Sources for every figure are listed at the end. “Not listed” means we could not find the figure on the maker’s own pages.

Cutting size and materials

CAMEO 5α. Silhouette lists a guaranteed operating area of 12 x 24 inches with a cutting mat and 11.6 inches by 16 feet with lined material, plus a maximum material thickness of 3 mm. Silhouette’s help center says the CAMEO 5 takes materials from 4.25 to 12 inches wide using adjustable pinch rollers and includes a roll feeder. Silhouette also sells an optional electrostatic mat that holds materials without adhesive.

Maker 4. Cricut’s help center lists 11.5 x 11.5 inches on a 12 x 12 mat and 11.5 x 23.5 inches on a 12 x 24 mat. Without a mat, the Maker 4 cuts Smart Vinyl up to 11.7 inches by 12 feet and Smart Iron-On up to 11.7 inches by 4 feet. Cricut’s FAQ says other brands of vinyl or iron-on can be used, but they need to go on a cutting mat. Cricut gives a maximum material thickness of 3/32 inch (2.4 mm) for Maker machines and says Maker 4 works with 300+ materials.

Joy Xtra. Cricut lists a maximum cut of 8.2 x 11.7 inches on the machine mat and 8.5 inches by 4 feet with Smart Materials. Cricut says it works with 50+ materials, including vinyl, iron-on and cardstock. It uses its own smaller mats, blade housing and pens; Cricut’s FAQ says Explore and Maker accessories do not fit.

The practical difference: if you buy vinyl in rolls from brands like Oracal or Siser and want long decals without a mat, the CAMEO is the one built for that. On a Cricut, long matless cuts mean buying Cricut’s Smart Materials.

Tools and speed

The Maker 4 is the tool machine of the three. Cricut lists two tool clamps and 13 compatible tools for cutting, writing, scoring and effects such as engraving and debossing, with the Knife Blade, Rotary Blade and QuickSwap tools sold separately. Cricut says the Maker 4 is up to 2x faster than the Maker 3 when cutting on a mat, at up to 14.1 inches per second, and that speed varies by material setting.

The CAMEO 5α has two plunger positions and AutoBlade depth adjustment. Silhouette’s help center lists compatibility with all CAMEO 4 blades and tools plus optional power tools: Heat Pen, Embossing Tool and Pen Holder. Silhouette lists a maximum cutting speed of 300 mm/s and a sketching speed of 400 mm/s.

The Joy Xtra has one clamp. It cuts and draws with Joy-sized pens and markers and works with Cricut’s foil transfer tool, sold separately.

Software and ongoing cost

This is where the two brands differ most.

Silhouette Studio is a desktop program, and the free Basic Edition handles cutting, tracing and Print & Cut. The main limit is file types: Basic opens DXF but not SVG. Silhouette sells one-time upgrades: Basic to Designer for $39.99 (opens SVG and PDF), Basic to Designer Plus for $59.99 and Basic to Business for $79.99 (adds SVG export, AI and EPS import). Each upgrade can be active on up to three of your devices. See opening SVG files in the free version for details.

Design Space is free and opens uploaded images and SVGs without an upgrade. Cricut Access is an optional subscription for Cricut’s image library, fonts and some exclusive features, at $9.99 per month after a 30-day trial according to Cricut’s help center. Cricut says Design Space needs an internet connection for setup, sign-in and image uploads; on Windows, Mac and iOS you can save content and cut offline, but Android does not support offline use.

Neither choice is free of trade-offs. Silhouette users pay once for SVG support; Cricut users pay nothing to open SVGs but may pay monthly for content.

All three print then cut with your home printer. Silhouette recommends a maximum Print & Cut material size of 12 x 12 inches on a CAMEO, with a mat, and states a 1/16 inch margin of error between print and cut. The CAMEO 5α uses a four-point registration mark system.

Cricut publishes exact maximums. The Maker series supports A4, Letter, Legal, Tabloid and A3, with a maximum of 15.94 x 9.94 inches on Tabloid. The Joy Xtra supports Letter and A4 only, with a maximum of 9.94 x 7.44 inches on Letter. For more on sticker workflows, see the best sticker machine guide.

Who each machine fits

Choose the Silhouette CAMEO 5α if you cut a lot of vinyl or heat transfer vinyl from rolls, want long decals without buying a specific brand, prefer a one-time software cost to a subscription, or want the 3 mm thickness limit.

Choose the Cricut Maker 4 if you want fabric cutting with the Rotary Blade, the Knife Blade for thicker craft materials, engraving or debossing, the biggest print then cut sheet sizes, or Design Space’s free SVG uploads. If the Maker 5 is in stock near the same price, compare the two.

Choose the Cricut Joy Xtra if your projects fit within 8.5 inches wide: cards, labels, small decals and Letter-size sticker sheets. It costs about half as much as the other two and takes up less space.

If you are still deciding between brands in general, see Cricut vs Silhouette and the best cutting machine for beginners.

FAQ

Is the Cricut Maker 3 still sold? Not new on Cricut’s store as of October 2026. Cricut’s current Maker models are the Maker 4 and Maker 5.

Which is cheaper over time, Silhouette or Cricut? Silhouette’s software upgrades are one-time purchases ($39.99 to $79.99). Cricut’s Design Space is free, with an optional Cricut Access subscription at $9.99 per month. Which costs less depends on whether you need SVG support or Cricut’s content library.

Can the CAMEO 5α cut fabric? Silhouette’s help center says CAMEO machines can use a Rotary Blade, sold separately, for felt and fabric. The Maker 4 also uses a Rotary Blade for fabric.

Can I use Oracal or Siser vinyl without a mat on a Cricut? Cricut’s Maker 4 FAQ says other brands of materials need to be placed on a cutting mat. Only Cricut Smart Materials load without a mat.

Is the Joy Xtra big enough for shirts? For many shirt designs, yes, as long as the design fits within its 8.5-inch width and Cricut’s listed 8.2 x 11.7 inch mat area or 4-foot Smart Materials length.

Sources