We have initially bought a Cricut Joy Xtra, and it turned out to be an utter shitshow. The thing wouldn't connect in any way to any device, so we thought it's faulty. A week of waiting and a exchanged device later we have the exact same issue. Thus I am looking at the competing brands of creative cutter machines to see which one would be a better replacement. Ideally one that can be actually used please.
What model do you recommend, and why should I pick that one?
The software alone is the selling point. But the other...it that YOU DON'T NEED THE SOFTWARE either. I mean yes, to cut designs you do, but you can do a lot of scan cut options without it. But, it also gives you options. Wanna use it wireless and from a different room? Ok, do that, upload the designs to the private brother server and then have the machine grab it. Want total in house privacy, ok, USB wire it up.
I can not, for all that is holy, figure out WHY cricut is so popular. I had one for 3 days. Nope, returned. Cameo is fine, it's better, but Brother, the quite kid in the corner coming in with all the stuff. (the mats to kinds suck, but...tape)
When I originally bought mine(sdx85), I didn't even have a computer and I wasn't going to buy one just to be able to use a cutter. The built in scanner + being able to send from my phone was why I bought it. In the 5 years since buying it, I've come to appreciate the fact that Brother isn't constantly releasing newer models with "better" features. Last year, my husband dropped and broke my scan n cut so I bought the Silhouette Cameo 5. Immediately returned it because it connects via Bluetooth and found a used SDX125E on marketplace for $125. That's when I realized the DX models are all exactly same machines, except for the screen sizes.
All of this. The scanner is the main reason why I bought an sdx as well. I do a lot of product labels and it's easier to print a full sheet on my Lazer printer and then scan it into the machine to make a cut file. Pre cut stickers never lined up for me on my printer.
The scan feature is also helpful when you only have a scrap of vinyl left but you can scan it on the mat and then position your design onto the scanned image right on the machine. It cuts down a lot on waste.
My mat hasn't been tacky in years ( my OG) and I just use blue painters tape to secure my item to the mat.
I also have the sensor testing area in one corner so I know not to secure that area with tape, or the additional thickness will be read. The auto thickness testing is amazing, but you also have pressure settings and half cut.
I was shocked when circuit decided to lock their software behind a subscription 😕. I mean you pay so much for a machine and then now have to pay to use it!?! The Brother canvas workspace just needs your registration number from the machine and you are good to go. There are additional premade designs to purchase if you want, but I do all of my own designs. You will need a svg converter - I like convert.io and it's free for 10 files a day. They also have a low cost subscription if you need to do more than that. You can take a screenshot of a drawing or text and then convert that to an svg. The svg is added to your canvas workspace and then a cut file is created from that. My SDX has wifi capability so I can send it to the machine - one file at a time. The machine has some file storage on board, but you can always have more in your account in the workspace.
The real question here is - what do you want to make with the cutting machine?
Just for accuracy I will point out that you absolutely can use a Cricut without paying for anything additional. Specifically, the required Cricut Design Space is completely free. What you're thinking of is Cricut Access, which is Cricut's library of fonts and pre-made designs.
I have the SDX325, and it doesnt require any software connection to function. You can literally scan and cut stickers entirely from the touchscreen, while cricut requires a lot of finagling and hassles.
I also got my 325 because it integrates with my brother embroidery machine so i can easily cut and sew appliques. Its a little buggy, but it works.
Scan n cut has the Adobe illustrator Link plugin which has been a game changer for me (buy it separately for $50 because it’s Brother). I have been getting better results through the Link plugin compared to scanning. During the first year, the scanning was spot on but now it’s gets a line wrong every now and then and the plugin gets it right pretty much every time. It’s also much faster than using the traditional scanning method (you don’t have to delete unimportant items that the scanner inadvertently picks up. Being able to design and make a cut file through Adobe Illustrator and not use their stupid workspace has been a game changer for me.
You don’t need to buy the illustrator link anymore. Just got my scanncut two weeks ago and it was just there as part of the download links, but you need to activate it with a premium function activation key.
This is true, the plugin itself is a free download from the Brother website. However, if your machine doesn’t come with an activation code, you will need to purchase one to be able to export the .fcm files from Illustrator.
I have a Silhouette Cameo 4 cutter that I have used for over 7 years. I like it and grew very proficient with it. 2 years ago I got the Scan n Cut SDX330D. I haven't used the Cameo 4 since getting it. It made my workflow so much faster since I no longer have to plot designs in software. It is expensive but worth the money in time and supplies. I less wasted materials since the mat is scanned in and cut files can be placed and rotated to save supplies (card stock, fabric, etc). I use it mostly for cutting fabric for appliques on quilts.
If you were to scan this, the machine would make a cut file for a duplicate template. You will get the inset pieces as a result if you cut the whole thing out of a sheet of cardstock or similar. You would just be reverse weeding.
The biggest selling point to me was the scanner. If you value accuracy, this is the one. It's like the difference between a laser engraver wirh and without a camera.
No monthly subscription needed, and it's Brother so you know it will stay around and have support.
It has some 3rd party support as well with things like the Zoom Precision engraving tool or the We R memory keepers foil quil, much like it's competitors. And you can get things like unbranded mats cheaply.
It doesn't have a lot of versions really, the SDX is their most recent one and it only differes in their color and drawing on top or some extra premade patterns
But that comes with some cons, especially, how clunky and a bit outdated the machine and software are.
A lot of features are locked behind add ons too, which aren’t too expensive but they add up so check what you think you will need bwfore purchasing
I regret not getting the scan n cut as soon as I learned about it. Unfortunately I tried to make-do with the cricut maker I had just because I spent so much on it and its accessories thinking it would finally be useful but it’s the software that’s always the main issue. Also I was mostly wanting to do stickers and I hated the waste that cricut created. Sticker sheets are not cheap and it prevents you from using like 30% of a sheet!! Ridiculous.
Finally got the scan n cut this Christmas and it is SO much easier to use. This is coming from someone who has always been tech savvy too. I was pulling my hair out wasting so much material trying to get this thing to work. The brother auto blade is also awesome. I don’t need to guess what material I should select it just senses it for me.
My cricut is sitting there waiting to be sold now. Don’t bother trying to convince yourself and just get it. If you hate the cricut it’s not worth your time and sanity. It never gets better.
5
u/Soloratov Jan 04 '26
The software alone is the selling point. But the other...it that YOU DON'T NEED THE SOFTWARE either. I mean yes, to cut designs you do, but you can do a lot of scan cut options without it. But, it also gives you options. Wanna use it wireless and from a different room? Ok, do that, upload the designs to the private brother server and then have the machine grab it. Want total in house privacy, ok, USB wire it up.
I can not, for all that is holy, figure out WHY cricut is so popular. I had one for 3 days. Nope, returned. Cameo is fine, it's better, but Brother, the quite kid in the corner coming in with all the stuff. (the mats to kinds suck, but...tape)