Have you been thinking of getting a die cutting machine for a while but can’t decide which one to get in 2020? We take a closer look at the best-selling cutting machines from three top-rated brands–the Silhouette Cameo 4, Cricut Maker, and Brother ScanNCut SDX 125. All three have unique capabilities so we lay them all out to help you choose which is the best crafting companion for you.
The Silhouette Cameo 4 offers similar features as the Cricut Maker at a lower cost. Apart from its wide range of cutting features, the Cameo 4 is also loved by advanced craft designers for its versatile design software.
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Cameo vs. Cricut vs Brother (2020): Comparison Chart
| Model | |||
 |  |  | |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Dimensions | 22.44 x 7.68 x 6.69 in | 21.2 x 5.9 x 7 in | 20.9 x 6.8 x 8.5 in |
| Max Cutting Force | 5 kgf | 4 kgf | 1.26 kgf |
| Max Media Thickness | 3 mm | 2.4 mm | 3 mm |
| Max Cutting Size | 12 in. x 24 in. (mat) 12 in x 10 ft. (roll) | 12″ x 24″ | 12″ x 24″ |
| Cutting Mat | 12″ x 12″ cutting mat | 12″ x 12″ FabricGrip™ and LightGrip machine mats | 12″ x 12″ adhesive mat |
| Software | Silhouette Studio® | Design Space® | CanvasWorkspace |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
| Subscription | 1-month subscription to Silhouette Studio | Free trial membership for Cricut Access | No need for a subscription |
| Colors | White, Black, Pink | Blue, Lilac, Champagne, Mint, White, Rose | Gray and Blue |
| Included Tools | AutoBlade 2 | Rotary Blade, Fine Point Blade, Fine Point Pen | Auto Blade, Spatula, Stylus |
| Optional Compatible Tools | Rotary Blade Kraft Blade Punch Tool PixScan Technology | Scoring Wheel Engraving Tip Debossing Tip Perforation Blade Deep Point Blade Wavy Blade | Thin Fabric Auto Blade, Roll Feeder, Trimming Cutter |
| Unique Feature/s | PixScan Technology and built-in roll feeder and crosscutter | Built-in tool tray and a vast library of sewing patterns | Built-in scanner with on-screen editing |
Downward Cutting Force & Speed
All three machines are fast, but the Cameo 4 has the most cutting power
The precision and the thickness of the material you can cut will depend on your machine’s cutting force and blade. Out of the three machines, the
All three machines can cut materials such as balsa wood, fabric, chipboards, and more. Both the
Software: Ease of Use
Cricut’s is the most user-friendly while Brother’s has the highest learning curve
A lot of time is spent on designing your craft, so the software plays a big role when choosing your cutting machine. The software used by these three different machines has a mix of their own upsides and downsides.
The Cricut Maker is Cricut's most powerful cutting machine to date. Its advanced cutting features paired with an intuitive interface make the Cricut Maker an excellent machine for beginner and experienced crafters alike.
Although Cricut’s Design Space is the most user-friendly, it comes with limitations. You need an internet connection to be able to use it on your computer. The offline version can only be used when using the app on the iOS. If you have unstable internet at home, this can cause a problem. This is not a problem for both Brother and the Silhouette Cameo because the software can be downloaded and used offline.
Software: Designing Capabilities
The Cameo’s Silhouette Studio and Brother’s CanvasWorkspace have better designing capabilities and allow more advanced editing
Cricut may have the biggest library of fonts, images, and designs, but it can only be used with Design Space. Silhouette Studio and Brother’s CanvasWorkspace offer more flexibility and better editing capabilities. If you are a more advanced designer, you will love the freedom to design or the option to use your preferred software.
With an onboard scanner and screen, the Brother ScanNCut SDX125 can work as a standalone cutting machine. Its inbuilt screen lets crafters design and cut even without a separate tablet or desktop.
Silhouette Studio has a wider selection of fonts, images, and projects than Brother’s CanvasWorkspace. However, a disadvantage of Silhouette Studio is you need to upgrade to its business edition and pay $50 to be able to import .svg files. You can do this for free with Cricut’s and Brother’s software.
Meanwhile, the Brother ScanNCut has 682 built-in designs and limited font options. The upside is that you can use them without paying for a subscription. ScanNCut is further equipped with a built-in scanner so you can scan your images and use them as your cut file. If you like drawing or sketching, this feature will be extremely useful.
Scanning Capabilities
Only Brother ScanNCut has a built-in scanner
As mentioned earlier, the Brother ScanNCut has a built-in, high-resolution scanner. Once you have scanned your image, you can cut, draw, emboss or foil using the attached 5-inch LCD screen and stylus. You can also access Brother’s built-in design and play with your image design without having to use a computer or tablet.
The
Machine Tools
The Cameo 4 and Brother ScanNCut can cut rolled materials and have an auto blade sensor, but the
If you tend to cut rolled materials (such as rolled vinyl) often, you will love the roll feeder of the Cameo 4 and the Brother ScanNCut. This feature lets you create longer designs without the hassle of having to cut your material to fit the mat.
Among the three machines, Cricut offers the most compatible tools for its cutting machine. From the Double Scoring Wheel to the Wavy Blade, Cricut keeps expanding its arsenal of creative tools to enhance your crafting experience. Its Adaptive Tool System will let you enjoy the future tools Cricut has yet to release.
The Cricut Maker is Cricut's most powerful cutting machine to date. Its advanced cutting features paired with an intuitive interface make the Cricut Maker an excellent machine for beginner and experienced crafters alike.
The Cameo 4 also has tool adapters that let you use your tools from the older Cameo models. Similar to Cricut’s adaptive tool system, you can use more tools that will be released for this cutting machine. However, since the Cameo 4 was only released in 2019, we have yet to see more tools to be released by Silhouette to fully maximize the features of the Cameo 4.
Unlike the
Verdict
The
Take our verdict with a grain of salt because, at the end of the day, it all boils down to your specific crafting needs.
The Silhouette Cameo 4 offers similar features as the Cricut Maker at a lower cost. Apart from its wide range of cutting features, the Cameo 4 is also loved by advanced craft designers for its versatile design software.
The Silhouette Cameo 4 overall gives the best value for your money. It features significant upgrades from its predecessor, the Cameo 3. Despite being the most affordable of the three, it has the most cutting power, software with advanced editing capabilities, decent tool options to choose from, and its PixScan technology lets you do what the built-in scanner of Brother can. However, as the Cameo 4 is still fairly new, the tools are still limited and expect to experience some bugs and hiccups while using your machine.
The Cricut Maker is Cricut's most powerful cutting machine to date. Its advanced cutting features paired with an intuitive interface make the Cricut Maker an excellent machine for beginner and experienced crafters alike.
For crafters who are happy with using the available designs of the software and don’t need the extra 1kgf of cutting force, the Cricut Maker still offers the smoothest user experience. It has been in the market longer so most bugs have been fixed and it offers more tools for you to use and maximize your machine’s features. With that said, it can get expensive. Just the Cricut Maker itself already has a much higher price tag than the Cameo 4. You also need to pay for tools, accessories, and subscription if you want access to their library of designs.
With an onboard scanner and screen, the Brother ScanNCut SDX125 can work as a standalone cutting machine. Its inbuilt screen lets crafters design and cut even without a separate tablet or desktop.
As for the Brother ScanNCut, it is the perfect stand-alone machine for those who do not have a tablet or computer to design with. As Brother’s CanvasWorkspace has limited designs, the ScanNCut SDX125 is perfect for stampers, quilters, or artists who typically scan their designs and print them.
FAQs
Cricut machines have the most user-friendly interface and designer while the Silhouette Cameo machines use software that requires a slightly higher learning curve. In addition, they are also compatible with different sets of tools and slightly different specifications.
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