The Cricut Explore One is one of the hottest vinyl cutting machines on the market right now and if you need help deciding if this Cricut machine is right for you, then you should definitely be aware of all of it’s advantages as well as disadvantages to save yourself time, money and effort before investing in one.

Pros and Cons of the Cricut Explore One

Affiliate links included. Full disclosure here.

The features of the Cricut Explore One can be very appealing, however you may still will want to “peek behind the curtains”, so to speak, to know all the pros and cons of owning one.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of this machine can help you make a more informed buying decision and prevent you from wasting time and money.

Pros of the Cricut Explore One

1. It’s very easy to use

Those without much technical knowledge will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to set up the Cricut Explore One, especially since there’s no additional software to install.

The directions are pretty straightforward and the design software that’s needed to create and make your crafts can be accessed for free through Cricut’s website.

What this means to you is that you can work on your projects anytime and from anywhere without having to install software on each device that you use.

2. It’s wireless

With the Bluetooth adapter, you can wirelessly upload and create designs from your computer, iPad or iPhone.

This gives you complete freedom to move about and print from room to room as well as cut down on wire clutter in your home.

3. It’s great for beginners

The Cricut Explore One is a great cricut machine for beginners because everything is so easy to set-up plus all the features can be easily mastered making it a good choice of a cutting machine for new crafters.

4. You can use old cartridges

If you’ve owned any previous versions of the line of Cricut machines and still have a few cartridges laying around, the good news is with the Cricut Explore One you can still use them, however keep in mind that the machine works perfectly fine without them.

5. You can cut and write at the same time

With a Cricut Explore One, you’ll be able to write and cut at the same time thus saving you major time in regards to creating crafts. Also with the scoring stylus, you can create fold lines for special projects such as making boxes, cards and 3D objects.

6. It has one-click cutting settings

This machine is capable of cutting over 100 different types of material so with the Smart Dial, you can simply click to the proper setting and cut the material of your choice without having to change the blades.

Cons of the Cricut Explore One

1. Pricing

The Cricut Explore One retails for about $149. However, for beginners or anyone looking to experiment with one before a making a serious investment can find a used machine for way less.

2. Cost of craft supplies

Crafts supplies can get pretty expensive, so with that in mind it would be wise to do research on where to find supplies that will fit within your budget. A good place to start would be at discount stores such as Dollar Tree or online through Amazon.

3. Premium designs, cartridges and cutting tools are purchased separately

You will have to pay extra for premium designs, fonts, cartridges and other tools such as the scoring stylus which do not come with your Cricut machine.

4. Not compatible with Android mobile devices

Unfortunately there isn’t a mobile application for Android tablets or cellphones so you will not be able to access the Design Space application with these devices. Update: A beta version of Design Space was released for Android devices, however it is currently in testing. 

 

The Cricut Explore One is an awesome cutting machine with simple features that anyone can master. Now that you know the pros and cons, here are a few more questions that you should ask yourself to make 100% sure that you are choosing the right machine for your crafting needs.