Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine
Buy the Cricut Maker 4 if you cut often and want speed, metal engraving and the 13-tool ecosystem. Buy the original Cricut Maker if you want the same core cutting for less. On November 3, 2026 the Maker is $224.00 at Walmart and the Maker 4 is $379.00 at Craft-e-Corner, a $155 gap.
Today the Cricut Maker costs $155.00 less at its best price.
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Cricut Maker
4.5Choose the Cricut Maker if you mainly cut vinyl, paper, fabric and leather and want to spend about $155 less.
- Lowest price of the two by about $155
- Handles paper, vinyl, fabric and leather
- Widely available: 3 stores price it new
- 4.5 out of 5 from 961 ratings
What separates them
| Cricut Maker | Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Nov 3, 2026) | $224.00 at Walmart | $379.00 at Craft-e-Corner |
| Cutting speed | Standard Maker speed | Up to 2X faster than the previous model |
| Tools and blades | Rotary blade, knife blade and fine-point blade among the Maker tool set | 13 blades and tools supported |
| Materials | Paper, vinyl, fabric, leather | Iron-on, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather, metal |
| Metal engraving and debossing | Not a listed capability | Engraves metal, debosses leather |
| Sticker cutting sensor | No built-in sensor listed | Built-in sensor for full-color sticker cutting |
| Software | Cricut Design Space, free tier |
Price history
- Cricut Maker: lowest $135.00 on Nov 3 at xeon.ec.
- Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine: lowest $665.99 on Nov 3 at eBay.
Prices at every store
Cricut Maker
- mercari.comPre-owned
In stock
$180.00Observed at 3:56 AM - WalmartNew
In stock
$224.00Free shippingObserved at 4:34 AM - eBayNew
In stock
$300.00+ $15.75 shippingObserved at 4:34 AM - MercariNew
In stock
$400.00Observed at 3:56 AM
Also available at
- Microless.comCheck price at Microless.com
- Pawn AmericaCheck price at Pawn America
- vipoutlet.comCheck price at vipoutlet.com
Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine
Specs compared
| Spec | Cricut Maker | Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible Material | Paper, Vinyl, Fabric, Leather | Leather, Metal |
| Cutter Type | Die-cut | Die-cut |
| Color | Rose, Champagne | — |
What reviewers say
Cricut Maker
Owners rate it 4.5 out of 5 from 961 ratings. Most praise its cutting power on fabric and thicker materials; some find the software and accessory costs a drawback.
- Cuts fabric and leather cleanly
- Reliable, precise cuts
- Sturdy build
- Design software can be confusing
- Mats and blades wear out and cost money
- Setup takes time
Cricut Maker 4 Smart Cutting Machine
Owners of the Maker line generally rate it highly for build quality and the breadth of materials it handles, and early Maker 4 users single out the faster cutting and sticker sensor. Complaints tend to focus on the price of accessories and the software rather than the hardware.
- Reliable, precise cuts across thick and thin materials
Questions and answers
- Is the Cricut Maker 4 worth the extra $155?
- Yes if you cut often or want metal engraving, debossing and 2X speed. If you mostly cut vinyl and paper, the original Maker does that for $224.00 at Walmart.
- Which is better for cutting vinyl and iron-on?
- Both handle vinyl and iron-on. The Maker 4 adds faster cutting and the sticker sensor, which matters on large or repeated jobs.
- Can the original Cricut Maker engrave metal?
- Metal engraving is not a listed capability for the Maker. The Maker 4 engraves metal and debosses leather.
- Which lasts longer?
- Neither listing gives a lifespan figure. The Maker 4 is the newer generation with more supported tools, so it has more room to grow as Cricut adds blades.
- Do I need a Cricut subscription?
- No. Both run on Cricut Design Space, and the Maker 4 listing states no subscription is required.
- Which has more store options?
- The Maker, with 3 stores pricing it new as of November 3, 2026, against 2 for the Maker 4.
