Silhouette Cameo 4 vs. Cricut Maker

The question on every crafter’s mind right now is if Silhouette Cameo 4 is better than the Cricut Maker. However, it’s hard to decide which one is better!

They’re both popular cutting machines. And they dominate the market which makes crafters question, which one delivers better performance?

The Maker was released back in 2017 while the Cameo 4 was released just recently (Fall 2019). It’s new to people’s craft rooms but it’s worth talking about.

Which one is more versatile? Which machine is faster? Is the Silhouette Cameo 4 more powerful? Is the Maker overpassed by the Cameo 4? Let’s find out together!

Without further ado, let’s dive into my Silhouette Cameo 4 vs Cricut Maker review. Read on to discover which machine deserves your hard-earned money!

Is the Cameo 4 Worth it?

Cameo 4 won over the market but most importantly, it won over the hearts of crafters. It’s probably the hottest cutting unit which lives up to all expectations.

Silhouette produced this cutting machine as a response machine to Cricut’s latest cutting machine which is the well-known and super versatile, Cricut Maker.

But Cameo 4 doesn’t disappoint either. it’s three times stronger than its predecessor, and 20 times more powerful. It’s also loaded with a revamped dual carriage.

What I like most about Cameo 4 is the set of tools made just for this cutting machine. This means that if you’re a previous Cameo owner, you won’t be able to use your old tools.

Also, users around the world call the Cameo 4 a workhorse because of the 5000 grams of cutting force, which is 1000 grams plus than what the Maker has to offer.

There is also a 3mm worth of clearance. As you can notice, the Cameo 4 is worth it. It’s faster, provides a stronger and accurate cut, has a new inbuilt cross cutter and roll feeder.

And it’s user-friendly. This unit comes at a lower price than the Maker. And it’s the most powerful cutter in the Silhouette family ever made which speaks for itself.

Is the Cricut Maker Worth it?

Yes! The Maker is worth investing your money into. The reason why I’m stating this is because I already own this cutter and I adore it. It’s a very special cutting unit.

I love it because of the many advanced features such as the rotary blade. This tool can cut through many materials due to the 4kg worth of pressure and rich sewing pattern library.

It’s not a perfect cutter and has its flaws just like any other cutting units out there. One of those flaws is the limited cutting space (12 by 12-inch) which is a pity.

Also, it’s loaded with the old software which has a learning curve. It’s a bit difficult to use for beginners, but not impossible to learn. Overall, it’s a powerful, versatile machine.

Which is Better Cricut Maker or Silhouette?

They’re both super fast cutting machines, especially for regular materials like vinyl, cardstock, paper and so on. Cameo 4 is said to be three times as faster than the Silhouette Cameo 3.

However, the Cricut Maker has other benefits such as the ‘Fast Mode’ that performs at double speed for regular materials. It’s hard to decide which one is better because they’re both amazing.

It’s why they both dominate the market and exclude other cutting machines. The Cricut Maker has been available for purchase for around 2 years while the Cameo 4 is relatively still fresh.

Overall, the Maker is more versatile but the Cameo 4 is more powerful, cheaper, and has a larger cutting space. The limited cutting space of the Maker is one of its biggest downfalls.

What Can I Make with a Cameo 4?

Thanks to the rotary blade, you can slice fabric materials such as leather, fabric, felt, and so on. And the kraft blade allows you to slice materials such as burlap, acetate and craft foam.

The punch tool, on the other hand, is perfect for punching holes in spots you need to weed heat transfer or vinyl, turning weeding into a much simpler and faster process.

The kraft blade and rotary blade along with the 20 times extra power allows crafters to complete almost any project they have in mind. I cut magnets from magnetic material.

I also placed name, number, and working hours on my magnets. They’re a nice way to show people what your business is about. This means that the Cameo 4 can cut magnetic material.

I also designed a custom puzzle for my father. I wanted to surprise him with a family photograph puzzle on his birthday. And you probably know that puzzle boards aren’t thin materials.

Cameo 4 is also capable of making leather wallets and vinyl stickers. However, I mostly use it for creating toys out of balsa wood. As you can see, there’s little that this cutter can’t do.

What Can I Make with a Cricut Maker?

I think that the real question is what crafters CAN’T do with a Cricut Maker. If you’re into crafting, you’ve probably heard of the popular Explore.

In case you haven’t, it’s another unit by the same company which can cut over hundreds of materials but the popular Maker can cut all that and even more.

The Cricut Maker is capable of cutting over 300 different materials in total, especially if you buy the kraft blade. This tool allows you to cut things up to 2.4mm thick.

The rotary blade, on the other hand, allows you to slice different fabrics like silk, canvas, chiffon, denim, and so on. The Maker is super-versatile.

Silhouette Cameo 4 vs Cricut Maker

The Maker and the Cameo 4 are two of the most desired cutting machines, if not the most desired ones in the market. They’re both popular among crafters.

The Maker is very popular and has been present in the work stations of crafters since 2017. Cameo 4, on the other hand, is relatively new. It’s been released in 2019.

The fact that Silhouette Cameo 4 was released to compete with the Cricut Maker, is what makes crafters wonder which one is better. Which cutter delivers better results?

Let’s compare their features and find out which brand deserves your money. Without further ado, let’s dive deep into my Silhouette Cameo 4 vs Cricut Maker review.

Cutting Force and Speed

The Maker is faster than the rest of the cutters of the Silhouette family until the Cameo 4 was released. Both units are super fast and more powerful than regular cutting units.

However, with 5kg downward cutting pressure, the Cameo 4 is stronger than the Maker with 4kg force. If you’re cutting only fabric or cardstocks, you might not notice the difference.

But if you slice dense materials often such as balsa wood, leather and vinyl, you will certainly notice the difference and appreciate the extra power of the Cameo 4.

Software

The software utilized by your unit can have a big impact on your projects and overall cutting experience. The Maker utilizes Design Space.

Cameo 4, on the other hand, uses the Silhouette Studio. They’re both popular software and come free with the machines. However, Design space is easier to use.

Also, it’s more intuitive. The Silhouette Studio, on the other hand, has a learning curve. The software of the Cricut Maker is also difficult to learn for absolute beginners.

But when you think about it, the software is the hardest part to learn about any machine. What is more important is the features. Design Space has a larger library.

It contains many designs, fonts, images, and a broad selection of sewing patterns. Cameo’s software is loaded with a lot of designs and fonts. And it’s more flexible.

By that, I mean it allows users to make designs from scratch. The Silhouette Studio allows you to express your creativity. What I like about the Silhouette Studio is that it’s downloadable.

The Design Space is web-based which means you will need a good internet connection to use it. You can use it offline but only if you’re using iOS. This is one of the biggest cons of this software.

If you don’t have a good internet connection, Cameo’s software is a better option for you. Keep in mind that since the unit is still relatively new, you might experience bugs.

Machine Tools

For quite a while, the Cricut Maker was the only cutting unit loaded with a rotary blade. Cameo 4 is also equipped with this helpful tool.

But even though the Cameo 4 includes an auto blade, the Maker still has a lot of other tools you can use than the Cameo doesn’t.

Cameo 4 is also loaded with a kraft blade for slicing thicker materials. The kraft blade is also present on the Cricut Maker.

Cameo 4 should be able to deal with all the materials that the Maker can handle and more because of its higher cutting pressure.

It’s perfect for cutting balsa wood, leather and vinyl. The Maker might have more tools that you can use but the Cameo 4 is more powerful.

Some of the tools you can use with the Maker include a kraft blade, a rotary blade, perforation blade, an engraving tip, a debossing top, single and double scoring wheel, and a wavy blade.

Cutting Space

Another important feature I want to discuss is the cutting space. The space available for cutting is a very important feature for some crafters. And the Maker comes with limited space.

While most people are fine working with the 12 x 24 inches of cutting space that the Maker offers, other crafters will be searching for something bigger.

If you’re running a small business or want to complete larger projects, the Maker might not be your best choice. I would recommend the Cameo 4 instead.

The standard Cameo 4 cuts 12 inches wide just like the Maker. However, it can handle designs up to 10 ft long. Two new versions of the Cameo 4 are about to be released.

The Pro and Plus versions of this machine are expected to be available for purchase. Make sure to follow my website for updates such as release dates and prices.

Versatility

I know that I’m not the only crafter to value versatility as one of the crucial features of any cutting unit. So, what does versatility mean?

In my professional opinion, versatility represents the power and the ability to work with different tools and different materials.

It also represents a dual carriage that allows for two tasks to be finished at once (cutting and sketching, for instance). The software is also important.

Both units have rich libraries with designs, projects and images. They’re both super versatile and super powerful. But the Maker has access to more tools.

Not only kraft blade and rotary blade but other tools like the debossing and engraving tips, perforation and wavy blades, scoring wheel, and so on.

The Silhouette Cameo is loaded with an auto blade. Also, it’s supposed to be upgraded with new tools in 2020. However, we will have to wait and see.

Until then, the Maker remains more versatile while the Cameo 4 is more powerful. The Maker is also a better choice for sewers due to the large sewing pattern library.

It’s always the first choice among crafters who’re passionate about sewing as well. As you can see, both machines have their pros and cons. And it’s hard to decide which one’s better.

Exterior Design

The Silhouette Cameo 4 is available in four different colours including black, pink, gold, and white while the Maker is available in white, rose, champagne, lilac, mint, and blue.

If you have limited working space, you will like the smaller size of the Maker. This cutting machine also has an iPad docking station that can save you space. The Cameo is larger.

Price

There is a big difference between the prices of these machines. Since the Silhouette Cameo 4 is more powerful than the Maker, you would expect it to be more expensive.

However, it’s cheaper. You can buy the Cameo for less than $300. The Maker is about $100 costlier. It’s also more expensive than other cutting machines on the market.

If you’re looking for a decent, powerful and affordable cutting machine, look no further than the Cameo. But if you want a more versatile machine, the Maker is the unit for you.

Other Features

When comparing the Cameo 4 to the previous cutting machines by this brand, I couldn’t help but notice that it’s loaded with the same features.

It’s packed with dual tool holders, the ability to slice up to 10 ft long, and print and cut options. It’s also loaded with an inbuilt feed roller.

This tool was only available when bought separately. There is also a cross cutter in the back of the unit for dealing with vinyl. The Maker doesn’t have some of these features.

This means that Cameo 4 is better for cutting large vinyl projects. It’s less expensive than the well-known Maker and offers similar performance and features.

Even when you’re not paying attention to the price, you can’t miss out the bigger cutting space and the power. Overall, they’re both excellent cutting machines.

However, Cameo makes a better investment. Also, the software of this machine is preferred by advanced crafters because of the option to make your designs.

The Maker, on the other hand, is simpler to install. The software of this unit is more intuitive and comes with a lot of compatible tools you can use. It’s perfect for 3D projects.

It’s also better for sewing projects due to the large sewing pattern library. Also, it’s been on the market for quite some time so you can find a lot of tutorials online.

The tutorials can help you make the most out of your projects. It’s time to summarize the pros and cons of each cutting machine and say the final words.

Pros and Cons of Silhouette Cameo 4

Although the new Silhouette Cameo 4 looks perfect, it’s not. Let’s summarize some of the main pros and cons of this powerful cutting machine.

Pros:

• Super fast and accurate cutter
• Bluetooth connectivity for wireless work
• 1000 grams of extra downward pressure over the Maker
• Simple and intuitive to utilize due to features like the Smart Tool System, Single Tap AutoBlade, and the inbuilt roll feeder
• A large cutting space unlike the Maker (two new versions are expected to be released soon and they have even bigger cutting space)
• Promises to be more versatile than the Maker once the new equipment is released
• You can cut some materials without a mat
• Costs less than the Maker

Cons:

• Not as beautiful as the Maker
• Not everyone will enjoy the Silhouette Studio
• The new tools are specially made for this machine
• You can’t use your old tools with this machine
• The dual carriage can be ineffective

Pros and Cons of Cricut Maker

Just like any other cutting machine in the market, the Maker has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of this unit.

Pros:

• Wireless cutting capability
• A must-buy for sewers due to the rich sewing pattern library
• Super easy to install and use after mastering the learning curve
• A super-versatile cutting machine that delivers clean and accurate cuts
• A bunch of tools that allow you to complete different types of projects
• The Cricut Access membership provides users access to a lot of pre-made projects
• Adaptive tool system that makes the machine compatible with future and past tools
• Capable of cutting up to 2.4mm thick materials with the knife blade
• Slices through fabric super easy thanks to the rotary cutter
• Powerful, fast, and super-versatile
• Available in multiple colours

Cons:

• Small cutting space (12 x 24 inches)
• Not everyone will enjoy Cricut Design Space
• It’s less powerful than the Silhouette Cameo 4
• It’s costlier than the Silhouette Cameo 4
• Some of the tools are sold separately

Final Thoughts

Both machines are amazing to work with. They’re very similar. Some of the things they have in common include wireless cutting, cutting width, max media thickness, etc.

However, when choosing which one to purchase, the differences are of huge importance. That’s why my review is so detailed. So far, the differences between the units include:

• Software
• Cutting force
• Available cutting equipment
• Cutting length
• Price

The Silhouette Cameo 4 comes at a more competitive price. It’s affordable but has the same features as the Maker. The Maker is more expensive but less powerful.

However, it’s loaded with more cutting tools which make it more versatile. Also, the Silhouette Studio is a powerful program loved by advanced crafters, unlike Design Studio.

If you’re a beginner, you will love the Cameo 4. But if you want versatility, the Maker is your best choice. It’s easier to install and learn which makes it suitable for everyone.

Already own a cutting unit by any of these brands? If so, I kindly suggest that you stick to the brand that you already know and trust. However, it’s your choice and money after all.

If you’re in the market for a powerful cutting machine with software that allows you to be creative and make designs, choose the Cameo 4. It’s affordable and stronger than the Maker.

But if you want a cutting machine that’s straightforward, easy to install and use and comes with a bunch of tools, the Maker is the one you should buy. It’s more expensive but worth it.

Hopefully, this Silhouette Cameo 4 vs Cricut Maker review can help you make a smart choice. Have you worked with these machines before? What’s your experience? Comment below!