Cricut Maker 4 Review: Worth the Upgrade After 6 Months?
I've run the Maker 4 in my shop for 6 months. The speed is real, the upgrades are minor, and the subscription pressure got worse.
Six months ago, I unboxed the Cricut Maker 4 in my Nashville shop, and my students have been asking the same question ever since: is it actually worth the upgrade, or is it just a repainted Maker 3?
I've cut through 200+ rolls of vinyl in six years. I keep a dated notebook of blade pressure settings, material thicknesses, and exactly when each machine starts to annoy me. So when I tell you I ran this machine through sticker sheets, HTV, and a full run of car decals for an Etsy order, I mean I ran it. Here's the honest breakdown, head-to-head against the machines you're actually considering.
The question everyone is asking
Should I spend $400 on the Maker 4, or is my old Explore Air fine, or should I just get the $150 Likcut S41 and call it a day?
I tested all three. Here's what I found.
Cricut Maker 4: The workhorse
Let me start with the machine I've used every single day for six months.
The speed is real. I cut a 12-inch by 12-inch sticker sheet with 24 die-cut shapes in 4 minutes and 12 seconds. My old Explore Air took nearly 9 minutes for the same file. That's not a small difference when you're running 20 sheets for a shop order. It adds up to real hours.
The precision is also real. I cut a detailed mandala design in holographic vinyl, and the lines were clean down to the thin petals. My Maker 3 did the same file, and it was close, but the Maker 4 held the detail with less weeding frustration. I keep a dental pick in my apron, but with this machine, I used it less.
Setup was genuinely easy. Bluetooth connected to my phone on the first try, which is not something I can say for any other machine I've owned. The Design Space app recognized it immediately, and I was cutting within 15 minutes of opening the box.
But here's the criticism, because a review with no complaints is a lie.
The box is too small. The cutting mat arrived bent at the corner, and a bent mat means uneven stickiness, which means your material shifts mid-cut. I've killed more mats than I can count, and this was a brand new one that was ruined before I even used it. That's not acceptable at this price point.
The machine also comes with basically nothing. No extra blade, no sample materials beyond a tiny scrap of vinyl, no weeding tool. For $400, I expect at least a starter bundle. Instead, you get the machine, a power cord, and a mat that might arrive bent.
And the price. The Maker 4 retails at $399. Over six months, I've spent another $87 on blades and mats. That's the real cost nobody talks about. The machine is the entry fee. The consumables are the subscription.
Who should buy it: If you're running a shop, or you craft more than twice a week, this machine pays for itself in time saved. My Etsy orders go out faster, and I'm less frustrated at the end of a long cut session. That's worth something.
Who shouldn't: If you're making mugs for friends, you don't need this. You're paying for speed and precision you won't use.
[Check price on Amazon]
Cricut Explore Air (old model): The budget starter
I bought my Explore Air secondhand for $100, and she served me well for two years. Then the software updates got too heavy, and I spent literal hours staring at a machine that refused to cut anything.
Here's the deal with older models: they work great until they don't. Design Space keeps updating, and each update demands more from your machine. My Explore Air eventually got to the point where I'd load a file, hit cut, and wait five minutes just for the machine to register the design. Then it would cut, but the pressure was inconsistent, and I'd have to re-cut the same sheet twice.
I still recommend it for one specific person: the absolute beginner who isn't sure they'll stick with this hobby. If you can find one for under $150 used, it's a fine way to learn without a big investment. Just know that the software will eventually leave you behind, and you'll be upgrading in a year or two anyway.
The other limitation is cut width. The Explore Air handles up to 11.5 inches wide, same as the Maker 4, but it's slower and noisier. My students who started on an Explore all upgraded within 18 months. Every single one.
Who should buy it: The true beginner who found a deal and wants to test the waters.
Who shouldn't: Anyone who plans to sell, or anyone who already knows they love this craft. You'll outgrow it fast.
[Check price on Amazon]
Likcut S41: The budget alternative
This is the machine my students keep asking about. At around $150, it's about 50% less than the Maker 4, and it promises a lot for the price.
The good news: it's compact, it has a cute face on the screen that my kids love, and the app is genuinely easy to navigate. For a kid or a total beginner, it's a solid pick. I tested it with basic vinyl decals and simple cardstock shapes, and it handled them fine. Not great, but fine.
The bad news: it's slow and loud. A simple 4-inch decal took 3 minutes and 40 seconds, where the Maker 4 did the same cut in under a minute. And the noise. My shop is in my house, and I could hear the S41 running from the kitchen. My husband asked if the washing machine was on.
The bigger problem is the software. The app is easy, but it holds you hostage if you don't pay for designs. The free library is thin, and the paid designs add up fast. For a budget machine, the ongoing cost is frustrating. It's the same subscription trap as Cricut, just with fewer options.
The bundle extras are also not worth it. The "starter bundle" adds about $40 to the price for a few sample vinyls and a weeding tool that I replaced with a dental pick within a week. Skip the bundle. Buy the base machine.
Who should buy it: Kids, absolute beginners, or anyone who wants to test if they like this hobby without a big investment. It's in between a Cricut Joy and a full-size machine, and it's fine for that.
Who shouldn't: Anyone running a shop, or anyone who crafts regularly. The speed and noise will drive you insane.
[Check price on Amazon]
How they stack up
Let me put it plainly.
The Maker 4 cuts a standard sticker sheet in 4 minutes and 12 seconds. The Explore Air takes 9 minutes. The Likcut S41 takes about 7 minutes for a similar file, but it's louder and the cuts are less clean on detailed designs.
Price: Maker 4 at $399, Explore Air used at $100 to $150, Likcut S41 at $150. But here's the cost per day math I always do. Over two years, the Maker 4 costs about 55 cents per day. The Explore Air costs about 20 cents per day, but you'll likely replace it within 18 months, which pushes the real cost higher. The Likcut S41 costs about 21 cents per day, but the software paywall adds up, and you'll want to upgrade within a year if you actually enjoy the craft.
Durability: The Maker 4 is built like a tank. I've run it for six months, probably 500+ hours of cutting, and it hasn't missed a beat. The Explore Air is older and the software is the weak point. The Likcut S41 feels cheaper, and the plastic housing already has a small crack where the mat slides in.
The subscription pressure is the real issue, and it's getting worse. Cricut has been pushing their paid library harder, and I've noticed the free designs getting thinner over the past year. I keep a dated list of their subscription changes, and the price has crept up every single January. The Maker 4 is a great machine, but the company behind it is aggressive about monetizing your creativity.
The verdict
The winner is the Cricut Maker 4. It's faster, more precise, and more reliable than anything else I've tested. If you're serious about this craft, it's worth the money. The speed alone saves me hours every week, and the precision means less wasted material and less weeding frustration.
The runner-up is the Likcut S41 for beginners. It's not a workhorse, but it's a legitimate starting point at a fair price, and it will tell you whether you actually enjoy this hobby before you invest in the big machine.
Don't buy the old Explore Air unless you find one for under $100 and you're okay with the software eventually making it useless. I've lived that life, and it's not worth the frustration.
And don't buy the bundles. I've bought them twice, and both times I regretted it. Buy the base machine, spend your money on good mats and blades, and skip the extra supplies that claim to be everything you need.
One last thing. If you do get the Maker 4, buy extra blades. They dull faster than you expect, especially if you're cutting vinyl every day like I am. I replace mine every 8 to 10 weeks, and that's with regular use. A dull blade ruins material, and material costs money.
The Maker 4 is the best machine I've used. She cuts like a pro. But she's not cheap, and the company will try to nickel-and-dime you. That's the trade. You decide if it's worth it.
I already made my choice. My Etsy orders are faster, my students are learning on a machine that works, and I'm not spending my evenings fighting with software. That's worth the price of admission.
Found This Helpful?
Have questions about cricut machines & craft cutters? We reply to every email.
Email Us