Vinyl Cutter Comparison: Cricut Explore 4 vs. Silhouette Cameo 5 vs. Siser Juliet
In the market for a new cutting machine and you’re wondering which one to get? This vinyl cutter comparison breakdown is the post for you. Below I’ll be comparing the following countertop vinyl cutters:
Cricut Explore 4, Silhouette Cameo 5, and the Siser Juliet.
I did write a comparison post a while back, but the Cricut 4 (one of these days I’ll write a full Cricut Explore 4 review!) hadn’t even been announced at that point. I didn’t have a Cameo 5 when I wrote it either.
Now that I have all three machines, and have used them extensively, I can test them against each other and look to find the best vinyl cutter in 2025. In this post I’ll be covering things like:
Dimensions
Capabilities
Software
Performance
Cost
Usability
…and some other pros and cons that are worth knowing about.
Disclaimer: This post is not affiliated with or sponsored by Cricut, Silhouette, or Siser. All insights are my own opinions based on my hands-on experience and independent testing at the time of writing.
Continue reading below, or take a look at my video comparison:
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Machine Dimensions & Cutting Area
Generally speaking, the bigger the machine the bigger the designs you can cut on it. But let’s be honest: not everyone has the space for a huge cutting machine! Fortunately, most of these machines are fairly compact and should fit on a typical desk or crafting table. They all balance cutting area with their size pretty well.
That said, the Cricut Explore 4 is a bit smaller than the Siser Juliet – if you only have limited space, that might be a good one to go for. If size isn’t a factor, don’t count the Juliet out. Oh, and be sure to read on for a few additional recommendations of smaller and larger machines.
Machine Size
Cricut Explore 4: 53.8 cm wide
Siser Juliet: Approximately 60 cm wide
Silhouette Cameo 5: 57 cm wide
Smaller alternatives include the Cricut Joy, Cricut Joy Xtra, and Silhouette Portrait, while larger options such as the Cricut Venture, Silhouette Cameo Pro, and Siser Romeo are available for professional use.
Cutting Area
When it comes to cutting area, there isn’t a whole lot to differentiate these machines.
The Explore, Cameo and Juliet all support cuts around 11.5"–12" in width (depending on mat use), with the Cricut models requiring a mat unless you’re using Smart Materials. If you’re using a cutting mat, you can only cut up to either 11.5/12 inches long with a smaller mat, or up to 24 inches long with a larger mat.
If you’re using the Cameo 5 or Juliet, however, you can cut any brand of vinyl/iron-on vinyl without a mat, up to 10ft long. Which could be a game-changer if you want to make larger designs or produce cuts at scale.
Quick tip: The Cameo 5 also now supports an electrostatic mat (ideal for delicate materials), though that does require a bit of additional clearance at the front.
Software Comparison
Although these machines can all pretty much be considered “plug and play” and don’t really require too much in the way of setup, they do require different pieces of software before you can use them:
Cricut Design Space (Explore 4)
Silhouette Studio (Cameo 5)
Leonardo Design Studio (Siser Juliet)
A little pro tip for you: all three programs can be downloaded for free before you buy a machine, so you can take them for a spin before you commit to using any of them. Well worth taking the time to do so, in my opinion.
Let’s take a closer look at these vinyl cutter software tools and who they’re best suited to:
Cricut Design Space
Very user-friendly, and has had significant improvements since its initial release. It supports the uploading of pre-made designs and offers mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Suitable for: Beginners and upwards
Silhouette Studio
Offers a range of more advanced design features, although it does also have a ‘beginner functions’ option as well. Upload SVGs with (at least) the Designer Edition, and unlock extended functionality with the Business Edition. Integrations with Illustrator and CorelDRAW are available via the Silhouette Connect plugin.
Suitable for: Those who want more extensive design options
Leonardo Design Studio (Siser)
Fairly simplistic compared to the other two products mentioned here, but very streamlined. Tools and features are limited in comparison, but functional for most vinyl and HTV applications.
Suitable for: Straightforward design workflows
Material Compatibility
All of these machines can handle standard crafting materials like vinyl, iron-on vinyl (HTV), cardstock, and stickers. However, capabilities do differ a little when it comes to using thicker and/or specialty materials. I’ve also included the Cricut Maker 4 here to give some extra context around Cricut’s other machines:
Cricut Explore 4
Cuts up to 100 materials with up to 6 compatible tools (e.g. Scoring, foil, bonded fabric).Max. thickness: 2mm
Max. cutting force: 400gCricut Maker 4
Cuts over 300 materials, including balsa wood, leather, and thick fabrics.Additional blades required for specific functions like engraving and debossing.
Max. thickness: 2.4mm
Max. cutting force: 4kg
Silhouette Cameo 5
Compatible with optional rotary, kraft, and punch blades.Max. thickness: 1mm (standard blade), up to 3mm machine clearance
Max. cutting force: 5kg (via Tool Slot 2)
Siser Juliet
Supports common materials like cardstock, vinyl, HTV, and craft foam. Recent additions include deep-cut blades, crease, and etch tools. Emphasis on durability and upgrading tools vs. replacing machines.Max. thickness: 2mm (deep-cut blades)
Max. cutting force: up to 800g
You’ll notice that the maximum thicknesses and cutting forces shown above vary quite a bit. It’s definitely worth thinking about the materials – and how thick/tough they are – because that could be a significant factor in which machine(s) are the most suitable for you.
The Explore 4, for example, is a bit more delicate compared with the force of the Cameo 5 💪
Performance: Speed, Precision, and Noise
Speed & Accuracy
Cutting speed might not seem so important if you’re only working on the occasional craft project. If you’re hoping to start a craft business, however, then…well, as they say, time is money! The quicker the cutting time, the higher your earning potential as your machine gets to work for you:
Cricut Explore 4: Cuts at up to 14.1 inches/second
Silhouette Cameo 5: Cuts at up to 11.8 inches/second
Siser Juliet: Cuts at up to 23 inches/second
As you can see from the above, the Siser Juliet takes the crown here with the fastest cutting speed and a precision of ±0.01mm, which is particularly beneficial for professional vinyl work. The Cameo 5 is a little slower than both, but does boast great accuracy, especially when it comes to print then cut designs.
It’s worth noting that all of these machines are more than accurate enough for everyday craft projects, and even more detailed designs, but that Siser Juliet would be considered more “professional-grade.”
Real-World Testing
In the interest of being thorough, I decided to test all three of these machines side by side in a “winner takes all” contest! Here’s what happened when I used the same SVG design across all machines:
Cricut:
Efficient file upload and setup
Total cut time of just over 40 seconds
Cut cleanly, though using of Smart Vinyl is expensive and less versatile than third-party options
Required rear clearance due to mat alignment.
Cameo 5:
File upload was slightly more complex and time-consuming
Cutting time was over one minute
Slightly quieter than the Cameo 4, but performance on intricate cuts was slightly less precise in testing
Excellent for print-then-cut accuracy
Siser Juliet:
Quick and simple process (you do just need to get used to feeding vinyl from the back)
Total cut time of around 45 seconds to cut, and was the quietest machine
Great cut quality and ease of weeding
I’ll pick my overall winner(s) below, but I was really interested to see that (despite being billed as the fastest machine in manufacturer stats) it was actually the Cricut Explore 4 that cut this particular design the quickest…
Pricing Overview (2025)
Although all of these prices are correct at the time of writing (July 2025), retailers regularly run sales and promotions on cutting machines. Cricut models often go on sale, for example and previous generations (Explore 2/3, Maker 3) offer similar functionality at a lower price. Here’s a rough idea of what you can expect:
Cricut Explore 4
Cricut Maker 4
Silhouette Cameo 5
Siser Juliet
For UK buyers, GM Crafts is a reliable source for deals, and Swing Design often runs discounts in the US.
Pros and Cons Summary
Because this post is starting to get long(!), I thought it might be useful to provide a quick “at a glance” summary of my findings when I compared the Cricut Explore 4, Silhouette Cameo 5, and Siser Juliet. Be sure to consider the following points before you take the plunge and buy your first cutting machine (or your next one!):
Cricut Explore 4
Pros:
Beginner-friendly software
Extensive online support and tutorials
Improved speed with the latest generation
Cons:
Reliance on Cricut materials or cutting mats
Print-then-cut alignment can be inconsistent
Silhouette Cameo 5
Pros:
Roll feeder for efficient vinyl use
Highly accurate print-then-cut functionality
Advanced software for experienced users
Cons:
Learning curve with software for beginners
Customer support can be limited
Siser Juliet
Pros:
Fast and quiet operation
Durable hardware with quality support
Compatible with rolls and newer tool upgrades
Cons:
Basic design software
Lower cutting force than competitors
Conclusion: Which Cutting Machine to Buy?
To be completely candid, the vast majority of creators looking for a cutting machine will be happy with any one of these three. The Explore 4, Silhouette Cameo 5, and Siser Juliet are all great machines, and there’s a reason that they’re considered the three top cutting machines on the market in 2025.
With that said, considerations like size, price, and speed mean that there are some obvious picks for different situations. In my opinion, here are the right situations and setups that each machine will thrive in:
Best for Beginners and All-Around Crafting: Cricut Explore or Maker 4
Best for Sticker Making and Print-Then-Cut: Silhouette Cameo 5
Best for Vinyl & HTV Businesses and Speed: Siser Juliet
I hope this post has been helpful in comparing the Cricut Maker 4, Silhouette Cameo 5, and Siser Juliet. If you want to see each machine in action, be sure to watch my full side-by-side comparison video (linked below) for a real-time look at setup, speed, and cut quality. It might just give one an edge over the others for you…
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, feedback on your experience with one (or all) of these machines, or if this post has helped you to decide which machine to go with. Let’s share that knowledge!