Cricut Vs Craft Robo – Which Should You Buy?
By Jill Costello, 23rd January 2007. Copyright The Scrap Witch. No part of this article may be reproduced or otherwise used without prior written permission. Prices quoted are in Australian dollars.
Comparing Cricut And Craft Robo
So you’re in the market for a personal cutting system and you’re wondering which machine is better – the Cricut or the Craft Robo? This article is intended to assist you with making an informed decision between the two. Firstly I’ll take a look at the costs involved with each machine, then at the features of each machine. Finally, I’ll finish up with a specific recommendation on which machine you should buy.
Price Comparison
The first table (below) shows a price comparison between the two machines and their consumables. Note that other machine accessories including totes, trimmers and toolkits are not covered. (Prices are shown in Australian dollars and are accurate at the time of writing.)
| Item | Craft Robo | Cricut | Comments |
| Machine | $740 | $495 | |
| Cartridges | Nil* | $129.95 | *Craft Robo does not require cartridges. |
| Replacement Blades | $50 (1 in pack) | $17.95 (2 in pack) | |
| Replacement Mats | $36 (2 in pack) | $17.95 (2 in pack) |
Feature Comparison
The second table (below) compares the features of the two machines.
| Feature | Craft Robo | Cricut | Comments |
| Paper size | 7.9″ x 39.4″* 200mm x 1000m |
6″ x 12″ 152mm x 305mm |
*Craft Robo claims a cutting length of 39.4″ in extended mode. Regular carrier sheets are A4 size. |
| Paper thickness | Up to 0.3mm | Up to 0.5mm | Both machines cut vellum through to Bazzill. Cricut cuts thicker than Bazzill. |
| Cartridge library | N/A* | 9 fonts 9 shapes (and growing) |
*Craft Robo does not require cartridges. |
| Special features | Print & cut operation. | Paper saver function. Carry handle. |
|
| Blade life | Approx. 6-8 months | 500-1500 cuts | Dependent of type of paper used. |
| Mat life | 80 cuts | 30-50 cuts | Refers to full mat cuts. Dependent of type of paper used. |
| Computer Connectivity | Yes (required) |
No* (cartridge library) |
*Cricut has a USB connection for firmware updates. |
| Dimensions | 14.5″ x 6.3″ x 3.9″ 368×160x105mm |
15.5″ x 8″ x 8″ 394×203x203mm* |
*Dimensions for the Cricut are approximate. |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) | 9lbs (4 kg) |
Comparison Summary
Craft Robo – The Craft Robo is a lighter, slightly smaller machine that requires a connection to a computer and computer software to control cutting. Cutting options are relatively unlimited. The Craft Robo can cut virtually any truetype font and any shape you choose to draw or trace. The Craft Robo also features a print and cut operation where you can print out a design with an inkjet printer and then get the Craft Robo cut around the outline of it. Consumable items (replacement mats and blades) are more expensive than those of the Cricut.
Cricut - The Cricut is a heavier but more portable machine which doesn’t require connection to a computer. Cutting options are limited to the fonts and shapes provided on Cricut cartridges. Although each cartridge provides many cutting combinations, they are relatively expensive to purchase. The Cricut features a carry handle and a paper saving option. Consumable items are less expensive than those of the Craft Robo.
So Which One Should I Buy?
There are a number of important factors which need to be taken into consideration when deciding which machine is best for you.
Overall Value
Initially, it might be easy to fall into the trap of favouring the Cricut based purely on price. Once you take into account being limited to the fonts and shapes on a single cartridge, the inital saving might seem less attractive. Add just two extra cartridges (at AUD$129.95 each) to the initial price of the Cricut ($495+$129.95+$129.95=$754.90) and all too quickly you are looking at pretty much the same price as the Craft Robo (at AU$740). The Craft Robo has the advantage of being relatively unlimited in terms of cutting options and therefore it appears to give better overall value.
Ease Of Use
Cricut excels in this area. It is ridiculously simple to operate – turn it on, load a cartridge, load some paper, type on the keypad, press “Cut” and wham you’re cutting! Operating the Craft Robo, whilst certainly not difficult, involves slightly more than that. Software is provided for you to draw or trace things for cutting. There is also a free bridge which allows you to use third party drawing software. A driver (included) is also required to control the Craft Robo’s operations. For the relatively computer literate person, these are not huge obstacles. For those without a computer, or those with very little computer knowledge, the Cricut might be the better choice.
Portability
Despite being heavier and slightly larger, the Cricut features a convenient carry handle making transportation easier. For the scrapper interested in taking their machine to crops or workshops, the Cricut is certainly better suited for this purpose. (The Cricut is also quieter when cutting – to my ear anyway – which would definitely suit your fellow croppers!)
The Craft Robo whilst smaller and lighter, does not lend itself to being transported about the place. It is better suited to remaining a permanent desktop fixture, not unlike your typical inkjet printer. In addition, it must be connected to your computer via a USB cable whilst operating. If you are enthusiastic enough, you could take it to a crop or workshop, but you would also need to pack your laptop and cables as well.
Recommendation
For the computer literate scrapper, the Craft Robo is the obvious choice. Despite being slightly more expensive to purchase and run, it provides more creative freedom and better overall value.
For the non-computer literate scrapper, the Cricut appears to be the best option. Ease of use and portability factors outweigh the extra cost involved in populating a cartridge library for the machine.
