Gear
Gear guides, one item at a time
Each guide covers a single tool or consumable and compares a handful of options by what their Amazon listings state.
Choosing a machine
- Best Silhouette Cameo, Portrait and Curio machinesSilhouette Cameo 5 Alpha, Alpha Plus, Cameo Pro, Portrait 4 and Curio 2 compared by listed cut width, thickness, tools and software.
- Best cutting machines for beginners: Cricut, Silhouette and BrotherBeginner cutting machines from Cricut, Silhouette and Brother compared on cut width, software, connectivity and what each starter bundle puts in the box.
- Best Cricut Maker alternatives from Brother, Silhouette and SiserBrother ScanNCut, Silhouette Cameo and Curio, and Siser Romeo compared with the Cricut Maker on listed thickness, fabric cutting, width and software.
- Best Cricut machines, from Joy 2 and Joy Xtra to Maker 5Current Cricut machines compared by listed cut width, material thickness, tool count and connection, from Joy 2 to Maker 5, so you buy only what you will use.
- Best Cricut bundles worth buying, with and without a heat pressCricut Maker, Explore 5 and Joy Xtra bundles compared on the machine inside, the heat press included and the materials in the box, from listing details.
- Best Brother ScanNCut machines and bundlesBrother ScanNCut SDX325, SDX230Di, SDX125E bundles and CM350 compared on scanner, screen, cut thickness, built-in designs and wireless setup.
Cut settings and materials
- Best cutting machines for vinyl decals and signsVinyl cutting machines from Siser, Silhouette and Cricut compared on cut width, matless roll cutting, blades, software and connectivity for decal work.
- Best cutting machines for making T-shirts with iron-on and HTVCricut, Silhouette and Siser cutters for iron-on shirts compared by listed cut width, included heat press, HTV in the box and software.
- Best cutting machines for wood, leather and chipboardCutting machines for basswood, leather and chipboard compared on stated max thickness, tools, cut width, software and connectivity.
- Best cutting machines for stickers and print then cutSticker cutting machines from Cricut, Silhouette, Siser, Brother and USCutter compared on print then cut method, cut width, thickness and included materials.
- Best cutting machines for fabric and quiltingBrother ScanNCut, Cricut Maker 5 and Silhouette Cameo compared for fabric by listed blade, fabric mat, thickness limit and built-in quilt patterns.
- Best cutting machines for cards and paper craftsCricut Joy Xtra, Joy 2, Explore 5, Maker 4 and Maker 5 plus Silhouette Curio 2 compared for cards by card mat, scoring, pens and supplies.
Heat presses and transfers
- Best mug and tumbler presses for sublimationHTVRONT auto tumbler presses, PYD Life press and oven, and VEVOR combo presses compared by cup sizes, max temp, timer, pressure and auto shutoff.
- Best heat presses for T-shirts at homeAuto, clamshell, swing-away and slide-out shirt presses from Cricut, HTVRONT, Fancierstudio, PowerPress and VEVOR compared by plate, temp, timer and pressure.
- Best auto-open heat presses, from Cricut AutoPress to 16x24 shop modelsAuto-open heat presses from Cricut, HTVRONT, VEVOR, Ricoma and others compared on plate size, max temp, timer range, pressure and how the press releases.
Small shop and plotters
- Best vinyl cutters for a small businessVinyl cutters for Etsy and shirt sellers compared on cut width, contour cutting, force and speed, software and connectivity from Graphtec, USCutter, Siser and VEVOR.
- Best Vevor vinyl cutters by size, from 28 to 53 inchesSix VEVOR vinyl plotters compared by listed feed and cut width, force, contour sensor, software, stand and connection, from 28 to 53 inches.
- Best large-format vinyl cutters and plottersGraphtec CE8000-60, GS2-24, USCutter Titan 3, LP3 and MH, and VEVOR 53 in compared by listed cut width, force, contour cutting and software.
- Best commercial heat presses for small business: 15x15 to 16x24Commercial 15x15, 16x20 and 16x24 heat presses compared on plate size, max temp, timer range, pressure control and press style, from Hotronix to VEVOR.