Cricut Explore 4 vs Explore 5

You're about to buy a Cricut Explore, and now there are two of them staring back at you from the product page — the Explore 4 and the Explore 5 — and the price difference is making you second-guess everything.

Here's the short answer: the Cricut Explore 5 is a minor update to the Explore 4, not a full redesign. The core cutting experience is nearly identical. For most home crafters, the Explore 4 still does the job beautifully, and the Explore 5's upgrades are real but narrow.

Let's break down exactly what changed, what didn't, and which one deserves your money.

Explore 5 vs Explore 4: Quick Comparison

Before getting into the details, here's a fast side-by-side of the key specs.

• Release year: Explore 4 (2022), Explore 5 (2024)
• Max cutting speed: Explore 4 up to 4x fast mode, Explore 5 up to 5x fast mode
• Cutting force: Explore 4 at 210g, Explore 5 at 230g
• Smart Materials: Both supported, same material lineup
• Bluetooth: Both included
• USB-C: Explore 5 only
• Machine design: Slightly updated on Explore 5, same footprint
• Price range: Explore 4 around $199–$229, Explore 5 around $249–$279

Those differences look small on paper. In practice, they are mostly small. But for a specific type of crafter, that speed bump and force increase actually matters.

Speed and Cutting Force

The Explore 4 cuts at up to 4x speed in fast mode, which is already quick. You can blast through a sheet of cardstock or vinyl in under a minute. Most crafters who upgraded from older Explore models were already impressed by how fast it felt.

The Explore 5 bumps that to 5x fast mode. It's genuinely faster, especially if you're cutting large batches of the same design. If you run a small shop or regularly produce 20+ identical cuts in a session, that extra speed adds up over a week.

Cutting force goes from 210g on the Explore 4 to 230g on the Explore 5. That 20g increase sounds tiny, but it gives the Explore 5 a bit more confidence with thicker materials like dense cardstock, stiffened felt, or layered adhesive vinyl. The Explore 4 handles those too — you just sometimes need an extra pass.

Honestly, unless you're running production-level volume or pushing the machine on thicker stock regularly, you probably won't notice the speed or force difference in everyday crafting.

Smart Materials Support

Both machines support Cricut Smart Materials, which means you can cut without a mat. Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock — the whole lineup works with both the Explore 4 and the Explore 5.

This is one of the most useful features on modern Explore machines. You feed the material directly into the machine and let it go. No mat alignment, no peeling, no fuss. If matless cutting is the main reason you're upgrading from an older machine, either of these will satisfy you equally.

The Explore 5 doesn't add new Smart Materials compatibility that the Explore 4 doesn't already have. If you've seen comparisons suggesting otherwise, that's just marketing framing. Same materials, same workflow, same ease of use.

What's the Same Between Both Machines

A lot, actually. Here's what carried over unchanged from the Explore 4 to the Explore 5.

• Blade compatibility: Both use the same fine-point blade, deep-point blade, and bonded-fabric blade.
• Material range: Both cut 100+ materials, including vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, poster board, and light fabric.
• Matted cutting: Both work with standard 12x12 and 12x24 cutting mats.
• Design Space software: Identical experience on both machines.
• Bluetooth connectivity: Built into both, no dongle needed.
• Two-tool capacity: Neither machine supports dual-tool cutting the way the Maker 3 does.
• Maximum material width: 13 inches for matted, up to 13 inches for Smart Materials.

If you're already happy with how the Explore 4 performs, switching to the Explore 5 isn't going to feel like a revelation. It'll feel like the same machine with a slightly crisper engine under the hood.

One thing worth knowing: if you want scoring, engraving, or rotary cutting capability, neither of these machines support the full Maker adapter system. That's when you'd want to look at the Cricut Explore 4 vs Maker 3 comparison instead.

Price and Value

The Explore 4 typically runs around $199–$229, depending on the retailer and whether there's a sale. The Explore 5 usually lands at $249–$279 at launch, though that gap shrinks during Cricut sales events.

That's roughly a $40–$60 difference. For some people that's nothing. For others it's the deciding factor.

If you can find the Explore 4 on sale for $179 or less, it's an easy call. You're getting 95% of the machine for a noticeably lower price. The Explore 5's USB-C port and modest speed bump don't add $60 worth of value for a crafter making home decor, birthday cards, and custom shirts on weekends.

For a deeper look at what Cricut actually changed with this release, the Cricut Explore 5 Review: What's New and Who It's For breaks down the new features in more detail. And if you're still figuring out whether an Explore machine is even right for you, Which Cricut Machine Should I Buy? is a solid place to start.

Explore 4 vs Explore 5: Which to Buy

Buy the Explore 4 if:

• You craft a few times a week for personal or small-batch use.
• You primarily cut vinyl, iron-on, or cardstock.
• You want to save $40–$60 for more materials or accessories.
• You're buying your first Explore machine and don't need the absolute latest model.

Buy the Explore 5 if:

• You run a small Etsy shop or side business with consistent daily cutting volume.
• You regularly cut thicker materials and want a bit more cutting force without multiple passes.
• USB-C charging matters to you and your workspace setup.
• You want the most current Explore model and the price difference doesn't sting.

For the vast majority of crafters, the Explore 4 is still a fantastic machine. It cuts fast, it handles Smart Materials, and it works with everything in Cricut's current accessory lineup. The Explore 5 is a better machine, but "better" in this case means 10–15% better — not twice as capable.

If the price gap is small on the day you're buying, go for the Explore 5 and don't look back. If the Explore 4 is on sale, grab it without guilt.