Cricut Explore 5 Review: Worth It Over the Explore 4?

You're staring at two machines on the Cricut website, a $50 price difference between them, and absolutely no idea which one to put in your cart.

The Cricut Explore 5 is the newest mid-range machine from Cricut, and it's aimed squarely at beginners who want current hardware without jumping to Maker-level pricing. It cuts the same core materials as the Explore 4, supports Smart Materials for matless cutting, and connects via Bluetooth. The main question isn't whether it's a good machine. It is. The question is whether it's worth it for you, specifically.

This Cricut Explore 5 review breaks that down clearly so you can stop second-guessing and just order the right one.

Cricut Explore 5: First Look

The Explore 5 looks almost identical to the Explore 4. Same footprint, same lid-style design, same two tool slots up front. Cricut didn't reinvent the chassis here, and honestly, that's fine. The Explore form factor works well on a craft table.

Out of the box you get the machine, a fine-point blade, a fine-point pen, a USB cable, a power adapter, and a small mat. It connects to your computer, tablet, or phone via Bluetooth or USB, and it pairs with Cricut Design Space for all your project work.

Setup takes about 10 minutes if you've never used a Cricut before. Design Space walks you through it step by step, which is a big part of why this machine works so well for beginners.

What's New vs the Explore 4

This is where it gets honest. The Explore 5 is an incremental update, not a generational leap. If you're expecting a dramatically different machine, lower those expectations now.

Here's what actually changed:

• Faster cutting speed: The Explore 5 cuts up to 2x faster than the Explore 4 in Fast Mode, which already cut at up to 2x speed over older Explore models. Real-world difference is noticeable on large vinyl projects but minor on smaller cuts.
• Updated connectivity: Bluetooth pairing is slightly more reliable and faster to reconnect on the Explore 5, especially on iOS devices.
• Revised tool compatibility: The Explore 5 uses the same blade system as the Explore 4 but has confirmed compatibility with a slightly wider range of accessory tools going forward.
• UI refinements in Design Space: Cricut has updated the machine-specific settings for the Explore 5 to make material selection cleaner on mobile. Small change, but helpful for beginners working from a phone.

What didn't change: the dual-tool clamp setup, the material range, the mat sizes it accepts, and the core cutting mechanism. These machines are genuinely close siblings.

Cutting Performance and Material Range

The Explore 5 cuts over 100 materials, including vinyl, iron-on (HTV), cardstock, kraft paper, poster board, faux leather, cork, and more. It handles everyday crafting materials extremely well.

Cuts on vinyl are clean and precise. Weeding intricate text at around 1 inch tall is manageable with a fresh blade. Cardstock cuts are sharp with minimal tearing if you're using the right pressure settings. For most home crafters, this machine will handle everything they need for years.

For a full breakdown of what falls within the Explore material range, the What Can the Cricut Explore 4 Cut? Full Materials List applies directly here. The Explore 5 cuts the same list.

Where it can't go: thicker materials like chipboard over 2mm, fabric without a stabilizer backing, and engraving. Those tasks belong to the Maker line. If your project list includes a lot of sewing, heavier materials, or scoring and engraving, that matters.

Design Space and Smart Materials with the Explore 5

Design Space is Cricut's browser and app-based software. It's free to use with your own designs, though some ready-made projects require a Cricut Access subscription (around $9.99/month or $95.99/year).

The Explore 5 fully supports Smart Materials, which is one of the most useful features in the Explore line. Smart Materials let you cut without a mat by feeding the material directly into the machine. You can cut pieces up to 12 feet long, which is genuinely useful for banners, wall decals, and large HTV projects.

Which Smart Materials Work with the Explore 5

• Smart Vinyl (permanent and removable)
• Smart Iron-On
• Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock
• Smart Poster Board

You do still need a mat for most non-Smart materials, so keep a LightGrip and StandardGrip mat on hand. The 12x12 mats are the most common, but the machine also accepts 12x24 mats for longer cuts.

Honestly, Smart Materials alone make the Explore line more versatile than it gets credit for. Matless cutting saves real time on high-volume projects.

Who the Explore 5 Is For

The Explore 5 is a strong fit for a specific kind of crafter.

• First-time Cricut buyers who want the most current hardware and don't want to start with a model that's already one step behind.
• Casual to moderate crafters who work primarily with vinyl, HTV, paper, and light cardstock.
Gift buyers looking for a complete beginner kit that won't feel outdated in a year.
• Crafters who work from their phone or tablet and will appreciate the refined mobile Design Space experience.

If you're unsure which Cricut machine fits your crafting style in general, the Which Cricut Machine Should I Buy? A Simple Guide is a solid place to start before committing.

Explore 5 vs Explore 4: Should You Upgrade?

Short answer: no, not if you already own an Explore 4.

The performance gains are real but not dramatic enough to justify the cost of switching machines. If your Explore 4 is cutting clean, you're not missing anything that will change your finished projects. The speed bump is nice but not transformative for hobby-level crafting.

The only scenario where upgrading makes sense is if your Explore 4 is malfunctioning, out of warranty, and the repair cost is close to what a new machine costs. At that point, you'd buy the 5 simply because it's current, not because of the feature gap.

Current Explore 4 owners: keep your machine, put the upgrade money toward materials and tools instead.

Explore 5 vs Maker 4: Which Tier Do You Need?

This is often the more useful comparison for people starting fresh. The Maker 4 sits at a higher price point (usually $100–$150 more than the Explore 5) and earns it with a meaningfully different feature set.

Where the Maker 4 Pulls Ahead

• Adaptive Tool System: The Maker 4 accepts over 13 tools, including the rotary blade (for fabric cutting without backing), the knife blade (for chipboard and thick materials up to 3mm), the scoring wheel, and the engraving tip.
• Cutting force: 4,000 grams vs the Explore 5's 1,000 grams. That difference matters for thicker materials.
• Fabric projects: If you sew or work with quilting cotton, fleece, or other textiles, the Maker 4 is the right tier.

Where the Explore 5 Holds Its Own

• Vinyl, HTV, paper, and light cardstock. All of it, cleanly.
• Smart Materials and matless cutting, same as the Maker line.
• A simpler tool setup with less to learn when you're just getting started.

For a deeper side-by-side comparison of the Explore and Maker lines, the Cricut Explore 4 vs Maker 3: Which Should You Buy? covers the logic really well, and the same tier reasoning applies when you swap in the current models. You can also see the full lineup at a glance in the All Cricut Machines Compared: Full 2026 Lineup Guide.

If your projects are primarily vinyl decals, shirts, cards, and paper crafts, the Explore 5 gives you everything you need at a lower price. If you're planning to cut fabric for sewing projects or work with thicker materials regularly, save up for the Maker 4. Don't buy the Explore 5 hoping it'll grow into Maker territory. It won't.