| Feature | Explore 3 | Maker 3 | Cricut Joy | Explore Air 2 (discontinued) | Maker Rose and Maker Champagne (discontinued) |
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| Perfect for | A wide range of DIY hobbies | Pro-level DIY performance & versatility | Quick, everyday, fun projects | A wide range of DIY hobbies | Pro-level DIY performance & versatility |
| Easy enough for anyone to master | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Max material width |
13 in with Smart Materials 12 in on a cutting mat |
13 in with Smart Materials 12 in on a cutting mat |
5.5 in | 12 in | 12 in |
| Material compatibility | 100+ materials | 300+ materials | 50+ materials | 100+ materials | 300+ materials |
| Tools / Capabilities |
6 (for cutting, writing, scoring & foil effects) |
13 (for cutting, writing, scoring & other pro-level effects) |
3 (for cutting, writing & foil effects) |
6 (for cutting, writing, scoring & foil effects) |
13 (for cutting, writing, scoring & other pro-level effects) |
| Double tool holder | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Commercial-grade cutting technology | — | ✔ | — | — | ✔ |
| Up to 2X faster cutting and writing | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| 10X more power to cut hundreds of materials | — | ✔ | — | — | ✔ |
| Works with Smart Materials for long, continuous cuts without a cutting mat | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — |
| Max single image length (Smart materials only) | 12 ft | 12 ft | 4 ft | — | — |
| Works with Card Mat for quick custom cards | — | — | ✔ | — | — |
| Free design app for iOS, Android™, Windows®, and Mac® | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Print Then Cut capability | On white & colored materials | On white & colored materials | — | On white materials | On white & colored materials |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, USB | Bluetooth®, USB | Bluetooth® | Bluetooth®, USB | Bluetooth®, USB |
