Cricut Explore 5 vs. Cricut Joy Xtra
Both cutting plotters compared directly. Highlighted in green are the lower price (if both prices come from the same source) and the larger cutting width. If a machine has no value in a row, it says “not specified by the manufacturer”.
The key differences
- The Cricut Explore 5 cuts wider (30.5 cm instead of 21.6 cm on the Cricut Joy Xtra).
- The Cricut Explore 5 supports more tools (6 instead of 3 compatible tools according to the manufacturer).
- The Cricut Joy Xtra is considerably lighter (2.7 kg instead of 4.5 kg).
| Cricut Explore 5 | Cricut Joy Xtra | |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Cutting plotters | Cutting plotters |
| Price range | under €300 | under €300 |
| Price | Manufacturer's shop: €249.99; €224.99 with a Cricut Access subscription (As of 26 Oct 2026) | Manufacturer's shop: €229.99 (As of 26 Oct 2026) |
| Cutting width | 30.5 cm | 21.6 cm |
| Max. cut size with mat | 29.2 x 59.6 cm (large mat) | 20.8 x 29.7 cm |
| Max. cutting length without mat | 30.5 cm x 3.6 m (Smart Materials only) | 21.6 cm x 1.2 m (Smart Materials only) |
| Cutting force | not specified by the manufacturer | not specified by the manufacturer |
| Cutting speed | 35.8 cm/s | 14.35 cm/s |
| Tools | 6 compatible tools, including fine-point blade, deep-cut blade (separate), pens, scoring tool | 3 compatible tools; premium fine-cut blade and pen included |
| Mat required | yes, except for Smart Materials; LightGrip mat 30.5 x 30.5 cm included | yes, except for smart materials; mat 21.6 x 30.5 cm |
| Software and subscription | Design Space free; Cricut Access optional | Design Space free; Cricut Access optional |
| Connections | Bluetooth, USB | Bluetooth only |
| Print then Cut | not specified by the manufacturer | yes, with inkjet printer |
| Materials (according to the manufacturer) | Paper and cardboard, Vinyl, Iron-on film, Foam and rubber with deep-cut tool, over 100 materials according to the manufacturer | Paper and cardboard, Vinyl, Iron-on film, Sticker and print sheet for Print then Cut, over 50 materials according to the product page |
| Dimensions | 502 × 191 × 119 mm | 317 × 152 × 139 mm |
| Weight | 4.5 kg | 2.7 kg |
Who is which one suitable for?
Cricut Explore 5
For beginners who mainly cut paper, card, vinyl and iron-on film in 30 cm width.
- Same cutting width and mat length as the Maker 5 at a lower price
- Matless cutting of Smart Materials up to 3.6 m
Cricut Joy Xtra
For small projects such as cards, stickers and decals in limited space.
- Compact and light (2.7 kg)
- Print then cut up to roughly A4 width
Facts, not a buying recommendation. This page summarises manufacturer specifications and our assessment. If we recommend a device, it is explicitly marked “Our recommendation”. Figures marked ◇ do not come from the manufacturer; the source is linked. How we work
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