Cricut Maker 5 vs. xTool C1 Color Cutter
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
- Both are in the same price class, but the Cricut Maker 5 is cheaper in the manufacturer's shop (€399.99 instead of €519).
- Only the xTool C1 Color Cutter has a built-in scanner, so designs can be read in directly.
- The manufacturer only mentions Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Direct for the xTool C1 Color Cutter.
- The Cricut Maker 5 is considerably lighter (4.94 kg instead of 7.86 kg).
| Cricut Maker 5 | xTool C1 Color Cutter | |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Cutting plotters | Cutting plotters |
| Price range | €300 to €600 | €300 to €600 |
| Price | Manufacturer's shop: €399.99; with Cricut Access subscription €359.99, sold out (As of 8 Nov 2026) | Manufacturer's shop: €519, Basic Kit, launch price; with one month of Atomm Pro €449 (then €9.90 a month, cancel at any time); on sale from 12 Nov 2026, until then reservation for €10 (As of 31 Oct 2026) |
| Cutting width | 30.5 cm | not specified by the manufacturer |
| Max. cut size with mat | 29.2 x 60.3 cm (large mat) | not specified by the manufacturer |
| Max. cutting length without mat | 30.5 cm x 3.6 m (Smart Materials only) | not specified by the manufacturer |
| Cutting force | not specified by the manufacturer | not specified by the manufacturer |
| Cutting speed | 35.8 cm/s | up to 509 mm/s |
| Material thickness | Cutting and engraving up to 3 mm | up to 3 mm on the adhesive mat, up to 1.7 mm on the electrostatic mat |
| Tools | 13 compatible tools, including fine-point blade, knife blade, rotary blade, engraving, debossing, perforation, wavy blade, scoring wheel; premium fine-point blade and scoring wheel included | according to the press release fine-point blade, deep-cut blade, rotary blade, 3 mm blade, foil transfer tips and fine pens |
| Mat required | yes, except for Smart Materials; LightGrip mat 30.5 x 30.5 cm included | yes, except with the roll holder; other brands' mats (30 x 30 cm) work, but without scanning |
| Software and subscription | Design Space free; Cricut Access optional €9.99/month; internet connection required | xTool Studio free, Atomm Pro optional €9.90 a month (credits for AI features such as background removal) |
| Connections | Bluetooth, USB | USB, Wi-Fi; PC, smartphone and tablet |
| Functions | not specified by the manufacturer | inkjet printing, blade cutting, scoring, debossing, hot foil transfer, pressure foil transfer, drawing and writing |
| Work area | not specified by the manufacturer | 304.8 x 304.8 mm (standard mat and electrostatic mat), 304.8 x 609.6 mm (large mat), without a mat 279.4 x 3,657.6 mm with the roll holder |
| Printing | not specified by the manufacturer | thermal inkjet printing, 4-colour cartridge (CMYK), pigment ink, up to 720 x 1,200 dpi, 352 mm/s in one pass |
| Ink | not specified by the manufacturer | DURA ink, waterproof according to xTool, up to 30 washes on textiles |
| Scanners | not specified by the manufacturer | contact image sensor (CIS) with real-time preview, 300 or 600 dpi; recognises original xTool materials, scanning only with xTool mats |
| Power supply | not specified by the manufacturer | 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 50 W |
| Scope of delivery | not specified by the manufacturer | machine with blade, ink and material starter pack |
| Reservation until 12 Nov 2026 | not specified by the manufacturer | €10, counts towards the price and is refundable until the final payment; in return a material kit with more than 10 materials, a one-time 20% voucher for materials with no expiry date and entry into a draw for a C1 on 12 Nov. |
| Materials (according to the manufacturer) | Paper and cardboard, Vinyl, Iron-on film, Fabric, Leather, Wood up to 3 mm, over 300 materials according to the manufacturer | sticker paper (also transparent, holographic, glitter), Cardboard and paper, textile transfer paper, pre-treated fabrics, Leather, Foam, hardwood up to 3 mm, printing on acrylic and wood (with primer), shrink film |
| Dimensions | 502 × 191 × 119 mm | 578 × 183 × 178 mm |
| Weight | 4.94 kg | 7.86 kg |
Who is which one suitable for?
Cricut Maker 5
For hobbyists and small businesses who also want to cut fabric, leather and thin wood in addition to paper and vinyl.
- Widest tool range in the Cricut line (13 tools, rotary blade and Knife Blade)
- Cuts and engraves material up to 3 mm
xTool C1 Color Cutter
For crafters and small businesses who want to print and cut colourful stickers, textile designs and papercraft without running a separate printer and plotter.
- Prints in CMYK and cuts in one machine, no separate printer needed
- Built-in scanner with real-time preview for placing designs on offcuts
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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