Why it's a great gift
Few gifts create more gifts. It slices vinyl, cardstock and iron-on into whatever the recipient dreams up — labelled pantry jars, team shirts, birthday cards — and the starter box has enough to cut something the day it's opened.
Is this the right gift?
- Great for: DIYers who decorate mugs, shirts and party décor.
- Great for: small-business and Etsy dreamers.
- Great for: card-makers and sticker obsessives.
- Skip if: they want to cut wood or fabric — that's Maker territory.
The verdict
Delightful, with an appetite
Give it to the committed crafter with a project list, and budget for vinyl, blanks and transfer tape — consumables are the true cost. It also needs the free Design Space app on a phone or computer.
Why it works
- ✓ Starter box includes a blade, mat, marker and sample materials
- ✓ Cuts matless with Smart Materials
- ✓ Print Then Cut makes full-colour stickers with a home printer
Tradeoffs
- × Supplies are an ongoing cost beyond the machine
- × Design Space software is mandatory, and some library designs cost extra
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Before you buy
- Confirm it's the Explore 5 (Cricut item 2012400) — listings mix in Explore 4, Explore 3, Joy and Maker machines.
- Match extras to their first project: iron-on shirts need a heat press, and stickers need a compatible printer.
- It wants desk space with clearance front and back so material can travel through.
Fast answers
Is there a subscription?
Design Space is free and required; Cricut Access is optional. Cutting their own uploaded designs costs nothing.
Can it use craft-store vinyl?
Yes, secured on a compatible mat. Only Cricut's Smart Materials feed through without one.
Explore or Maker?
Explore covers vinyl, paper and iron-on. Maker adds fabric, wood, engraving and a wider tool system for a higher price tier.
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Sources
- Cricut Canada: Cricut Explore 5 — Official current Canadian product identity and positioning; checked August 6, 2026.
- Cricut Help: Cricut Explore 5 quick start guide — Official box contents, tools, mats, materials, dimensions, connectivity and loading guidance.
- Creative Bloq: Cricut Explore 5 review — Independent hands-on assessment of size, noise, workflow, bundle and generation differences.
- Digital Reviews Network: Cricut Explore 5 hands-on review — Independent project tests covering vinyl, cards, iron-on and beginner usability.