Get the Cricut Explore 5 if:
- You want 11.7 in wide cuts and long banners.
- You make cards and want scoring.
- You might cut foam or bonded fabric later.
The short answer
Big decals, banners, cards? Explore 5
Small space, small projects? Joy Xtra
The Explore 5 cuts wider (11.7 in vs 8.5 in), cuts longer without a mat (12 ft vs 4 ft), runs faster (14.1 vs 5.65 in/s) and scores fold lines. The Joy Xtra weighs 6 lb vs 10 lb and is about the size of a loaf of bread (Cricut’s words). It still does Print then Cut, within its 8.2 x 11.7 in mat area.
Best for bigger projects
Pick the Cricut Explore 5 if
- You want decals up to 11.7 in wide, or banners up to 12 ft (Smart Materials).
- You make folded cards: a Scoring Tool is in the box.
- You want to cut craft foam up to 1.5 mm (Deep Cutting Tool, sold separately).
The Amazon listing is Cricut’s Explore 5 Essential Bundle with a multicolor material sampler. Cricut says the machine comes with a Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool, Scoring Tool, dual-sided marker and a 12 x 12 in Light Grip mat.
See current price on AmazonBest for small spaces
Pick the Cricut Joy Xtra if
- You have little room: 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in and 6 lb.
- Your projects are stickers, labels and small decals.
- You want Print then Cut in a small machine (8.2 x 11.7 in mat area).
The Amazon listing is the Joy Xtra with a digital content bundle. Cricut says the box has the Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, a fine point pen and a mini weeder; a machine mat is not listed in the box.
See current price on AmazonBefore you buy: Cricut doesn’t list a machine mat in the Joy Xtra box, so you may need to buy one. The Explore 5 listing is a bundle with starter materials. Listings change, so check who the seller is and that it’s new before you order.
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Key specs
5Explore 5
spec rows won
spec rows won
2Joy Xtra
spec rows won
spec rows won
6even or
unclear
unclear
The Explore 5 wins on matless width, speed, tools, effects and what’s in the box. The Joy Xtra wins on footprint and weight.
A green check marks the clearly better spec for most people, no check means a tie, a tiny gap or a spec the makers measure differently, and every figure comes from Cricut’s own product pages and comparison chart, not from Amazon.
| Explore 5 | Joy Xtra | |
|---|---|---|
| Widest matless cut | 11.7 in x 12 ft (Cricut Smart Materials only) | 8.5 in x 4 ft (Cricut Smart Materials only) |
| Biggest cut on a mat | Not listed (Cricut shows 12 x 12 in and 12 x 24 in mats) | 8.2 x 11.7 in |
| Cut speed (maker figure) | Up to 14.1 in/s | Up to 5.65 in/s |
| Thickest material | 1.5 mm (Deep Cutting Tool) | Not listed |
| Compatible tools | 5 or 6 (Cricut lists both) | 3 |
| Materials (maker count) | 100+ | 50+ or 75+ (Cricut lists both) |
| Print then Cut | Yes (home inkjet printer) | Yes (home inkjet printer) |
| Extra effects | Scores (Scoring Tool in the box); no engraving, debossing or perforating | No scoring, engraving, debossing or perforating |
| Connection | Bluetooth; USB cable in the box | Bluetooth |
| Software / devices | Design Space (mobile or desktop device) | Design Space: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Size (W x D x H) | 19.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 in | 12.5 x 6 x 5.5 in |
| Weight | 10 lb | 6 lb |
| In the box | Premium Fine Point Cutting Tool, Scoring Tool, dual-sided marker, 12 x 12 in mat | Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, fine point pen, mini weeder |
Spec notes
- Matless lengths (12 ft and 4 ft) need Cricut Smart Materials.
- Cricut doesn’t list a maximum cut size on a mat for the Explore 5, only the mats it uses, so that row has no check.
- Cricut doesn’t list a thickness limit for the Joy Xtra, so that row has no check.
Where the sources disagree
- Cricut Explore 5 size and weight: Cricut’s Explore 5 product page doesn’t list them, so we use the comparison chart (19.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 in, 10 lb). The chart gives the same figures for the Maker 5, whose own product page says 10.9 lb.
- Cricut Explore 5 tools: the same product page says it “works with six tools” in one place and “works with 5 tools” in another.
- Cricut Explore 5 devices: Cricut’s comparison chart lists “iOS, Mac, Windows, Google” for the Explore 5 and “Android” for its other machines, while the product page says only “mobile or desktop device.” We use the product page wording.
- Cricut Joy Xtra materials: the product page says 50+ materials; Cricut’s comparison chart says 75+. Cut speed is 5.65 in/s on the product page and 5.6 in/s on the chart.
- Cricut Joy Xtra sheet size: the product page says it works with US Letter and A4 material sizes, but lists the largest cut on a machine mat as 8.2 x 11.7 in, and a Letter sheet is 8.5 in wide. We use the 8.2 x 11.7 in figure for what fits on a mat.
- The compatible tools check mark holds under every figure listed: Explore 5 5 or 6 vs Joy Xtra 3.
- The cut speed check mark holds under every figure listed: Explore 5 14.1 vs Joy Xtra 5.65 or 5.6.
What it can make
Common projects, judged only from what each maker says the machine and its tools can do. Short names, grouped by type; the line under each badge is the spec behind it.
- Can do the maker lists it for this machine (some tools are sold separately)
- Just barely possible, with a limit the maker states (size, material brand or blade)
- Can’t the maker doesn’t list it for this machine, or a listed spec rules it out
| Project | Explore 5 | Joy Xtra |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl and iron-on | ||
| Shirt decal | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). |
| 11 in decal | Can do11.7 in matless width. | Can’t8.5 in max width. |
| 6 ft banner | Can do12 ft matless, Smart Materials only. | Can’t4 ft matless max. |
| Paper | ||
| Folded cards | Can doScoring Tool in the box. | Can’tCricut lists no scoring for Joy Xtra. |
| Color stickers | Can doPrint then Cut with a home inkjet. | Can doPrint then Cut. Cricut lists US Letter and A4 material sizes; the mat cut area is 8.2 x 11.7 in. |
| Foil accents | Can doFoil Transfer Tool (sold separately). | Can doJoy Foil Transfer Kit (sold separately). |
| Thick and specialty | ||
| Craft foam | Can doDeep Cutting Tool, up to 1.5 mm. | Can’tCricut lists no craft foam for Joy Xtra. |
| Quilt pieces | Just barelyBonded (backed) fabric only, with Bonded-Fabric Blade. | Can’tCricut lists no fabric for Joy Xtra. |
“Sold separately” tools are extra purchases. Cut limits are the maker’s maximums; real results depend on the material and blade.
Notes and sources
Cricut’s longest matless cuts (up to 12 ft, or 4 ft on Joy machines) only work with Cricut Smart Materials; everything else goes on a machine mat.
Sources (maker pages, checked October 9, 2026):
Who should buy which
Get the Cricut Joy Xtra if:
- Your projects fit 8.5 in wide.
- Shelf or desk space is tight.
- You can live with 8.5 in wide and 4 ft long matless cuts.
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Skip it if
Skip the Explore 5
Skip it if you’ll never cut wider than 8.5 in and space is tight. The Joy Xtra covers stickers and small decals.
Skip the Joy Xtra
Skip it if you make cards (Cricut lists no scoring), wide decals or anything longer than 4 ft.
Questions about this pair
Can the Joy Xtra make cards?
It can cut and draw on card, but Cricut lists no scoring for Joy Xtra, so fold lines would be done by hand.
Do both do Print then Cut?
Yes. Both work with a home inkjet printer for full-color stickers.
Which is faster?
The Explore 5: up to 14.1 in/s vs 5.65 in/s.