Get the Cricut Maker 4 if:
- You want engraving, debossing, perforating or fabric cutting.
- You design on a phone or tablet.
- You already use Cricut Smart Materials.
The short answer
Engraving, fabric, phone app? Maker 4
Long vinyl runs from any brand? Cameo 5 Alpha
The Maker 4 lists 13 tools, including engraving, debossing, perforating and a Rotary Blade for fabric, and runs Design Space on desktop and mobile. The Cameo 5 Alpha cuts up to 16 ft without a mat on any lined material and weighs 11.5 lb vs 15.4 lb.
Best for the most effects
Pick the Cricut Maker 4 if
- You want to engrave metal, deboss leather or perforate.
- You cut fabric with the Rotary Blade (sold separately).
- You want to work from a phone or tablet.
The Amazon listing is the Maker 4 with a digital content bundle. Cricut says the box has a Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, a fine point pen, a 12 x 12 in Light Grip mat and a mini weeder.
See current price on AmazonBest for roll vinyl
Pick the Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha if
- You cut long vinyl from any brand: 16 ft on lined material.
- You want 4-point registration marks for Print & Cut.
- You want a lighter machine: 11.5 lb.
The Amazon listing is the Cameo 5 Alpha machine (matte black). Silhouette says the box has an AutoBlade, a 12 in Standard Tack mat, a sketch pen adapter and a download of Silhouette Studio.
See current price on AmazonBefore you buy: Cricut’s comparison chart lists the Maker 5, not the Maker 4. Listings change, so check who the seller is and that it’s new before you order.
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Key specs
2Maker 4
spec rows won
spec rows won
2Cameo 5 Alpha
spec rows won
spec rows won
9even or
unclear
unclear
The Maker 4 wins on effects and device support. The Cameo 5 Alpha wins on matless cutting and weight. Speed, thickness and tools are measured differently.
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 and Silhouette America’s own product pages, not from Amazon.
| Maker 4 | Cameo 5 Alpha | |
|---|---|---|
| Widest matless cut | 11.7 in x 12 ft (Cricut Smart Materials only) | 11.6 in x 16 ft (lined material) |
| Biggest cut on a mat | 11.5 x 23.5 in | 12 x 24 in |
| Cut speed (maker figure) | Up to 14.1 in/s | Up to 300 mm/s (about 11.8 in/s) |
| Thickest material | 2.4 mm (Knife Blade) | 3 mm (max material thickness) |
| Compatible tools | 13 | 2 tool holders |
| Materials (maker count) | 300+ | Not counted |
| Print then Cut | Yes (home inkjet printer) | Yes, 4-point registration marks |
| Extra effects | Engraves, debosses and perforates (tools sold separately) | Embossing and foil stamping with extra tools (Silhouette doesn’t list engraving) |
| Connection | Bluetooth | USB 2.0 and Bluetooth |
| Software / devices | Design Space (desktop and mobile) | Silhouette Studio: Windows 10+, macOS 13+ |
| Size (W x D x H) | 22.1 x 7.1 x 6.2 in | 22.28 x 6.94 x 4.89 in |
| Weight | 15.4 lb | 11.5 lb |
| In the box | Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing, fine point pen, 12 x 12 in mat, mini weeder | AutoBlade, 12 in Standard Tack mat, sketch pen adapter, Studio download |
Spec notes
- Speed and thickness aren’t checked across brands: Cricut lists inches per second and what a named blade cuts; Silhouette lists mm per second and the thickest material the machine takes.
- Tool counts are the maker’s own: Cricut counts compatible tool types; Silhouette lists two tool holders instead.
Where the sources disagree
- Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha weight: the product page says 11.5 lb; Silhouette’s user’s manual says the Alpha alone weighs about 5 kg (about 11 lb) and the Alpha Plus about 5.5 kg (about 12.1 lb; product page: 12.7 lb). We use the product page figures. The gap between the two models is about 1.1 to 1.2 lb either way, and the check marks don’t change.
- Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha speed: the page intro says “a maximum speed of 400 mm/s,” but the spec table lists 300 mm/s for cutting and 400 mm/s for sketching. We use 300 mm/s for cutting.
- The weight check mark holds under every figure listed: Maker 4 15.4 vs Cameo 5 Alpha 11.5 or 11.
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 | Maker 4 | Cameo 5 Alpha |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl and iron-on | ||
| Shirt decal | Can doCuts iron-on (HTV). | Can doSilhouette’s manual lists iron-print sheets. |
| 11 in decal | Can do11.7 in matless, 11.5 in on a mat. | Can do12 in on a mat, 11.6 in on lined roll. |
| 6 ft banner | Can do12 ft matless, Smart Materials only. | Can do16 ft on lined material. |
| Matless roll | Just barelyMatless only with Cricut Smart Materials; other brands go on a mat. | Can doAny lined material, up to 16 ft. |
| Paper | ||
| Color stickers | Can doPrint then Cut with a home inkjet. | Can doPrint & Cut with 4-point registration. |
| Foil accents | Can doFoil Transfer Tool (sold separately). | Can doSilhouette lists foil stamping (extra tool). |
| Thick and specialty | ||
| Quilt pieces | Can doRotary Blade cuts cotton, fleece, denim (sold separately). | Just barelySilhouette lists fabric but no rotary blade on this page. |
| Metal tag | Can doEngraving Tip for metal (sold separately). | Can’tSilhouette doesn’t list engraving for the Alpha. |
“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) 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 Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha if:
- You buy roll vinyl from different brands.
- You want long matless runs.
- You prefer a lighter machine.
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Skip it if
Skip the Maker 4
Skip it if your work is mostly long, mixed-brand vinyl runs. Cricut’s matless cutting needs its own Smart Materials.
Skip the Cameo 5 Alpha
Skip it if you want engraving, a Rotary Blade or a phone app. Silhouette’s page doesn’t list those for this machine.
Questions about this pair
Is the Maker 4 still on Cricut’s chart?
No. Cricut’s comparison chart lists the Maker 5, not the Maker 4. The Maker 5 has its own comparison page here.
Can the Cameo cut fabric?
Possibly. Silhouette lists fabric among materials but doesn’t list a rotary blade for this machine; the Maker 4 lists a Rotary Blade (sold separately).
Which is heavier?
The Maker 4: 15.4 lb vs 11.5 lb.