by Richelle Naegle

With the upcoming (May 6, 2015) release of the Explore One and the recent release of the Explore Air, you may have a lot of questions about the features Cricut included with each of them. Making an informed decision about a big purchase like this is very important. Like they say, an ounce of foresight is worth a pound of hindsight. Get the electronic die-cutting machine that is right for you with this guide, so you won’t be kicking yourself in the future about your decision. No matter what, if you are going to buy a Cricut machines for sale, then you will want one of our Cricut machine bundles. Our exclusive deals help ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

When you compare the Cricut Explore One vs the Explore Air side by side, you can get a clear picture of what will be the best fit for you. Before we get into what makes them different, let’s talk about what they have in common. Both:

• make precise and intricate cuts
• work with Design Space software and with Cricut cartridges
• come with a German carbide blade
• include storage compartments
• the Smart Set dial (for setting the material)
• a StandardGrip cutting mat (12″ x 12″)
• and don’t forget you can upload your own images

Both machines are the same size. The major cosmetic difference is that the Air is blue and the One is gray.

Why Buy the Cricut Explore One?

Well, the answer to this is pretty simple. The price of the Explore One is what makes it an attractive option. It doesn’t offer as many features as the regular Explore machine, but not every user wants all the bells and whistles. If you need a machine just for cutting, then the Cricut Explore One electronic cutter will be sufficient, so you might as well save by getting the more affordable option.

This is the third edition of the Explore system, which is the most recent in a long line of Cricut electronic cutting machines that have been dazzling customers for years. Get the cuts you need at a great price with this machine that will last you for quite some time.

And if you decide down the road that you want a machine that does more than just cutting, you can use add-ons to change the function of your Explore One machine (for drawing and scoring). It’s not as convenient as the Air, because you have to change out the blade for the marker in order to draw, or to use the scoring tool, but at least you have the capability if you need it.

Why Buy the Cricut Explore Air?

We figure that most customers will want to choose the Explore Air. It’s not that much more money and it has so many more features, including the ability to simultaneously cut and draw, or cut and score. With the One you have to have an adapter to score or draw, and you have to remove the blade to change the function. In short, the Explore Air is just like the original Explore, except that it comes with built-in wireless bluetooth technology.

Cricut Explore One vs. Air 2

The easiest way to explain the difference is to just point out that the Explore Air and the Explore Air 2 are the same machine, except that the Explore Air 2 cuts twice as fast. So just compare the Cricut Explore One vs. Air, and then factor in that the Air 2 is 2x faster.

Now that you’ve compare the Cricut Explore Air to the Explore One, you can have the peace of mind that comes with making an informed buying decision. No matter what you decide, we are confident you will create amazing projects with Cricut. No matter what machine you have, keep it operating at full steam with replacement Cricut blades and Cricut cutting mats.

Happy creating!