Amazon Prime's Big Deal Days event has brought about some great discounts if you've been eying a Cricut digital craft machine but didn't really know where to start. The retailer's savings on Cricut's best bundles (these package a craft machine and materials to get you started) are genuinely good value. These even include deals on the new Cricut Joy Xtra and Cricut Venture.
Below I've listed some of the best Cricut bundle Prime Day savings I've found. These will get you started in Cricut and contain a machine, materials and tools. If you need more info on Cricut, read my guide to the best Cricut machines (we also have guides to the best Cricut accessories and the best Cricut materials).
You will need a laptop, smart phone or ideally a tablet to run a Cricut. I'd recommend an iPad as the perfect companion, so take a look at our Apple Prime Day Deals live blog for the latest savings.
Quick Links
Cricut Prime Day deals - quick links US
• Joy Insert Card Bundle: Was $255.88 now $169.99 at Cricut
• Joy Xtra Materials Bundle: Was $272.93 now $249.99 at Cricut
• Explore 3 Essentials Materials Bundle: $517.92 now $369.99 at Cricut
• Maker 3 Essentials Materials Bundle: Was $627.92 now $459.99 at Cricut
• Venture Materials Bundle: Was $1,277.40 now $1,199.99 at Cricut
• EasyPress 3, 12" x 10" Iron-On Bundle: Was $451.87 now $269.99 at Cricut
• Mug Press Everything Materials Bundle: Was $313.85 now $219.99 at Cricut
• Hat Press Infusible Ink Bundle: Was $478.84 now $299.99 at Cricut
• Autopress Variety Materials Bundle: Was $1,315.81 now $749.99 at Cricut
Cricut Prime Day deals - quick links UK
• Maker 3 Starter Bundle: Was £534.98 now £399.99 at Amazon
• Joy Starter Bundle: Was £229.99 now £165.99 at Amazon
• Explore 3 Starter Bundle: Was £404.98 now £289.99 at Amazon
• Mug Press Starter Bundle: Was £229.99 now £179.99 at Amazon
• Joy Xtra Materials Bundle: Was £457.80 now £319.99 at Cricut
• Venture Materials Bundle: Was £1,285.40 now £1,119.99 at Cricut
• EasyPress Mini Iron-On Bundle: Was £230.89 now £139.99 at Cricut
• EasyPress 3 - 9" x 9" Iron-On Bundle: Was £355.89 now £229.99 at Cricut
Top Deals US
Cricut Prime Day deals - Top Deals US
Cricut Maker 3: $429.99 now $399.99 at Cricut
Save: $30
The Cricut Maker 3 is the main machine for Cricut and can do everything; good for paper crafts, sewing and more it's a great machine. There's a small $30 discount, which is good if you just want the latest digital craft machine for a little less.
Joy Insert Card Bundle: $255.88 now $169.99 at Cricut
Save: $85.89
The Cricut Joy is the perfect beginner craft machine and good for kids and adults. It's ideal for card making, which is why I've chosen this bundle over the similarly priced Joy Essentials Bundle.
Cricut Maker 3 Essentials Materials Bundle: $627.92 now $459.99 at Cricut
Save: $167.93
Cricut Maker 3 is the brand's best all-rounder and can pretty much do everything from cutting to engraving. This bundle comes with everything you need to get started, including the tools and new Smart Materials.
Explore 3 Essentials Materials Bundle: $517.92 now $369.99 at Cricut
Save: $147.93
The Explore 3 is Cricut's best entry machine for all-rounders, its sits below Maker 3 (it cuts fewer materials and is slower) but above Joy and Joy Xtra (it's larger). This is big discount on a very good machine, with everything you could need.
EasyPress 3, 12" x 10" Iron-On Bundle: $451.87 now $269.99 at Cricut
Save: $181.88
I love this deal. The largest, newest EasyPress 3 sells for $249.99 on its own, so for $20 you get iron-on materials, an essential heat resistant matt and the tools you need - a genuine bargain.
Top Deals UK
Cricut Prime Day deals - Top Deals UK
Cricut Maker 3 Starter Bundle: £534.98 now £399.99 at Amazon
Save: £134.99
This looks like it's only at Amazon, with Cricut itself not running this Maker 3 bundle (and its own bundles are more expensive). A genuine Amazon Prime Day deal for this leading craft machine.
Cricut Joy Starter Bundle: £229.99 now £165.99 at Amazon
Save: £64
The US gets the Card Insert bundle, but in the UK the best deal is on the Starter Bundle that includes pens, card stock as well as vinyl sheets. If you just want the machine, Amazon has reduced Cricut Joy by £44 from £189.99 to £145.99.
Cricut Explore 3 Starter Bundle: £404.98 now £289.99 at Amazon
Save: £114.99
Save almost 30% on this Explore 3 bundle, one of the best starter packages this Amazon Prime Day. If you just want the machine. Explore 3 is a good machine, it's slightly less powerful than Maker 3 but for beginners it's an ideal buy.
Cricut Mug Press Starter Bundle: £229.99 now £179.99 at Amazon
Save: £50
The Mug Press is a personal favourite but it's a specialist craft machine that prints designs made on Maker 3, Explore 3 or Joys onto mugs. This is a good offer, but remember you'll need a digital craft cutter to use it; I'd recommend the Joy for small mugs and the Explore 3 for all mugs (though the new Joy Xtra will work too, see below).
Cricut Joy Xtra Materials Bundle: £457.80 now £319.99 at Cricut
Save: £137.81
Cricut Joy Xtra is the brand's newest machine (it only launched four weeks ago) so this deal is extraordinary. The machine is a larger version of the Joy but not as big as the Explore 3; making it a good entry machine or if space is tight.
FAQS
How do you pronounce Cricut?
Many people see the word 'Cricut' and pronounce it "cry cut". However, the correct pronunciation is using a weak 'i', like in 'cricket'. The company have even featured a cricket in many of its logos to ram the point home. That's unlikely to stop people pronouncing it wrongly, of course, as other brands like Nike, Adidas and Sony have historically found. But at least you know, and you can now correct other people and look smart.
Which materials can I cut with a Cricut Maker machine?
The Cricut Maker allows you to precision-cut more than 300 materials. These include everything from delicate fabric and paper to tough materials such as denim, matboard and leather. And you've covered for virtually everything in between too, including metallic poster board, neoprene, oil cloth, bonded polyester, quilt batting, bonded silk, velour and washi sheet. For a full list of materials you can cut with a Cricut Maker, see this help page.
Are there alternatives to Cricut?
Yes, there are two main rivals to Cricut's craft machines. First there's Silhouette, a US company that produces machines that match up to Cricut in most categories. Take a look at our guide to the best Silhouette machines for more details. Secondly, sewing machine manufacturer Brother has a range of machines called ScanNCut; these differ in that they include a built-in scanner and CPU, so there's no need for a laptop (design, scan and cut directly in the craft machine). Read our Brother ScanNCut SDX2200D review for more info.
Is Cricut difficult to use?
No, the success of Cricut's best craft machines comes from their ease of use and accessible approach to craft cutting. The free Design Space app makes creating new projects simple, or you can download and use pre-made patterns and designs. Generally the machine, whether it's the high-end Cricut Maker 3 or the entry-level Cricut Explore 3 or Cricut Joy will automate a lot of the cutting process.
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Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creative Bloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and video game titles Play and Official PlayStation Magazine. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on digital art, VFX and video games and tech, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5.