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5 Reasons the Silhouette SD is better than Cricut Expression

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Which is better, Silhouette SD or Cricut Expression?

I have spent hours comparing the two machines word for word, feature for feature. I'll tell you what makes them so similar, then I'll list out 5 reasons why the Silhouette SD is better than the Cricut Expression.

How are they alike?

They're alike in many ways actually. They're both personal digital cutting machines that work very much like home printers. Except instead of printing, they cut. However, both machines can use pens instead of blades to draw the image if you don't want it cut out. Both the Silhouette SD and the Cricut Expression can cut fonts as well as pictures. They are both very portable and can be taken to scrapbook parties. Both machines can cut many different kinds of materials including paper, card stock, and vinyl.

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What makes the Silhouette SD better?

1. Price

The Cricut Expression is regularly $299.99. However, Amazon has it for $178.21. The Silhouette SD is regularly priced at $299.99. But Amazon has it regularly priced at $195.99 but sometimes you can get it cheaper there. At the time of this post, it was available for $159.99.

The Cricut's sale price is almost the same as the Silhouette's sale price. And because at Amazon, you almost never pay regular price, you're guaranteed a good deal!

2. No Cartridges Required

The Silhouette SD doesn't require cartridges! Let me say that again, no cartridges required! With the Cricuit Expression, you have to use cartridges. Each set of designs requires its own cartridge. These cartridges are expensive! The Silhouette SD connects to your computer (or you can use the on-board SD card reader) so it'll cut almost anything you ask it to!

3. Cut using ANY font on your computer

The Silhouette SD comes with an installation CD for your PC. As soon as the software is installed on your computer, you can immediately start cutting any font you have! That right there is worth hundreds of dollars in Cricut cartridges, except you can cut other things on your computer also!

4. Individual Designs for $1.99 each

The Silhouette SD has an online design store. If there's something specific you're looking for, chances are, it's in the Silhouette store. You can purchase individual designs for $1.99. With the Cricut Expression, you have to buy the designs in big groups that come on a cartridge. So if you don't need all the designs on the cartridge, you still have to pay that terribly high price for the whole cartridge. With the Silhouette SD, you can buy individual designs or, if you think you'll be doing a lot of downloading, they also have an unlimited subscription.

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5. Cut out clipart or other printable images

The Silhouette SD is not limited to cutting out solid shapes. It can also cut out images and clip art. If you have a graphic or clipart on your computer that you want to print and cut out, why not let the Silhouette SD cut it out for you? All you have to do is open the image you want to print in the Silhouette software. Get it all lined up the way you want it and print it out. When the Silhouette software prints the image, it prints it with little tick marks outside the image. This tells the Silhouette SD how to get lined up and where to start cutting. You'll never see these tick marks on the cut out and you'll be so impressed with the accuracy of the cutting the Silhouette SD makes.

Check out Silhouette SD at Amazon.

More About Silhouette SD

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Bonus

Less Accessories Required

This might be a minor detail to some people, but there's less little accessories you need to store, transport, and keep track of with the Silhouette SD. There's no cartridges or funny keypad overlays, you can keep all your designs organized in the Silhouette software on your PC. Overall, the Silhouette SD is 5 times better than the Cricut Expression.

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  • mimi319 Feb 9, 2012 @ 4:02 pm | delete
    I love my Cricut Expression!! However, being able to cut unlimited images from my computer sounds delish!! does anyone have one??
  • mw1023 Feb 27, 2010 @ 5:03 pm | delete
    does this cut thicker cotton cardstock, cardboard or chipboard?
  • mw1023 Feb 27, 2010 @ 5:02 pm | delete
    DOES this cut cardboard or thicker cotton paper?
  • peggy Jan 14, 2010 @ 8:37 am | delete
    please please tell if you know whether it cuts felt?!
  • jenstanton Jan 17, 2010 @ 11:35 am | delete
    I haven't tried to cut felt with it so I can't say for certain. However, I know it'll cut the thinner felt with the adhesive backing. I doubt you mean that kind though. You're probably talking about the thick heavy felt like a poodle skirt is made of. I'm sorry. I haven't tried it so I don't know.
  • jenstanton Oct 21, 2009 @ 10:26 pm | in reply to Carolina Carvalho | delete
    You're right. I did forget to mention that. Thanks!
    I mentioned that Silhouette SD does have that feature, but I forgot to tell everyone that it is NOT a feature on the Cricut Expression or any other Cricut machine.

    Thank you so much, I'l make sure I edit my lens.
    -Jen
  • Carolina Carvalho Oct 12, 2009 @ 7:03 pm | delete
    you forgot to say that the cricut hasn't the function of "print and cut", they don't have a software that offer the registration marks.
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