A smart starter bundle with strong value at £185, if you want print-then-cut

Yes — the Cricut Joy Xtra Smart Cutting Machine Starter Bundle feels like a solid buy at £185.00, especially if you’re after a compact Cricut that handles 50+ materials, lets you do print-then-cut projects, and gives you access to the Cricut Design Space world without dropping Maker-level cash.

First impressions

At £185.00, this bundle is way more approachable than the Cricut Maker 3 Starter Bundle, which sits at £428.42, or the Cricut Explore 3 | Starter Bundle (2024) at £329.99.

It even undercuts the standard Cricut Explore 3 at £230.00, yet still manages to pull a strong 4.3/5 rating from 207 reviews.

For folks who want a machine for vinyl decals, iron-on projects, cardstock crafts, and printable designs, that price-to-capability ratio is the main draw here.

What does it do well?

Versatility really stands out: Cricut claims it works with over 50 materials, including vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock.

That opens up a bunch of possibilities—labels, stickers, cards, heat-transfer projects, you name it.

The Joy Xtra also works with your home inkjet printer for print-then-cut designs, which is a big deal if you want full-colour stickers or more detailed artwork instead of just single-colour cuts.

You can cut intricate designs with sharp precision, and it’ll also draw shapes or write in different styles.

That’s handy for anyone who likes making personalised cards, planner inserts, party stationery, or layered craft pieces where clean lines really matter.

You’ve also got flexibility when it comes to design sources.

Upload and cut your own stuff, or dip into the Cricut Design Space library.

This Amazon bundle throws in a curated collection of 25 extra images for your Design Space library, which gives you something to play with right out of the box.

How does it perform in practice?

A 4.3/5 review score across 207 reviews says most buyers are pretty happy with its day-to-day performance.

Consistency and convenience pop up the most: people like the mix of small-machine practicality, broad material support, and the freedom to switch between cutting, drawing, writing, and print-then-cut tasks.

Keep in mind, this is still a starter bundle.

The feature set is broad, sure, but it’s not the top-tier Cricut.

If you’re always working with bigger formats, heavier materials, or more demanding projects, you might want to look at the Explore 3 or Maker 3 lines—even though they’ll hit your wallet harder.

Build quality and setup

The listing doesn’t really go into construction details, so it’s fair to say the Joy Xtra aims for accessible home crafting, not heavy-duty, industrial use.

Since it’s sold as a starter bundle and only comes in one variation, it feels like Cricut built this for beginners or casual crafters who want something straightforward.

Is it good value for money?

At £185.00? Yeah, it’s a good deal.

That’s the lowest price ever recorded—the previous high was £219.99, and the average sits at £205.32 across 60 data points over about 60 weeks.

So right now, you’re looking at a price 9.9% below average, which makes the timing pretty great.

The value really shines if you’re planning to use the print-then-cut feature, the Design Space library, and the full 50+ material compatibility.

If you only want basic cutting, it’s still decent, but the real savings come from using the machine for more than just simple cuts.

How does it compare to alternatives?

Compared to the Cricut Explore 3 at £230.00 and a 4.5/5 rating, the Joy Xtra is £45 cheaper and still packs a strong feature set for home crafters.

If you want the higher-rated option, Explore 3 might win you over, but on price, Joy Xtra is just more accessible.

Looking at the Cricut Explore 3 | Starter Bundle (2024) at £329.99 and 4.5/5, the Joy Xtra saves you £144.99.

That’s a big difference if you want to get into Cricut without shelling out for a pricier bundle.

The Cricut Maker 3 | Starter Bundle at £428.42 and 4.5/5 is in a whole different league.

If you need the most capable Cricut machine, sure, that’s your premium route.

But if you’re after a lower-cost starter bundle with solid everyday craft features, the Joy Xtra just makes more sense.

Final take

The Cricut Joy Xtra Starter Bundle feels like a smart buy at £185.00, especially since that's the all-time lowest price—well under the £205.32 average.

You get support for over 50 materials, print-then-cut compatibility, and access to Design Space. There's also a handy starter image bundle tossed in.

Just keep in mind, it's still a starter-level machine. If your projects are bigger, heavier, or just more ambitious, you might want to look at the Explore 3 or Maker 3 instead.

But for stickers, vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and most home crafting? This bundle really hits a practical sweet spot.