Stickers are a great way of decorating any surface in a way that expresses who you are. But unfortunately, finding the perfect sticker isn’t always easy. Sure, you can go to a store and pick out a sticker that you think is good enough. But how much better would it be if you could create your unique sticker designs?
When you hang a sticker on your wall, phone, or car, you’re essentially sending a message to everyone around you and expressing a part of yourself. And the best stickers to use for that are vinyl stickers.
And that’s what we’re going to discuss in this article, vinyl sticker maker machines, which allow you to easily get your designs out into the world quickly and conveniently.
Vinyl stickers are substantially more durable than paper stickers. In addition, they’re more resistant to water and not affected by high temperatures.
At a Glance
- Silhouette Cameo 4 – Best Overall Pick
- Sizzix Big Shot – Budget Pick
- Brother ScanNCut SDX125E – Premium Pick
- Cricut Explore Air 2 – Best for Beginners
- Silhouette America – Most Versatile Pick
The 5 Best Vinyl Sticker Maker Machines in 2024
To make your life easier, we did the heavy lifting and compiled a list of the five best vinyl sticker maker machines on the market. Each one is catered to specific needs. So whatever you’ll need out of your vinyl sticker maker machine, you’ll find a product that suits you in this article.
1. Silhouette Cameo 4 – Best Overall Pick
The Silhouette Cameo 4 is Silhouette’s flagship model. When it dropped in September 2019, it impressed many people by how much faster and stronger it was than its predecessor, the Cameo 3.
Another perk of the Silhouette Cameo 4 is its new and improved user experience. Compared to previous Silhouette models, the Cameo 4’s interface exceeded all the expectations of Silhouette owners.
For example, the Cameo 4 has automatic tool detection. This means you don’t have to adjust the settings every time you attach a new tool.
The machine also boasts 5 kilograms of cutting force, which means the Silhouette Cameo 4 can cut more, tougher materials three times faster than its predecessor.
A few new tools dropped when the Silhouette Cameo 4 came out. They include the Silhouette Rotary Blade, which is focused on cutting specialty materials. And the Silhouette Kraft Blade, which is better for cutting more challenging materials.
The Silhouette Cameo 4 comes with a built-in cross cutter to trim any extra pieces of vinyl after you’ve finished your cut. And in previous models, they used to sell a roll feeder as an add-on accessory. But with the Cameo 4, the roll feeder is built-in, which can hold a roll of vinyl up to a staggering 150 feet in length.
A problem we found with the Cameo 4 was how inefficient its dual carriage was. Some tools can only work in the left carriage, and some only in the right. So, for example, you can’t cut and sketch simultaneously, since both those tools can only be used in the left carriage.
What We Like:
- A relatively fast and strong motor
- Smooth user experience
- Automatic tool detection
- Built in roll reeder
What We Don’t Like:
- Dual carriage isn’t very efficient
Bottom Line
The Silhouette Cameo 4 suits a diverse amount of crafters. You’ll enjoy using the machine whether you’re a beginner crafter or a more advanced one. It also comes with an easy and comfortable interface that’s guaranteed to impress whoever tries it.
2. Sizzix Big Shot – Budget Pick
The most advantageous factor about the Sizzix Big Shot is, by far, its price. So if you’re on a tight budget, the Sizzix Big Shot is for you.
The size is perhaps the most distinctive feature you notice when you look at the Big Shot. Its compact design is perfect for those who don’t have much storage space in their homes for most other machines, which can get significantly larger and heavier.
And when it comes to vinyl stickers, this machine is quite capable. And although it won’t be as fast or convenient as other ones we’ve reviewed in this article, the Big Shot will still print any sticker designs you ask it to.
A big perk about this machine is that you’re not limited to SIzzix’s variety of dyes. So you can use your favorite dyes or the ones most available to you. In addition, the Big Shot is compatible with Spellbinder, Anna Griffin, Cuttlebug, and more dyes.
An element about the Sizzix Big Shot that we didn’t like was how small its opening was. The machine can only cut vinyl up to 6 inches in width, which highly limits your design possibilities.
Another disadvantage of the Sizzix Big Shot is its manual cutter. The handle will give you no trouble cutting lighter materials like vinyl. But if you intend to use it with more materials, you can expect the handle to be a bit tougher with leather, denim, and heavier fabrics.
What We Like:
- Very budget-friendly
- Compact design
- Works with different dyes
What We Don’t Like:
- Can’t cut wider than 6 inches
- Manual cutter
Bottom Line
The Big Shot is very budget-friendly. And although it’s smaller and less technologically advanced, it can carry its own weight with the bigger and more advanced machines.
3. Brother ScanNCut SDX125E – Premium Pick
The Brother ScanNCut overshadows other vinyl sticker maker machines is the noise. Or more accurately, the lack of it. The ScanNCut SDX125E is famous for how quiet it is while operating.
With the addition of Auto Blade, the machine can now adjust the cutting depth automatically, which saves you the hassle of having one more thing to do. It also handles all the technical settings. So you can forget fiddling with the software to find the right setting for the right material. The Auto Blade also eliminates failed cuts almost entirely.
The ScanNCut is also perfect for vinyl stickers since they also added a built-in scanner to the Brother ScanNCut for custom designs and shapes. You don’t have to deal with the headache of using a tablet, uploading, or editing the design.
And if you buy its attachable roll feeder, you can move past the default 12″ x 12″ cutting area. And the machine can handle pieces of material up to 12 feet in the same run. And by using a roll feeder, you don’t have to use a cutting mat, which dramatically cuts down the operation costs.
If you run a crafting business, you probably want a machine that’s quick enough for those days when deadlines pile up. And trust us when we tell you, the Brother ScanNCut won’t disappoint in this regard. The machine is twice as fast as its predecessor, the Brother ScanNCut 2. Plus, the built-in scanner also cuts down preparation time.
Perhaps the most significant disadvantage of the Brother ScanNCut is the hefty price tag. But that’s expected, given that the machine will save you a lot of time and effort.
What We Like:
- Very quiet when operating
- Auto Blade that adjusts cutting depth automatically
- Built-in scanner
- Convenient roll feeder attachment
- Faster than previous models
What We Don’t Like:
- Hefty price
Bottom Line
The Brother ScanNCut is every crafter’s dream machine. It can do pretty much anything every other machine can do, which is perfect for those who are either very passionate about crafting or are running a crafting business.
4. Cricut Explore Air 2 – Best for Beginners
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is famed for its impressive dual carriage system. It can operate any tool in either carriage spot, which means you can combine any two functions whatsoever. Unlike another product, we talked about, where certain functions weren’t possible simultaneously since they would both need to be placed in the left carriage.
The machine also has Fast Mode, a button you click if you’re in a hurry that makes the Cricut Explore Air 2 operate twice as fast as its normal mode. This would be useful in a deadline situation.
Another impressive feature of the Air 2 is the free content that comes with the machine. You’ll have access to Cricut’s library of over 3,000 pictures to choose from. This will be extremely useful for sticker makers since you’ll have so many designs to choose from if you’re not into designing them yourself.
The Air 2 uses Cricut’s tried and true Design Space software, which is very convenient and user-friendly. It also gets periodic updates that constantly improve the software and user experience.
Another perk of the Explore Air 2 is the price. The machine sells for a very reasonable price. And since it’s aimed at beginners, the relatively cheap price tag is an attraction point for new crafters.
The main problem with the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the power. Other machines we discussed earlier boasted over 5 kilograms of cutting force. But the Explore Air 2 has less than half a kilogram of cutting force. Which means it won’t be able to tackle tougher materials. However, it will have no problem cutting through the vinyl.
Besides how excellent Design Space is, if you’re an Android user, you’ll be disappointed to hear that Design Space isn’t available as an Android application. Instead, you’ll have to use the web browser version.
What We Like:
- Impressive dual carriage
- Fast mode
- Extensive library of free content
- Reasonable price
What We Don’t Like:
- Weak cutting force
- Design space isn’t on Android
Bottom Line
The Explore Air 2 is an impressive machine, and it was what initially put Cricut on the map. It’s catered to beginner and intermediate crafters, though. And since the cutting force isn’t great, you can’t do much besides crafting paper, vinyl, and light materials.
5. Silhouette America – Most Versatile Pick
The standard Silhouette America can cut materials with dimensions of 8″ x 12″. However, if you buy the Silhouette roll feeder add-on, the machine can cut materials up to a mind-boggling 60 feet in length.
Most other machines boast about their 14 feet cutting ability. But the Silhouette America completely eclipses them. And the best part is, the Silhouette America is relatively cheaper than most similar machines. So it feels like you’re getting more than you’re paying for in this regard.
Not only that, the Silhouette America can easily operate without a mat. It is a feature that many people actively look for in machines since it cuts down on the machine’s operating costs.
Another added benefit of buying the Silhouette America is its relatively compact size and lightweight. The machine’s dimensions are 17″ in length x 5.5″ in width x 4.25″ in height (43 x 14 x 10 cm), and it only weighs 3.5 pounds.
And this goes without saying; the machine is compatible with Silhouette’s many tools. However, a significant disadvantage about the Silhouette America is that it doesn’t have the dual carriage, which means you’ll have to constantly interchange tools to get the desired outcome out of your project.
What We Like:
- Can cut very large materials
- Matless cutting
- Compact design and lightweight
- Compatible with many tools
- Attractive price
What We Don’t Like:
- No dual carriage
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a diverse Vinyl sticker maker machine, then you should consider Silhouette America, which is capable of cutting up to 60 feet of material. It also comes at a reasonable price tag.
See also:
What to Consider Before Buying a Vinyl Sticker Maker Machine?
Before placing your order on a vinyl sticker maker machine, you first have to consider a few factors that can affect your opinion greatly on whether a machine is worth it or not.
Cutting Force
Some machines boast about all the fancy things they can do, but their actual cutting force is very low, which means they will only be able to perform their fancy tasks on a limited amount of materials.
On the other hand, don’t go for a very powerful machine if you only need to design vinyl stickers and cut paper designs.
Cutting Area
If you want to create vinyl stickers that work on a car or a wall, you’ll need a machine that’s capable of cutting stickers of an appropriate size. If you go for a smaller machine, you might be stuck making stickers that are only good enough for phones and laptops.
Cutting Speed
Convenience is key. A machine that takes a long time to cut a decal can get frustrating. Find a machine that doesn’t give you a hard time and quickly cuts your vinyl stickers. This is especially crucial if you’re running a business.
Special Ink
Unfortunately, with most vinyl sticker maker machines, you can’t go to your nearest supply store and get the cheapest ink you can find. Every brand of machines produces their own ink that’s compatible with their machines. So you’ll have to keep in mind the periodic task of ordering special ink for your machine.
Extra Costs
You don’t just buy the machine and start crafting. If you want your machine to do more than cutting and drawing, you’ll need extra tools. For example, if your machine doesn’t support matless cutting, you’ll also need cutting mats. And what some brands do to increase profits is they’ll add a subscription to unlock all the better features of the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Surfaces Can Vinyl Stickers Stick To?
For starters, vinyl stickers stick to any smooth surface. For example, your car, glass, a wall, phone, and more. A mistake some people make is sticking the vinyl to fabric. The stickers initially stick, but not for so long. Vinyl won’t withstand washing and will peel off shortly after.
Can Vinyl Withstand the Elements?
Vinyl is very good at withstanding extreme weather conditions. If you stick it to a smooth surface, it can withstand cold temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) and as high as 110 degrees Celsius (230 degrees Fahrenheit).
Is It Okay to Take Vinyl Stickers off and Put Them Back On?
If you remove vinyl the right way by applying heat to it from a blow dryer, you will have preserved its adhesive material, and you can later re-stick it on a smooth surface by using baby oil or cooking oil on both the sticker and the surface.
Conclusion
The Silhouette Cameo is the machine that best suits most people. It has a reasonable price for the services it provides, and it’s not too advanced where you’d be paying for features you’ll never use.
And if you’re on a tight budget but still want to fuel your hobby, a good option would be the Sizzix big shot. It’s not the most powerful or convenient machine out there, but it’ll undoubtedly get the job done.
And if you’re thinking about starting a vinyl sticker business and need something more premium, we advise you to go for the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E. It has all the features you’d ever need, and it also uses a wide variety of tools and accessories that make your crafting sessions easier than ever. However, the machine isn’t cheap.