In the past, people would have to rely on experts to do interior design projects. Home crafters would have to rely on scissors and molds with limited design and craft options for DIY designs and cuttings.
However, Cricut has simplified designing for home crafters.
Cricut Inc. is an American-based consumer electronics company that manufactures computer-controlled cutting machines and plotters. The company has its headquarters in South Jordan, Utah, United States.
The company has a long history of over 50 years, but it worked under a different name when founded in 1969.
The old name of Cricut was Povo Craft & Novelty, Inc., and the new name Cricut, Inc., was adopted in March 2018.
The latest cutting machines of Cricut, like Cricut Explore Air 2, come with great utility tools like Cricut Design Space.
The utility tools allow the machine users to create their designs, purchase the already-available designs, and much more.
However, many users have questions regarding the subscription to Cricut Design Space. In today’s article, we will try to answer the question that is burning in the minds of many.
Yes, we will review the Cricut Design Space subscription so that you can decide if it’s worth paying a recurring fee for the subscription.
So, let’s get into it.
What is Cricut Design Space?
Cricut Design Space is a free software from Cricut that allows users to create their own Cricut designs and products, browse projects by other users to get the idea, or even purchase the ones they like.
You don’t have to purchase Design Space separately because it comes with no additional cost with your Cricut cutting machine.
It is an online application, meaning you need the internet to create projects, import designs to a machine or performs other tasks. In other words, Design Space works as Photoshop for Cricut.
The software is available for Windows, and you can download & install it with a few clicks. You can also install Cricut Design Space on your mobile phones and tablets.
The software can be directly used to send design projects to the cutting machine and get the final product from the machine.
Features Of Cricut Design Space
The main features of Cricut Design Space are as follows:
Write And Cut
Write and cut are separate features, but you can use them together. You can write text, draw images, and cut shapes before printing it with the Cricut machine.
Both features collectively allow the users to embellish their projects in different ways.
Slice And Weld
The slice feature of Cricut Design Space allows you to cut any piece from an object on the canvas. However, you can use the slice feature only if two objects are in the canvas.
For more than two objects, the slice feature can’t be used.
Similarly, the weld feature of Cricut Design Space allows you to combine two or more objects into one piece.
You can use the weld feature for text, images, shapes, and objects within the canvas of your project.
Kerning
Recently, Cricut Design Space introduced a new feature of Kerning that enables users to add to the visual aesthetics of the text in their projects. Therefore, you get more control over the customization of your designs.
Copy And Paste Between Projects
If you have two projects you want to merge or copy elements across, it is possible with Cricut Design Space. This feature was not available in the past, but Cricut made it available for users in 2021.
Create Decorative Outlines
Another new feature was introduced in Cricut called Offset, which makes it possible to add decorative outlines to objects in your design.
It is possible with Offset to add decorative outlines to standalone objects or a group of objects. You can also add outlines to texts and shapes in Cricut Design Space.
Project Collections
You can also create a collection of your projects with the Cricut Design Space desktop app. For instance, you can create collections of your projects like T-shirt designs, paper flowers, etc.
Tutorials
The educational content of Cricut Design Space makes it easier for beginners to understand the software and become pros.
The Cricut Design Space has tons of educational videos for the users to learn how to use the different functions of the tool.
What Is Cricut Design Space Subscription
Many people think Cricut Design Space and Cricut Access are the same. However, the fact is that Cricut Design Space is the tool for designing projects, as we have discussed above.
Cricut Access is a monthly subscription the company offers for users who utilize the software more frequently.
The main difference between using Design Space with and without a subscription is free to access to objects and paid objects, respectively.
Subscription Perks (Cricut Access)
Here are the perks you get with the subscription:
Access to Non-Licensed Images
You get free access to thousands of non-licensed images with a nominal monthly cost by purchasing Cricut Access.
It also includes access to over 200,000 graphics for your merchandise, mugs, shirts, cards, paper flowers, boxes, etc. These graphics can range from animals to shapes and a lot more.
Hundreds of Fonts
When you create Space Design projects and feel you need more font options, Cricut Access gives you access to 700 fonts. It means you have more freedom on what kind of text you want to use with your projects.
Ready-To-Make Projects
If you are always looking for something ready to be printed or cut, thousands of ready-to-make projects are available with Cricut Access.
It is time-saving for people who have the bulk of projects and want professional designs, too.
Discounts On Cricut Purchases
If you have Cricut Access and are just planning to get a new Cricut machine, you get a flat 10% discount on your purchases.
Discounts On Licensed Images
Not only are the purchases of machines entitled to a 10% discount, but you also get a 10% discount on purchasing premium licensed images within the Design Space software.
Priority Customer Service
The Cricut Access members are given priority regarding customer service and resolving different grievances in using the platform.
Right To Commercial Use
With a Cricut Access subscription, you also get limited rights to commercial use of Access designs.
Plans And Pricing
Here are different pricing and plans available with a Cricut Access subscription:
Free
The free subscription comes with your Design Space software, and it includes the perks like access to
- 1000+ images
- 15+ fonts
- Digital purchases
- 250+ ready-to-make projects
- Ability to make five collections
Standard
The standard subscription of Cricut access costs $9.99 per month and includes the following perks:
- Unlimited use of 300,000+ images
- Unlimited use of 700+ fonts
- 10% discount on premium licensed images
- 1000s of ready-to-make projects
- Unlimited project collections
- $10 coupon for every three months of subscription
- 10% flat off on Cricut purchases like machines
- Priority customer support
Premium
The Premium subscription of Cricut access costs $119.88 per year and includes the following perks:
- Unlimited use of 300,000+ images
- Unlimited use of 700+ fonts
- 10% discount on premium licensed images
- 1000s of ready-to-make projects
- Unlimited project collections
- $10 coupon for every three months of subscription
- 10% flat off on Cricut purchases like machines
- 20% discount on the purchase of all materials in Cricut Design
- Priority customer support
- Free shipping on orders of $50+
Pros And Cons
Every tool and subscription has certain good and bad. Here are the pros and cons of Cricut Access and Design Space:
Pros
- Affordable subscription with useful tools
- Great for people who are more frequent users of the Cricut machine
- Savings on machine purchases and materials from Cricut
- No obligations of long-term commitment
Cons
The downsides of Cricut Access are as follows:
- You must pay an upfront cost for a premium subscription
- The designs and projects can be used with Cricut Design Space only. It means no integration with Inkspace, Adobe Illustrator, etc
- Not a value for money for occasional users
Review: Is Cricut Design Space Subscription Worth It?
What are our final thoughts on the Cricut Access subscription with Design Space?
It is legit if we have to talk about the legitimacy of the subscription. But if we talk about the worth of the subscription, it depends.
If you frequently use the Cricut machine every day to create designs or at least more often, it is worth getting the monthly subscription.
However, getting a monthly subscription might not be the value for the money if you are an occasional user.
10 Best Alternatives to Cricut Design Space Subscription
- Inkscape: You can easily create incredible vector drawings with Inkscape. This powerful free and open-source editor allows for the quick creation of intricate illustrations that are then easily saved as popular file formats such as SVG, PDF, or EPS.
- Design Space Offline: Unleash your creativity and let Design Space Offline be the conduit! With this alternative to the official Cricut software, you access all of its features without an internet connection – enabling you to manifest your endeavors in a world without technological boundaries.
- Adobe Illustrator: Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular vector graphics editors professionals use for print and digital graphics. It’s a paid application but worth it if you want to create professional-level designs for logos, flyers, banners, invitations, etc.
- Affinity Designer: Affinity Designer is another powerful yet easy-to-use vector drawing program that provides powerful tools for creating beautiful illustrations and logotypes at any size and resolution.
- Gravit Designer: Gravit Designer is a comprehensive vector graphic design tool that can be used in various industries, including apparel design, fashion illustration, product design, logo design, and much more. It offers advanced features such as gradients and layers, allowing users to customize their designs quickly with minimal effort.
- Canva Pro: Canva Pro is an easy-to-use app that makes graphic designing simpler than ever without any prior knowledge or expertise in designing needed! Whether creating social media graphics or customizing artwork templates for your business needs, Canva has covered you with its library of millions of assets and powerful editing tools to help you create stunning visuals in no time!
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a full suite of graphic design applications that offer professional quality layout tools, typographic precision & superior picture editing capabilities, making it perfect for commercial projects like branding projects & logo development. Plus, this software package has a friendly interface so anyone can use it easily!
- Serif DrawPlus X8: Unleash your creativity with the power of Serif DrawPlus X8! This exclusive designing tool for Windows 10 devices is packed with innovative features, allowing users to create stunning illustrations and artwork easily. Its pressure-sensitive pens & brushes make it ideal if you’re looking for an advanced yet user-friendly software solution that won’t break the bank.
- InDesign CC: Adobe InDesign CC is the ultimate desktop publishing program, providing professionals with an efficient way to construct stunning magazines and books. With support for various image formats, users can effortlessly include pictures in their creative projects!
- AutoCAD LT: AutoCAD LT puts the power of precise 2D/3D technical drawing in your hands so that you can create accurate blueprints and diagrams quickly. Plus, it’s fully integrated with AutoCAD cloud services for efficient design collaboration – making work faster than ever!