• About
    • About Us
    • About Clarks Condensed
      • Home
    • Contact Us
    • What We Believe
  • Work With Us
    • Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

↑

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Recipes
  • All Things Family
  • DIY

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clarks Condensed

Modern Day Homemaking - Cricut, Glowforge, Family Recipes, and More!

  • Cricut
    • Accessories and Materials
    • Cricut Machines
    • Cricut Project Ideas
    • Cricut Tutorials
    • Tips and Tricks
  • Glowforge
  • Food
    • Appetizer
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dish
    • Outdoor Cooking
    • Side Dish
    • Slow Cooker
  • Reviews
  • Dollar Tree
  • Home & Family
    • Organization and Cleaning
    • Family
      • Parenting
      • Pregnancy
    • Healthy Living
    • Travel
    • Preparedness
    • Thrifty Living
    • Holiday and Occasions
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Fall
      • Gift Ideas
      • Halloween
      • Independence Day
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Parties
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Wedding
Home » DIY » Cricut » Is Cricut Access Worth it? Everything You Need to Know

Is Cricut Access Worth it? Everything You Need to Know

Updated on December 14, 2021 | Published on February 17, 2021

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Posts on Clarks Condensed contain affiliate links, which I earn a small commission from. These are provided for your convenience, and the price isn't increased at all.

Cricut Tips / Cricut Access / Cricut Explore / Cricut Explore 1 / Cricut Explore 2 / Cricut Machine / Cricut Ideas via @clarkscondensed

Cricut Access is Cricut’s premier subscription service that provides access to hundreds of thousands of images and fonts, along with exclusive discounts. But is it really worth getting? This post answers common questions and concerns to help you decide if it’s right for you.

is cricut access worth it

Whether you just got your Cricut machine or you’ve been a user since the beginning, you are bound to ask yourself at some point or another if you should signup for Cricut Access.

Cricut Access has a lot of great features, but it’s certainly not for everyone. It has changed a lot over the years, and I am glad that Cricut has continued to improve it.

It is a program that I subscribe to year after year because I do think it offers a lot of bang for your buck – especially if you aren’t as good at designing your own projects.

In this post, you will find everything you need to know about Cricut Access to help you decide whether or not it’s something you should invest in!

Table of contents

  • What is Cricut Access?
  • Cricut Access Comparison of Plans
  • Questions to Ask Before Signing Up
    • Do you often buy images or fonts from Cricut at-cost? 
    • How frequently do you use your machine? 
    • How frequently do you buy physical products and materials from Cricut? 
    • What kind of projects do you make? 
    • Do you create your own images? 
    • Do you buy images from elsewhere?  
    • Are you comfortable downloading and installing fonts to your computer? 
    • How many new fonts will you use? 
  • Is Cricut Access Worth the Money?
  • What Happens if You Cancel?
  • Which Plan Should I Get?
  • Pros and Cons of Cricut Access
    • Pros:
    • Cons: 
  • More Cricut Posts You May Enjoy:

What is Cricut Access?

It is a subscription service offered by Cricut that gives you access to fonts, images, and other discounts.

Their pricing model has changed over the years, but here are the current pricing tiers. They’ve really simplified it from what they used to have.

Cricut Access Comparison of Plans

Now, here are the most current plans that they offer:

StandardPremium
Images100,000+100,000+
Fonts500+500+
Licensed Images10% off10% off
Cricut.com Discount10% off10% off
MaterialsX20% off
Free shipping over $50XYes
Priority Member CareYesYes
Monthly Price$9.99/monthNo Monthly
Yearly Price$95.88/year (7.99 per month)119.88/year (9.99 per month)

For me, I don’t personally purchase a lot from Cricut.com, so there benefits of Premium aren’t as alluring.

Signup For Cricut Access

Questions to Ask Before Signing Up

So first off, let’s discuss whether or not you should consider getting a Cricut Access subscription. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Do you often buy images or fonts from Cricut at-cost? 

If yes, Cricut Access is a great option. The cost of a couple of fonts or images will definitely be paid for in the cost of the subscription. 

How frequently do you use your machine? 

If you use your machine infrequently (Less than 1-2 times a month), it may not be the best idea – especially if you are making your own designs.

However if you are a frequent user, Cricut Access is probably a great investment for you.

How frequently do you buy physical products and materials from Cricut? 

With your subscription, you get 10% off physical product purchases, including machines. With the Premium package, you get 20% off materials and supplies, which is pretty awesome.

What kind of projects do you make? 

Are the projects you are making font heavy – and do you like them to be more fun/fancy? Do you like to use more complex images (so, ones you couldn’t create yourself just using the shape tools?)

Do you create your own images? 

If you are pretty good at creating your own images and don’t plan to buy a lot, you probably don’t need a subscription.

Do you buy images from elsewhere?  

Etsy is a great place to find cut files to use with your Cricut machine. They also offer a different variety. I recommend looking through different categories of images and seeing if you like the styles offered by Cricut. 

If you are buying a lot of fonts and images from other sources, Cricut Access may not be the most effective solution for you.

Are you comfortable downloading and installing fonts to your computer? 

You can find great fonts from DaFont and similar websites. If you are comfortable installing the fonts on your computer, this can be a good option. However, you always need to double check the licensing on fonts you download. It’s convenient to just have the fonts pre-installed that com with Cricut Access.

How many new fonts will you use? 

If you only have one or two fonts that you want to use, or you feel comfortable downloading fonts to your computer to be used in Design Space, buying a subscription solely for fonts might not be the best idea. However, if you want to have access to lots of Cricut fonts without having to deal with downloading them yourself, a subscription may be worth it. 

Is Cricut Access Worth the Money?

I think that if you plan to use your machine a lot and you want the ease of having images and fonts ready at a moment’s notice without much effort on your part, Cricut Access is absolutely worth it. As you saw above, the most expensive plan is $11.99 a month. Most fonts in Cricut Design Space are $4.99, and most images are around $1.99. That can add up quickly!

I think it’s worth the money, simply because I like the convenience of it. I like knowing that if I go into Design Space, I can almost always find exactly what I’m looking for – and it is almost always available through Cricut Access.

What Happens if You Cancel?

One thing to keep in mind is that if you cancel your subscription, you will lose access to the images and fonts you have used in the past. So if you want to have access forever to certain images and fonts, it might just be best to buy them right out.

Which Plan Should I Get?

First off, you will need to decide if you want to pay monthly or upfront. If you want to pay monthly (no initial upfront payment), congratulations! Monthly is going to be the best option for you.

However, if you are fine with paying a little bit extra up front for more features, then you will be deciding between Annual and Premium.

If you look at the chart above, you can compare and contrast the differences above. With Annual, you will pay less throughout the year with a few less benefits. With Premium, you will pay $2 more, but you will get the added benefit of up to 50% off on licensed images, fonts, and ready to make projects, as well as free economy shipping and premium member support line.

Pros and Cons of Cricut Access

Pros:

  • Easy – you have access to thousands of images and hundreds of beautiful fonts at the click of a button. No need to download fonts or images to your computer and mess around with uploading them to Cricut. I know people often have trouble uploading images and making them cut-able!
  • Low cost – especially when you pay yearly
  • Great variety – they have options for every occasion!
  • Extra discounts on digital images and cartridges (that aren’t included in the subscription), as well as on physical product

Cons: 

  • You pay the fee even if you don’t use it that month
  • You lose access to the fonts and images if you cancel
  • While it has a lot of fonts and images, it doesn’t have everything. You may find yourself heading over to Etsy for more complex designs, which would be an added cost.
Buy Cricut Access Today

Comment below with any other questions you might have!

More Cricut Posts You May Enjoy:

  • 23 TikTok Cricut Hacks That Blew My Mind
  • 20+ Amazing Cricut Hacks to Make Crafting a Little Easier
  • What DIY Projects Can I Make with My Cricut? 50+ Creative Ideas
  • Cricut Tips for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
Cricut Tips / Cricut Access / Cricut Explore / Cricut Explore 1 / Cricut Explore 2 / Cricut Machine / Cricut Ideas
Katie

Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others – especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Looking for even more Cricut help? Be sure to check out our Cricut Tutorials guide which has all of our best tips, tricks, and tutorials for mastering your Cricut machine!

about

WELCOME TO CLARKS CONDENSED

Clarks Condensed provides uplifting and motivating information to share the joys of home and family living through parenting and pregnancy advice, easy DIY tutorials, recipes, and more – all with a frugal twist. Read more...

Related topics:
Cricut Tips and Tricks

February 17, 2021Katie

About Katie

Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others - especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Netta says

    August 24, 2019 at 1:33 am

    Thank you you answered my questions so I do not need to purchase access. I am not using my cricut as much not more than one or twice a week. I will just by the images I need on design space. Thank you for answering my questions.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      August 24, 2019 at 2:44 pm

      I’m so glad!

      Reply
  2. Theresa Flexter says

    August 9, 2019 at 11:33 am

    I purchased the premium subscription recently. I already had the $9.99 a month Cricut access. How do I find the premium stuff on my Maker? Thanks in advance!

    Theresa Flexter

    Reply
  3. Renee says

    January 29, 2019 at 6:32 am

    Thanks for this post! I am considering purchasing a Maker with an Everything bundle. Can I join Access before I purchase my machine and get an additional 10% off of the sale price that is listed on their site? The bundle I am interested in is listed for $419. If I join the monthly plan, can I get $41 off of my bundle purchase?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 29, 2019 at 8:12 am

      I think you should be able to do that! It looks like the 10% applies to machines, and I don’t recall there being a requirement to have a machine before you sign up

      Reply
  4. Jane says

    December 7, 2018 at 5:14 pm

    I’m thinking of subscribing to cricut but unsure about something. Ive seen some cartridges on Amazon I might buy, but if I don’t buy them will they be available as part of my subscription via design space or is the content on these cartridges only available if you buy the cartridge?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 7, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      Hi, Jane! So a lot of images come with a design space cricut access subscription – some of them may have images similar to what are in those cartridges. However, there’s no guarantee. If there’s a couple you are particularly interested in, let me know what their names, and I will let you know if they are included with Access 🙂

      Reply
  5. Tanya says

    November 18, 2018 at 6:47 pm

    I purchased Cricut Access and I made a design but it is trying to charge me for the font. I thought the fonts and designs were free if you subscribe to access. The button at the button said purchase the create button was grayed out. It was a simple design. I am confused.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 23, 2019 at 8:21 am

      Not all of the fonts and images are free – if there is a dollar amount next to it, you’ll still have to pay for it 🙂

      Reply
  6. Karen says

    November 17, 2018 at 5:45 am

    Looking to purchase a Cricut for my daughter…let’s say the Air 2. All of her svg files would probably be purchased from ETSY or other svg sites. Would she still have to have a subscription to use these files?
    Thank You

    Reply
    • Katie says

      November 17, 2018 at 7:43 am

      Nope! Design Space is free to use, and you are welcome to upload as many SVG files as you’d like 🙂

      Reply
  7. LORAINE CRAYCRAFT says

    November 1, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    Hello! I have a Gypsy and have all of my Cricut Cartridges loaded onto it. I have given away some of my cartridges since I have them uploaded to my Gypsy. My question, I have changed email addresses since joining Cricut and using Design Space. I can’t get my Gypsy to upload my cartridges because my email address is no longer valid. How do I get them uploaded? I have almost 100 cartridges loaded onto my Gypsy. I’ve called Cricut and it is not in the updates yet to be able to change your email address. Is there a work around that anyone knows about? Thanks in advance!! This has been going on for several months. I have a Cricut Maker which is my main concern to get my cartridges uploaded.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      November 2, 2018 at 8:53 am

      Hi, Loraine! I’m sorry you are having so many problems. I would definitely contact Cricut again and see if they can sync them to your account. I know that the cartridges can only be linked to one account, but there has to be someone over there that can transfer them! I don’t know for sure, but I feel like I’ve heard of that.

      Reply
      • Loraine says

        November 17, 2018 at 2:17 pm

        I have sent pictures of all of my cartridges, 93 of them, a picture of the front and back of Gypsy twice now. They are still not linked to my account. I’m getting a little upset as I am quite sure a lot of folks would be too. After handing out the money for all of these cartridges, this is getting frustrating. Wish I knew what else to do….

        Reply
        • Katie says

          November 17, 2018 at 2:30 pm

          I’m really sorry Loraine! I don’t work for Cricut, so I don’t have much power there. If you join my Cricut Support Group on Facebook, if you post this question, you might be able to get some more responses. I know this is really frustrating!

          Reply
  8. Chris says

    October 22, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    If I modify and save a free access project in my projects in design space – will I be able to make the project again – or do I lose access to the images and fonts in my project when my subscription expires? Also, if I purchase images or fonts at a discount in access, will I be able to continue using them once my subscription expires?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      October 24, 2018 at 9:30 am

      After your subscription ends, you will lose access to anything that was Access 🙂 If you purchase them, you will always be able to use them, even if it expires.

      Reply
  9. Joyce says

    February 18, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Can you sell items that you make with the downloads?
    Can you sell them on different sites and at craft fairs?
    Iam a newbe:)

    Reply
    • Katie says

      June 2, 2018 at 9:07 am

      IT would depend – I would look up Cricut’s Angel policy 🙂

      Reply
  10. Barb says

    February 17, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    Is there a way to load your already purchased cartridges to the design space?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      February 17, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      Yes! https://help.cricut.com/help/cartridge-linking-design-space

      Reply
    • Kyle says

      November 9, 2018 at 1:11 pm

      Yep! Once the cartridges are linked to your account, you have them to use online forever! I found this good page with questions here https://personaldiecutting.com/how-to-link-cartridges-with-the-cricut-explore/

      Reply
  11. Terri L Drummond says

    October 17, 2017 at 7:25 am

    Hello I am thinking about getting the cricut maker. This will be my first machine. What do I need to purchase with it. I want to be able to make tee shirts and put words on wood. I am a bit overwhelmed.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      October 17, 2017 at 9:05 am

      Hi, Terri! When you purchase the Maker, it will come with the rotary blade and the fine tip blade, which are great. I would recommend getting the deep cut blade though as well (but you will use the fine tip blade for vinyl, foil, etc.). You will need materials – such as vinyl and foil, or whatever it is that you want to put on t-shirts and wood. I would recommend getting a bundle! I also would recommend getting a few different mats – they have some great variety packs on the website. They come in 12×12 and 12×24, so I’d could a couple of each.

      Reply
  12. Teretha Lawrence says

    July 25, 2017 at 2:57 am

    Does this work with the original crocus expression? I had not been able to get any of the programs to work###

    Reply
    • Katie says

      July 25, 2017 at 10:36 pm

      I believe just Cricut Craft Room works with the Cricut Expression. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

about us

Welcome toClarks Condensed

Clarks Condensed provides uplifting and motivating information to share the joys of home and family living through parenting and pregnancy advice, easy DIY tutorials, recipes, and more – all with a frugal twist.

Meet The Clarks

New Posts You May Enjoy

  • BAXTER & Bella Online Puppy School Review + Coupon Code: 2022
  • 40+ LEGO Activities and Fun Things to do with LEGOs
  • 10+ Must-Have Glowforge Accessories

Footer

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Recipes
  • All Things Family
  • DIY

Recent Posts

  • BAXTER & Bella Online Puppy School Review + Coupon Code: 2022
  • 40+ LEGO Activities and Fun Things to do with LEGOs
  • 10+ Must-Have Glowforge Accessories
  • 20+ Easy Cricut Mother’s Day Card Ideas
  • Clean Simple Eats Review + Coupon: I’ve Tried Everything (Well, Almost) – 2022
Copyright ©2022, Clarks Condensed. All Rights Reserved. Privacy policy. / Design by Pixel Me Designs