Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut review: a playful, professional printer with a hidden cost

The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut is easy to set up, quick to use and delivers lovely results, from stickers to photo prints to cards. It’s small, light and simple to store, and Design Space makes it easy for beginners to get creative. The locked-in materials and ongoing ink costs keep it from being perfect, but if you’ve got a phone full of photos begging to be printed, it’s a joy.

Most of us have thousands of photos sitting on our phones that never see the light of day, and if you think that's an exaggeration, my dad never goes anywhere without his cameraphone 'just in case'. The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut aims to fix that: a handy photo printer that delivers crisp, colour-accurate prints in under a minute (or two), and after putting it through its paces, I’m pleased to say it does so with real style.

It’s a brand-new kind of machine for Cricut, better known for its cutters, like the Maker 5 (for more, read our best Cricut machines guide). Until now, making stickers meant pairing a Cricut cutting machine with a separate inkjet printer, then burnishing laminate sheets by hand. The StickerPix rolls printing, laminating and precision cutting into one compact box, and that’s its biggest selling point.

There are two models, and it’s worth knowing the difference before you spend any money. The StickerPix Print ($169.99 / £159.99 with its Essential Bundle) prints and laminates onto 4 x 6 in pre-cut sticker sheets. This beginner model uses only pre-made templates, so you're limited to what Cricut offers. The Print + Cut ($299.99 / £249.99 with its Essential Bundle) takes 4 x 7 in (about 10 x 18cm) sheets and cuts around your own designs, so you can use any shape you like and create your own stickers and designs.

Bundles also vary, so it's worth shopping around, but as a rule, Cricut's official StickerPix Print + Cut bundles are a good choice, as they include Cut Ink Cartridges, Sticker Sheets, and Photo Paper. The Print cartridge is rated for 54 prints, and the Print + Cut for 36. Both also handle 4 x 6 in photo paper, so you can switch between photos and stickers on the same machine. If circles and squares will do, the Print option saves you £90. If you want custom shapes and to create more personal stickers and photo prints, go with Print + Cut, which I tested.

StickerPix + Cut is super easy to use

Unboxing and setup are painless. Inside you’ll find the machine, two plug adaptors, an ink cartridge, 18 sheets of photo paper and 18 sheets of sticker paper, all neatly packed. The StickerPix + Cut measures 8 x 11.3 x 4.1 inches, and the loading tray is roughly the same size (see my photos for a laptop-sized comparison). It’s light, and the tray slots into the top when you’re done, so it tucks away easily on a shelf. The StickerPix + Cut comes in a swish dark blueish grey (the StickerPix machine is a softer two-tone shade of blue and light blue, almost the reverse of the Joy 2).

The instruction manual is genuinely helpful, with a clear diagram of the components and simple steps for fitting the cartridge and tray. Software setup is just as easy: head to Cricut for instructions, choose your machine and follow the prompts. The first time you pick stickers or photos, a short tutorial shows you how to remove the tray and load the paper. When you connect for the first time, the firmware updates automatically, and once it says registration is complete, you’re ready to go.

Everything runs through Cricut’s Design Space software, which connects to the machine over Bluetooth. It’s easy to find your way around, and the home screen gives you three ways in: start a new project, pick a category (stickers, labels, photo prints, or cards and invitations), or begin from a template. That last option is a highlight: thousands of pre-designed templates are available, and you can upload your own images and text or start from a blank canvas.

The AI tools are the fun part, particularly if, like me, you're not an artist (I'm a sewer and quilter) but want to create fun family gifts. Cricut says Design Space has a library of more than 1.8 million sticker images, and the stylised options are cute. You can choose a look, such as spray paint, oil painting, comic book, or crayon drawing, upload a photo, and tell the AI what to add. I uploaded my niece's photo, asked it to create her as a witch for Halloween, and it did. I asked for an additional cat, and it added the animal and produced a selection of sticker-ready images to choose from. Keep in mind that the full library and Cricut AI require a paid Cricut Access subscription, though the bundle includes a trial voucher.

A professional all-in-one printer

The StickerPix + Cut uses dye-sublimation, laying down each colour in turn and applying a protective laminate in the same pass. Cricut quotes 300dpi, and the finished prints resist water, scratches and fading. My stickers came out bright and crisp, on paper with a pleasant weight.

Photo prints are the real surprise for me. I printed off some photos from my phone and was surprised how accurate the colours are, how sharp the detail is, and how they look like they came from a proper photo lab. A print takes just one to two minutes, with no fiddling or adjustments; just load the paper shiny side up, click the tray into place, press connect and go.

The same ease carries over to the machine’s other jobs, and I had great fun creating things in an afternoon. Labels print on sticker paper, and plenty of ready-made designs make personalising your Christmas gifts a breeze; for example, I made a set of present tags to stick on the family gifts. Cards and invitations are just as quick and handy if you run a small business and want branded thank-you cards. I now have a nice insert to package with every quilt I make for customers on Cotswolds Creations, with a photo of their quilt and a bespoke message from me

The cutter really shines on stickers. It kiss-cuts custom shapes around your design and leaves the backing intact, so you simply peel each sticker off the sheet. That also means it can’t cut through the backing, and there’s no white ink either, as the printing is dye-sub with a clear protective layer.

If you already own a Cricut, you might wonder whether you need this. The StickerPix + Cut does in one go what normally takes a cutter, an inkjet printer and hand-applied laminate, and it takes up far less desk space. But it isn’t a replacement for a cutting machine. It only cuts its own sticker sheets, so if you want to work with vinyl, cardstock or fabric, you’ll still need a Maker or an Explore. It's worth noting the cost, as StickerPix + Cut is $100 / £100 more than the latest Explore 5, and the Maker 5 is only $50 / £50 more, and both do more.

The difference? The StickerPix + Cut creates professional photo prints and stickers without needing anything extra (so technically you'd need to add the cost of a good inkjet printer to your Maker 5 setup). It's also faster, easier, and less hassle, with results that are as good as, if not better than, the others.

Likewise, if you just want quick prints of your phone photos, a simple dedicated photo printer will do. The StickerPix + Cut earns its price if you also want laminated stickers, labels, and cards, plus Design Space’s templates and editing tools to make them. It suits crafters, journalers, parents, and anyone selling at markets who wants quality, professional, branded labels and cards without a bulk order or going through the hassle of finding and ordering supplies.

So what's the catch?

The main catch is that the StickerPix + Cut is fussy about what you feed it. It only works with Cricut’s own paper, and the cartridge and sheets are model-specific, so you can’t mix and match between the Print and the Print + Cut, which, in its own quirk, makes the more expensive model a better option, as it'll cost less in the long run if you want to upgrade.

I’d love to see Cricut add foil or metallic sheets, which would give crafters a lot more to play with, and although the stickers are water-resistant, they aren’t dishwasher-safe, so don’t push your luck with your favourite mug.

The locked-in materials are the real catch. The starter bundle gives you only 18 sheets each of sticker and photo paper, which won’t last long. Refill cartridges then cost between £24.99 and £47.99, and how many stickers you get from one depends on how well you pack each sheet. Work out your cost per print before you commit.

But with all that said, it's a common setup for modern printers. Ultimately, I didn't really know what to expect from StickerPix + Cut as it's a little outside my sewing and quilting workflow, but after spending time with it, I've already found uses for its cards and sticker designs to accompany my finished products and help market my brand. I've also made far too many fun stickers for my nieces and had a great time creating, and that's really all you need to know.

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