If you have been asking yourself EasyPress vs Heat Press, or looking at getting an EasyPress or heat press, but not sure which one is best or right for you then you’ll definitely want to read this post.
If you’ve been following me for any amount of time you know how much I LOVE doing projects with my Cricut. And out of all the projects I do, working with iron on vinyl is my absolute favorite!! Not only is it easier to weed, but with having an EasyPress and heat press it’s so much easier to apply without having mistakes. I’ve had a traditional heat press for 4 years now and it definitely improved the quality of my projects.
So when they announced the release of the EasyPress I was both excited and a little skeptical. Could this new product do just as good of work as my clam shell heat press?! If you’ve been looking at getting a heat press for some time now and you’ve heard of, or looked at, the EasyPress I’m sure you’ve asked yourself the same question. Well let me tell you, yes it can! There are pros and cons to both the EasyPress and traditional clam shell heat press and today I’ll be sharing my thoughts and opinions on both. 
HEAT PRESS
This is the heat press I have. It’s a 12″x15″ Zeny 6-in-1 Combo that has attachments for two different sized plates, 2 different sized mugs, hats and then the clam shell heat press. When we bought it, I think we paid around $225 and at the time I was making 10-15 shirts each week. It was definitely worth the time and money I saved having a heat press vs. using an iron. Here are the pros and cons.
PROS:
- Easy to use. You set the temperature and time, close the clam shell, press a button and the heat press does all the work for you.
- It remembers the settings. When I turn on the heat press it automatically heats up to the temperature I originally programmed.
- Evenly distributes heat. Compared to a regular iron the heat press gives equal pressure on all surfaces.
- It’s much faster. Shirts that were taking me 2-3 minutes to apply iron on vinyl to now only take 30-40 seconds.
- It’s much more effective. The iron on definitely felt and looked like it was attached better with the heat press.
CONS:
- It’s heavy. Like 55 pounds heavy. It is a beast to unbox and don’t even think about moving it around where you are working.
- It takes a long time to heat up. It takes about 7 minutes for it to heat up to 305°F.
- Not only do the pads get hot but the whole machine gets hot. I was always worried about one of my kids touching it, even after it was turned off and getting burnt.
- There isn’t a lot of work area. If you’re working with designs that have multiple layers, you have to lay it out somewhere else and then move it on to the heat press. There have been a few times when the design got moved a little and the finished project came out slanted or distorted.
- Limited on space. Anything bigger than 12″x15″ (and really like 11.5″ x 14.5″) I couldn’t do or had a hard time getting to line up with multiple presses.
EASYPRESS
Now let’s talk about the EasyPress. Cricut released the EasyPress this last July during their Mountain Make-a-thon. Like I said, I was a little skeptical at first because how could something so little pack as much power as my big ‘ol heat press?! But after trying it on several projects at the Make-a-thon I was convinced. It was just as good better than my heat press. There are still a few things I would change about it so let’s get into the pros and cons.
PROS:
- It’s small and lightweight. At 9″x9″ and 5 pounds the EasyPress is much easier to store and also move to do projects outside my craft room. My craft room currently doubles as my baby’s room so before if she was napping I couldn’t get my projects done. Now I can.
- The EasyPress 2 comes in FOUR sizes and many different colors too!
- The Mini is perfect for extra small projects like mugs, hats and stuffed animals
- The 6″x7″ is perfect for small projects like onesies or pressing perler beads.
- The 9″x9″ is the most versatile in my opinon. You can use it for shirts, pillows, wood signs and more!
- The 10″x12″ is great for larger projects like XL shirts, table runners, pillows and more!
- The EasyPress 2 comes in FOUR sizes and many different colors too!
- It heats up fast. It gets up to heat (usually 305°F) in 2 minutes or less.
- It’s easy to use. With just a few clicks of a button it’s ready to go.
- Evenly distributes heat. Just like the heat press, compared to a regular iron, the EasyPress gives equal pressure on all surfaces.
- It makes doing large projects easier. Unlike the heat press, I can lay out my designs on the counter and press them right there. This is especially useful when I make pillows and XL shirts.
- It comes with a base to hold it in. This is convenient for not only storage but also when I’m using the EasyPress.
- You can also purchase tote bags for the EasyPress machines too that make crafting on the go even easier!
CONS:
- You have to apply pressure to it. And not a whole lot but, unlike the heat press where you just press a button and pull down on a lever, the EasyPress you do need to apply pressure to.
- It doesn’t remember temperature settings. BUT Cricut does have this super useful guide on what temperatures and times for each type of iron on (traditional, glitter, foil, etc.) and what type of material (cotton, polyester, leather, etc.). ***NOTE the new EasyPress 2 DOES remember heat settings now!***
So what’s the verdict? In my opinion the EasyPress is the better product for me. I will say if you have a business where you only make one or two designs and they are on small surfaces the heat press may be a better option for you. But for the majority of people who are working with iron on vinyl the EasyPress is the best option.
When ordering from Cricut.com make sure to use promo code FRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping on $50+ orders! Note promo code does not work on EasyPress machines alone.
If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut (and several EasyPress projects) check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!
Naomi says
Great comparison Sydney. It can depend on the heat press you have as well, don’t you think? I’m not a big fan of the small cheap swing away style machines – I prefer the bigger clamshells. But I totally agree that the EasyPress is super cool. There’s no comparison in looks! Heat press machines are pretty ugly, while the EasyPress looks stunning. I’ve signed up to the email list and look forward to more great content. Thanks!
Kelsey Jensen says
What happens when you have a design that’s bigger than the easypress? say you have a 10″x12″ design, and it has to be peeled hot?
Sydney says
I’ve done several projects that are larger than the 9×9 EasyPress and I haven’t had any issues when I peel. Just make sure you are heating up the back of the fabric too after you do the front 🙂 Let me know if you if you have any other questions!
Michelle says
Hi. I have been going back and forth with the idea of an easy press vs. a heat press. Have you made any reversible basketball jerseys for a youth team? What do you recommend, if doing this for the heat issue. I would hate to burn the fabric.
Sydney says
Yes I added names to my son’s team jerseys and I would recommend the EasyPress. You have more control over heat and pressure and burning wouldn’t be an issue at all. Cricut also has a new SportFlex vinyl that is perfect for athletic wear!
Tiesha says
I’m torn between the heat press and the cricut press. Can someone help me out on the better one to get?
Sydney says
Hi Tiesha! I think it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to use it for crafting/hobby I think the EasyPress is definitely the way to go! If you have a shop, or plan on making shirts, onesies, etc. a heat press may be the best option. Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Daisy says
I do have a small business, where I’m making a shirt a week or so. I’m thinking of Easy Press being that is cheaper and I am not making a ton of money. Will it still be worth it in the long run?
Sydney says
I think the EasyPress would be great for this! Especially the new EasyPress 2. If you get the 12×10 size you can easily do any shirts and you can get updates to the software instantly via a USB port. Definitely worth the money in my opinion!
Panda M Oesterblad says
Okay this is great and thank you! Now Cricut should give you the EasyPress 2 so that we can know what the differences between the original and the new one are. I am going to buy one and want to know if I want to wait to get the new model or buy the original one now. Thank you though, this was very helpful.
Tara says
Will the EasyPress work for sublimation transfers? Does it get hot enough? I want to do some for personal use, but I’m also considering doing sublimation transfers on a business level. I have a toddler and a very inquisitive puppy, and I was considering the EasyPress for safety reasons.
Sydney says
Hey Tara! The EasyPress 2 goes up to 400F so it will work for the sublimation transfers! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Renee Elgin says
It is now Nov 21, 2019 and after reading the article along with the questions and comments I am wondering…everyone’s thoughts as of current. Still feel the same about choices/products? Does anyone have the cricut 2 with press? I’m looking at getting into small print business. Therefore, I’m curious as to thoughts within the last year.
Sydney says
Hey Renee!
I have had a chance to use all 4 sizes of the EasyPress 2 and absolutely love them! If I were to open my shop back up I would definitely be happy using an EasyPress 2 vs. the clam shell heat press, especially with the upgrades and different sizes. I use the EasyPress minis for hats, stuffed animals and onesies on a regular basis. And in my experience, the 12×10 EasyPress 2 packs enough pressure to press shirts, pillows, etc. with little to no added pressure. Let me know if you have any other questions. Sometimes comments go to my junk folder, so feel free to email me at [email protected] for a quicker response.
Ashley Bean says
I cannot get my easy press to work; transfer stays once and then starts peeling after one wash… what are your suggestions? I am a newby.
Sydney says
Hmmm Are you pre-heating your shirt before you put your iron-on on your shirt? Also are you pressing on the back of your shirt for like 15 seconds too? Those would be my first thoughts.
Sade says
Very helpful, thans very much. I was undecided on which one to buy.
Pat Johnson says
I am still confused..Here is my issue, when I look at the 5 in one Heat Press, I like that it comes with so many attachments but i hate the swing away. It scares me. I love the clamshell style but it doesn’t have the attachments. And when I look at the Easypress 2, it really looks like it doesn’t really do anything. I don’t want to get complaints over quality….It’s just so confusing.
Sydney says
Hey Pat! I wasn’t a huge fan of the swing away either, I did get burnt a couple of times and OUCH! I honestly like the size options of the EasyPress for using on projects you would use the attachments for. The EasyPress Mini is great for mugs and hats and the 6×7 is really good for plates. I’ve found that I get the same results (finished project, wearability, etc) with the EasyPress 2 as I do with my heat press, and it’s a whole lot easier to use. I hope that helps.
martina says
sydney, that is a great comparison , cleared all my confusions