Cricut EasyPress vs AutoPress 2: Which Cricut Heat Press to Buy

Side by side

	EasyPress SE 9 x 9	EasyPress SE 12 x 10	AutoPress 2 12 x 12	AutoPress 2 15 x 15
Heat plate	9 x 9 in	12 x 10 in	12 x 12 in	15 x 15 in
Max temperature	400°F (205°C)	400°F (205°C)	410°F (210°C)	410°F (210°C)
Pressure	Manual	Manual	Consistent 110 lb	Adjustable, 45 to 220 lb
Operation	Handheld	Handheld	Automatic	Automatic
Bluetooth and app	No	No	Yes	Yes
Cricut's own use case	Standard T-shirts and tote bags	Larger designs	T-shirts, totes, pillowcases	Larger designs, oversized and thick apparel

Pressure is the real difference

With an EasyPress you supply the pressure by leaning on the handle, so it varies from press to press and person to person. Transfer makers account for this: Siser, for instance, gives its EasyWeed vinyl 305°F for 10 to 15 seconds at medium pressure on a heat press, and tells EasyPress users to raise that temperature. Vinyl is forgiving; DTF transfers and thick hoodies are not, and uneven pressure there shows up as edges that lift after washing.

The AutoPress 2 removes the guesswork. Cricut lists the 12 x 12 at a consistent 110 lb and the 15 x 15 as adjustable up to 220 lb, in 5 lb steps from 45 lb on its product page. If you press DTF, choose the 15 x 15, because a transfer maker's "firm" or high-pressure setting can then be matched with a number.

Plate size and shirts per press

A full adult shirt front needs a large plate. The 15 x 15 covers it in one press; the 12 x 10 and 12 x 12 cover most adult designs; the 9 x 9 is sized for smaller designs, kids' clothes and totes, and needs two overlapping presses for a big print. Every extra press is a chance to double-heat part of the design or shift it.

Automation and app control

The AutoPress 2 closes, holds and lifts on its own in Auto Mode, which means you can load the next shirt while one presses. Both sizes connect over Bluetooth to send settings from Cricut's app; Cricut notes that this needs a compatible mobile device and a high-speed internet connection, and the 15 x 15 also stores four presets on its Control Pod. The EasyPress SE has a digital panel for time and temperature but no app connection, which some crafters prefer.

Materials each press handles

Both presses handle the materials most Cricut owners use, but Cricut lists them a little differently. The EasyPress SE product page names iron-on (HTV), Infusible Ink and sublimation products, and its FAQ adds DTF and surfaces such as cotton, polyester, wood and canvas. The AutoPress 2 listing names DTF, iron-on (HTV) including Puff Iron-On, Infusible Ink and sublimation products, and says the 15 x 15 adjusts itself for items up to 1.8 inches thick.

Material	EasyPress SE	AutoPress 2 15 x 15
Iron-on (HTV)	Yes	Yes, including Puff Iron-On
Infusible Ink	Yes	Yes
Sublimation	Yes	Yes
DTF	Listed in the FAQ; hand pressure	Yes, with adjustable pressure
Thick items	No clamp, pressed by hand	Auto-adjusts up to 1.8 in thick

Safety features

Both carry the same two safety features on Cricut's pages: an insulated safety base and auto-off. The AutoPress 2 adds a full slide-out tray, so you load the shirt away from the heat plate, and Cricut's listing says it is not intended for children 12 and younger. With the EasyPress, the hot plate is always in your hand, so always set it back on its base, never face down on a table.

Space and storage

The EasyPress SE sits on an insulated safety base and stores on a shelf. The AutoPress 2 15 x 15 is a permanent fixture: Cricut says it is heavy enough to need a dedicated space, and the Amazon listing gives a footprint of about 21 by 16 inches. Plan for the plug too: keep a heat press off any circuit that also runs a space heater or a second press.

Who should buy which

You are...	Buy
Making gifts and the occasional shirt or tote	EasyPress SE 9 x 9 or 12 x 10
Starting a small vinyl shirt business	AutoPress 2 12 x 12
Pressing DTF transfers, hoodies or oversize prints	AutoPress 2 15 x 15
Pressing shirts and also caps, shoes or small items	An AutoPress plus an EasyPress Mini

If you are open to other brands, our best heat press guide compares the AutoPress 2 with HTVRONT, Hotronix and budget presses, and the press style guide explains auto-open, clamshell and swing-away designs. For settings by material, see the heat press settings chart.