Big Shot Plus vs. Switch Plus: Manual or Electric for Your Existing Supplies?

The practical difference is manual versus electric

The Big Shot Plus uses a hand crank. The Switch Plus uses an automated feed and has a reverse control. Sizzix describes both as 9-inch machines; the Switch listing reviewed here is the white US model, SKU 663630. Compare the exact regional listing you intend to buy. [1] [2]

For a crafter who already owns a working Plus, moving to Switch is mainly a workflow decision. It may remove repeated cranking from a long cutting session, but you still arrange the dies, build the prescribed stack, support the plates, and unload the pieces. An electric feed does not assemble or verify the sandwich for you.

Compare the parts that change your daily routine

The feed and opening specifications are manufacturer facts. The workspace and buying implications are our practical comparison, not results from a timed performance test. [1] [2]

Audit supplies before paying for a new machine

Make a short inventory of your most-used wafer-thin dies, steel-rule dies, embossing folders, and specialist accessories. Record each product name and generation rather than a broad label such as “Sizzix folder.” Then check the machine-specific instructions for the technique you want to use.

The Switch product page specifically says it accommodates Big Shot Plus cutting pads. That is useful for an existing owner, but it is not permission to transfer every Plus platform, adapter, or stack unchanged. Sizzix publishes separate manuals and tells owners to follow the platform instructions, particularly for older versions. [1] [3] [4]

Keep unfamiliar supplies in a “check before use” group. This prevents the vague assumption that all items with “Plus” on the packaging share the same role. Use the finder for a documented setup within its coverage, and use the manufacturer manual for anything outside that coverage.

Check foiling and letterpress separately

Spellbinders lists Big Shot Plus and Sizzix Switch for Glimmer II. Its BetterPress compatibility list also includes those machines. Those are accessory-specific findings; a supported foiling platform does not validate an unrelated folder recipe. [5] [6]

If you already own the manual Plus and the accessory you want is documented for it, a Switch purchase is not automatically required. Price the accessory itself first. Conversely, do not confuse either wide machine with the standard 6-inch Big Shot when reading a product listing or watching a tutorial.

Rehearse a full session at your actual table

Before buying, mark out the space needed for the machine and for plates entering and leaving it. Include nearby bottles, storage bins, and the position of your chair. A machine that fits on a shelf may still be inconvenient to use on a crowded work surface.

For the manual Plus, consider where your hand travels through a complete turn. For Switch, plan a suitable outlet and a clear cable route. The US/Canada Switch listing has a regional power restriction, so choose the correct regional model rather than assuming a plug adapter solves the issue. [1]

If operating comfort is your main reason for changing machines, try a demonstration using the kinds of projects you make. We cannot predict individual comfort from a specification table or promise a medical benefit.

Compare delivered bundles and replacement parts

Write down the delivered machine price, the included platform and adapters, usable cutting pads, and anything genuinely missing. Give bonus dies a value only if you want those designs. A larger advertised bundle is not necessarily a better fit for an established collection.

Check the exact replacement-pad and adapter identifiers before purchasing. Sizzix describes Switch cutting pads as consumable parts that can develop marks and bowing during use. Replacing a worn pad is a different decision from replacing the entire machine. [7]

For secondhand equipment, request a photo of the model identification and all included parts. Compare that complete cost against a new bundle. Avoid counting a hoped-for resale price for your old machine as cash already recovered.

Owner reports show different preferences

In an April 2025 cardmaking discussion, several Switch owners described preferring electric operation, including one who used the manual machine much less afterward. Another participant asked about reports of stuck plates and incomplete cuts. These comments help identify questions to ask at a demonstration; they do not establish failure rates or prove that either model is more reliable. [8]

Our recommendation is conditional: keep a functioning Plus if it handles your supplies and you enjoy using it. Consider Switch when the feeding method solves a repeated frustration and the complete purchase fits your budget.

A final three-item check

1. Confirm the exact machine model, region, and included platform.
2. Verify instructions for your three most-used supplies and any planned specialist accessory.
3. Compare the full delivered cost and usable workspace, including replacement parts.

This is a documentation-based comparison. We have not run side-by-side cutting, noise, speed, or durability tests on these machines.