7 Best Brother Embroidery Machines in 2023

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Brother embroidery machines are known for their ease of use, quality stitches, and affordable prices. 

I currently own a top-of-the-line Brother embroidery machine and a mid-to-lower-level Brother embroidery machine. I also owned the cheapest Brother embroidery machine on the market for several years before upgrading. 

All that to say, I love Brother embroidery machines and don’t know if I’ll ever switch brands. 

Want to buy a Brother embroidery machine and don’t know where to start?

Here are seven of the best Brother embroidery machines PLUS what features differentiate them.  

Brother Embroidery Machine Comparisons (Differentiating Them)

When deciding which Brother embroidery machine to purchase, it’s essential to put together a list of must-haves for your next machine. 

Then, compare the different Brother embroidery machine models to determine which machines offer those features. 

Here are some of the ways Brother embroidery machines differ. 

1. Embroidery Only vs. Combination Machine

Combination embroidery machines sew and embroider, whereas embroidery-only machines are one-trick ponies. You must have an additional sewing machine if you want to sew.

Generally, when differentiating the entry-level Brother embroidery machines, PE in the model number means embroidery-only, whereas SE designates a combo machine. (This doesn’t always hold for dealer models, and there are exceptions like the LB and NS models.)

2. Hoop Size

The embroidery hoop size is the most important consideration when choosing an embroidery machine. 

A larger hoop size costs more but gives you more space to stitch larger designs.

The above picture shows the difference between my 5″x7″ hoop and my 10 5/8″ x 16″ hoop.

That’s a sizeable difference, right?!

However, for reference, the price difference between my two machines with each of those max hoop sizes was also over $10,000!

Don’t worry if a big hoop is not in your budget! I started with a 4″x4″ embroidery machine and wrote a post to describe all the things you can embroider with a 4×4 hoop so you don’t get stuck feeling bad about a smaller hoop. 

Now, here’s a brief comparison of current US Brother embroidery machines and their corresponding hoop sizes:

Brother Machines	Max Hoop Size
SE600, SE625, SE630, SE700, SE725 SE400, PE535, PE545, LB5000S, LB5000M, PE550D, NS1750D	4"x4"
SE1900, SE2000, PE800, PE900, NS1150E,	5"x7"
NQ1600E, NQ3600D, NQ1700E, NQ3700D	6"x10"
VM5200	8"x12"
XE1, XJ1	9.5"x14"
XP1, XP2, XP3	10 5/8"x16"

[These are mostly new models, and this is not an exhaustive list. I haven’t included many discontinued machines that can be purchased pre-owned.] 

3. Design Transfer Method

Old-school embroidery machines had card readers (I do NOT recommend this), but thankfully, technology has evolved to where you can transfer designs much more efficiently.

Newer embroidery machines even have Wi-Fi design transfer rather than a USB port on the side of the embroidery machine.

I recommend at least purchasing an embroidery machine with USB or Wi-Fi design transfer. 

Now, my home internet isn’t excellent, and I’ve had issues with designs not transferring all the way, so for important projects, I still prefer using a USB. The same goes for downloading software updates. 

Also, while I’m not a Mac user, Brother’s Design Database Transfer to get those designs over wirelessly only works natively on PC as far as I can tell. So, keep this in mind if you’re a Mac user and want to use the Wi-Fi capabilities on your machine. 

4. Jump Stitch Trimming

Jump stitches are those annoying little threads that remain when the needle moves from one design section to another. 

Starting with the newest Fall 2022 Brother 5″x7″ embroidery machines and larger hoop size machines, you’ll find the option of turning on automatic jump stitch trimming. 

My first two embroidery machines did not have jump thread trimming, which wasn’t a huge deal then.

Once I got my larger hoop embroidery machine, the number of jump stitches in designs was so huge that the automatic trimming was SO NICE. 

If you have poor hand dexterity or decreased eyesight, I recommend a machine that trims jump stitches. 

6. Automatic Needle Threader

Some Brother sewing and embroidery machines have “advanced” needle threaders, whereas others have more “automatic” needle threaders. 

The snazzier the machine, the easier it is to have it thread the needle for you, error-free. 

7. Built-In Stitches and Designs

If you hate technology and don’t want to create your own embroidery designs or use your computer to download pre-made designs, choose a machine with more built-in embroidery designs and font options. 

I rarely use my built-in designs (and I have over 1,000) because I prefer to create my own. 

Lastly, Brother has exclusive rights and licensing to Disney embroidery designs, so if you want to be able to stitch Disney designs, you must buy a Brother Disney embroidery machine or plan to download designs from Brother’s iBroidery store. 

8. Budget

How much does an embroidery machine cost? 

You’d be surprised at the range to get started with machine embroidery!

My first Brother embroidery machine ran less than $300 (purchased way before pre-pandemic inflation), and my most recent machine was five figures. (I paid more for it than my current SUV is worth!)

Having a larger budget gets you more features, but I started embroidery when I was flat-broke and happily made do with my small embroidery machine.

9. Artspira Compatibility

One of Brother’s significant Fall 2022 improvements to their line of embroidery machines was the Artspira app. 

After I groaned and moaned about issues I had with it and finally got mine set up, I can see the perks of having a machine with this compatibility. 

Brother Embroidery Machines for Beginners: A Note

My unpopular opinion is to NOT buy a top-of-the-line embroidery machine if you are a beginner.

Why?

First, I guarantee you will make all sorts of mistakes when you start embroidering.

In my first six months of use on my entry-level machine, I broke my needle threader, nicked my throat plate irreversibly doing something clueless, and wound way too much bobbin thread underneath the spindle more times than I can count. 

Having an affordable machine makes those mistakes SO MUCH LESS horrifying. 

Second, if it turns out embroidery is too tricky or not your cup of tea, you haven’t invested a year’s worth of mortgage into an expensive machine. 

Last, the top-of-the-line Brother embroidery machines are LOADED with features that are difficult to understand for beginners. My manual for mine is almost 500 pages long, and even sometimes I get confused using some of the features. 

While Brother Luminaire XP3 might be the “best” Brother embroidery machine with the most features, I don’t think it’s for everyone, especially beginners! Also, before you purchase, make sure to try it in-store to ensure you can figure out how to use it. 

Best Brother Embroidery Machines Reviews

There is no one BEST Brother embroidery machine for everyone, so pick what will work best for your circumstances! Seriously, don’t go into debt over this decision just because someone told you that a $5k+ machine is all you’ll be happy with. 

With that out of the way, my list of Brother embroidery machine reviews is below. But first, a few notes. 

First, I’ve listed only home-use embroidery machines. If you are looking for a Brother multi-needle embroidery machine with a free arm, I recommend the Brother PRS1055X. It has 10 needles and a bigger hoop size than the Brother PR680W or PR670E. 

Second, I have not listed discontinued models. If you check your local dealer, you might be able to snag a great deal on a pre-owned machine. 

Last, these are the US model numbers. Other countries may have different model numbers for similar machines. 

1. Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine

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Feature	Specs
Embroidery Field	5"x7"
Embroidery Designs	193 designs
Maximum Embroidery Speed	650 stitches per minute
Design Transfer	Wi-Fi or USB

The newest Brother 5×7 embroidery-only machine, the Brother PE900, is the “one to beat” of the 5×7 embroidery machines. 

Not only is it Wi-Fi enabled (which means you have the option to transfer purchased or created designs from your computer without a USB), it automatically trims jump stitches. 

And, it’s compatible with Brother’s newest embroidery app, Artspira. (As mentioned earlier, the launch had some bugs to work out, but I have high hopes that this could be awesome for embroidery and cutting machine users.)

If you’re worried the 5″x7″ embroidery field is too small, you can also use the 5″x12″ repositionable hoop with the Brother PE900 to stitch a design in two smaller sections. (Just use software to split a bigger design.)

The price is much higher than its predecessor, the Brother PE800, but I think the automatic jump stitch trimming is such a time saver that it’s worth the extra investment if you plan to embroider frequently. 

Also, just to point out again, the Brother PE900 is an embroidery-only machine, meaning you cannot use it for regular sewing. You will need a separate sewing machine for all sewing tasks. 

2. Brother PE545 Embroidery Machine

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Feature	Specs
Embroidery Field	4"x4"
Embroidery Designs	135 built-in
Design Transfer	Wi-Fi or USB

The Brother PE545 improves upon the Brother PE535 and will likely one day replace it. 

The Brother PE545 (and PE535) are two of the least expensive embroidery machines on the market, as they are small embroidery-only machines. 

These machines only have a 4″x4″ embroidery area, but you can split designs and stitch in a repositionable 4″x6.75″ hoop if you use software. 

What I love about the PE545 is that it’s one of the few 4×4 machines on the market with Wi-Fi design capability. (The PE535 cannot connect wirelessly.) 

Lastly, don’t let the smaller number of built-in designs deter you.

You can download any designs you create or find online and transfer them to your machine, as long as they’re in .PES format (or another compatible file format type.)

3. Brother NQ1700E Embroidery Machine

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Feature	Specs
Embroidery Field	6"x10"
Embroidery Designs	285 built-in
Max Embroidery Speed	850 spm
Design Transfer	Wi-Fi or USB

Replacing the older Brother NQ1600E, the Brother NQ1700E has a 6″x10″ max embroidery field and also has Wi-Fi capability for design transfer and use of the Artspira app. 

The NQ1700E is another embroidery-only machine, but it has a combination machine option, the Brother NQ37000D. 

Besides hoop size, ways it improves upon the Brother PE900 include an increased number of designs, more editing options onscreen, and a faster max embroidery speed (850 stitches per minute vs. 650 stitches per minute.)

4. Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine

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Key Features	Specs
Embroidery Field	4"x4"
Embroidery Designs	135 built-in
Stitch Options	103 stitches, 10 buttonhole options
Maximum Sewing Speed	710 stitches per minute
Design Transfer	Wi-Fi or USB

Not to be confused with the Brother PE700 (an old embroidery machine model), the Brother SE700 is the newest Brother 4×4 combination sewing and embroidery machine. 

It’s basically the Brother PE545 embroidery-wise, but it can also sew.

As such, the embroidery features are identical to the Brother PE545. (It has Wi-Fi capability, the same number of embroidery designs, etc.)

However, in terms of sewing, there are 103 built-in stitches, 10 buttonhole stitches, and even several sewing lettering fonts. I love that you can set it to do automatic reverse and reinforcement stitching and also clip sewing threads at the end of a seam. 

There is also an SE725 version of this machine sold at certain retailers. 

5. Brother SE2000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine

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Feature	Specs
Embroidery Field	5"x7"
Embroidery Designs	193 designs and 13 fonts
Stitch Options	241 stitches, 10 buttonhole options
Maximum Sewing Speed	850 stitches per minute
Design Transfer	Wi-Fi or USB

The improvement on Brother’s well-loved SE1900, the Brother SE2000 has all the embroidery features of the Brother PE900 but can also sew. 

For example, in addition to the 190 built-in embroidery designs and 13 embroidery fonts, the Brother SE2000 also has 241 sewing stitches and eight sewing presser feet. 

Fun for quilters, the Brother SE2000 also has a knee lifter, and the throat space is large enough to do most quilt piecing projects and some free-motion quilting. (Obviously, it’s not a massive throat like the Brother Luminaire or one of Janome’s M17 machines.)

And, like the PE900, the SE2000 trims automatically jump stitches, is wireless LAN enabled, and is compatible with Brother’s Artspira. 

It has an automatic needle threader to make threading the needle a breeze, and it’s also easy to set up!

I think this is one of the best Brother sewing and embroidery machines on the market right now for value and features. 

I recently purchased the Brother SE2000 (read my full Brother SE2000 review), but I’ve had the Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery combo, its predecessor, for almost 3 years now.

I’ve loved it and am excited the newer version can connect wirelessly. (You can learn all about my older machine in my Brother SE1900 review, too!)

6. Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine

Feature	Specs
Embroidery Field	5"x7"
Embroidery Designs	138 designs
Maximum Embroidery Speed	650 stitches per minute
USB Connection	Built-in USB port

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The Brother PE800 was a well-loved embroidery machine for a long, long time before being replaced by the Brother PE900. 

It still hasn’t been discontinued, which is why I recommend it, especially for users looking to save money and those who don’t care about the extra features of the PE900. 

When comparing the PE800 to the PE900, though, the addition of automatic jump stitch trimming on the PE900 is a big selling point, as is the inclusion of wireless LAN connectivity. 

However, these features might not mean much to you, so consider this 5×7 computerized embroidery-only machine also. 

Read more in my Brother PE800 review. 

7. Brother SE600 or SE625 Combination Machine

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Feature	Specs
Weight	14.3 lbs
Dimensions	21.2" x 15.5" x 16.5"
Embroidery Field	4"x4"
Embroidery Designs	80 included
Stitch Options	103 stitches, 10 buttonhole options
Maximum Sewing Speed	710 stitches per minute
USB Connection	Built-in USB port

The Brother SE600 and SE625 are two of the best Brother embroidery and sewing machine combos to start with if you are on a budget. The only differences between the two (read more in Brother SE600 vs. SE625) are the design CD included with the SE625 and the faceplate color.

Now, these two machines don’t have all the Wi-Fi features of the updated Brother SE700, but they’re less expensive if you’re not techy anyway. To import designs, you must use the USB port on the side of the machine. 

I started with the Brother SE625 as my first machine, and I had no complaints, except I eventually grew out of the 4×4 hoop and paid off enough student loans to afford a bigger hoop machine.

Now, as a combination machine, the SE600 includes 103 built-in sewing stitches (10 automatic one-step buttonhole options) and seven sewing presser feet.

In terms of embroidery, there are 80 included designs to embroider using the machine’s 4″x4″ maximum embroidery field area. 

The color LCD touchscreen is an improvement over the black and white screens of older Brother embroidery machines like the SE400. You can do basic design edits onscreen like changing size and thread colors and combining designs.

Read my in-depth Brother SE600 review to learn more about this option. 

Best Brother Embroidery Machines – Final Notes

Obviously, there are many machines I didn’t mention here, especially those that cost more than $3-4k and have larger hoop sizes. 

However, I still hope these reviews of the best Brother embroidery machines have helped make your decision process easier. 

And, if you still can’t decide, check out my list of best embroidery machines for beginners and best computerized embroidery machines for more options!