If this will be your only machine, start with the Brother SE700 : it sews and embroiders up to 4 by 4 inches. If you already own a sewing machine, the Brother PE545 does the same 4 by 4 inch embroidery as a dedicated unit. Move to the PE900 or SE2000 only if the designs you want are bigger than 4 inches. Those four are the same family with the same Brother wireless workflow, so a beginner’s choice comes down to two questions.

This list compares Brother’s published specifications. We have not embroidered on any of these machines, and nothing here is a stitch-quality ranking.

Question 1: must the machine also sew?

A combination machine (SE700, SE2000) sews seams, buttonholes and decorative stitches, then takes an embroidery unit for hoop work. An embroidery-only machine (PE545, PE900) has no sewing mode, so it needs a sewing machine beside it for anything that is not a hooped design. Our SE700 vs PE545 comparison goes through that fork in detail. If you do not own a sewing machine, a combination model is the single-purchase route. If you do, an embroidery-only machine keeps your sewing machine threaded for construction.

Question 2: which hoop area fits your projects?

The nominal field is the largest area a design can cover, not the outside size of the hoop. A 4 by 4 inch area suits names, monograms, small motifs, pocket patches and quilt labels. A 5 by 7 inch area handles larger single designs, such as a chest or tote motif, without splitting a file into sections. Decide this before comparing design counts, because rehooping a large design is a workflow, not a setting. Our stabilizer guide explains the material side of hooping.

The four machines side by side

Brother SE700 Brother PE545 Brother SE2000 Brother PE900
Type Sewing and embroidery Embroidery only Sewing and embroidery Embroidery only
Embroidery area 4 by 4 in 4 by 4 in 5 by 7 in 5 by 7 in
Built-in designs / lettering fonts 135 / 10 135 / 10 193 / 13 193 / 13
Built-in sewing stitches 103, plus 10 one-step buttonholes None 241, plus 10 one-step buttonholes None
Maximum embroidery speed Not stated on Brother’s page Up to 400 stitches per minute 650 stitches per minute Up to 650 stitches per minute
Included hoop Medium 4 by 4 in Medium 4 by 4 in Large 5 by 7 in Large 5 by 7 in
Wireless LAN and USB Yes Yes Yes Yes

Sources: Brother USA’s SE700 , PE545 , SE2000 and PE900 pages, checked October 19, 2026. Brother’s SE2000 page is inconsistent on font count (13 under embroidery, 5 under sewing), and the SE700 display size differs between Brother’s page and the Amazon listing, so we leave display size out of the table.

Brother SE700: the one-machine starting point

Brother lists 103 built-in sewing stitches, 10 one-step buttonhole styles, eight included presser feet and a 4 by 4 inch embroidery area. The tradeoff is storage and changeover: the embroidery unit has to be attached and removed, and the table needs room for the hoop to travel. Our SE600 review covers the discontinued predecessor and why we point buyers to the current SE700 instead of a used one.

Brother PE545: embroidery without the sewing decision

The PE545 has the same 135 designs, 10 fonts and 4 by 4 inch area as the SE700 and nothing else to learn. Brother lists a lower maximum embroidery speed than the 5 by 7 inch models. It is the smallest commitment in this list, with the same ceiling: a design wider than 4 inches means a larger machine later.

Brother PE900 and SE2000: when 4 by 4 is too small

Both list a 5 by 7 inch area , 193 built-in designs and 13 lettering fonts, and an included large hoop. Brother’s PE900 page and the Amazon listings for both 5 by 7 inch models describe color sort and jump-stitch trimming, which reduce color changes and manual trimming. The PE900 is the embroidery-only version; the SE2000 adds 241 sewing stitches and a higher listed sewing speed. Our PE800 review explains how the PE900 relates to the discontinued PE800, and our SE2000 review covers the combination model’s workflow.

What this list leaves out

The Brother Aveneer EV1 is a large-format flagship with a camera and projector workflow, which is more than a first machine needs; see our EV1 review . Used or discontinued machines can be a good route, but they need a unit-by-unit condition check, which is why the PE800 and SE600 reviews are separate pages. We do not rank third-party embroidery machines here because we did not source their manuals.

Where to buy

All four links go to new listings sold by Amazon.com that were in stock on October 19, 2026: the SE700 , PE545 , PE900 and SE2000 . Other sellers list the same machines as bundles with extra hoops and thread. Those are different listings, so compare what is included against the plain model before choosing one.

Method and limits

This page compares manufacturer specifications. It does not test hooping, stitch quality, noise, thread breaks or durability, and it does not establish that any model is easier to learn. Where Brother’s page was silent (the SE700 embroidery speed) the table says so.

Sources

Questions before buying

Should a beginner buy an embroidery-only or a combination machine?

Buy a combination machine if you do not own a sewing machine. Buy an embroidery-only machine if you already have one and want it to stay set up for sewing.

Is 4 by 4 inches enough for a first machine?

For names, monograms, small motifs and patches, yes. If you plan single designs larger than 4 inches, a 5 by 7 inch machine avoids splitting them.

Do I need anything besides the machine?

Yes. Plan for embroidery thread, stabilizer, needles, bobbins and small scissors. The supplies box below lists an item for each.

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