Comparison · Brother SE700
Brother SE700 vs PE900 vs SE2000: Which Should You Buy?
Brother SE700 vs PE900 vs SE2000: compare hoop size, sewing and thread cutting, and find which Brother embroidery machine fits what you want to stitch.
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes what we recommend.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which machine we point you to.
Which Brother embroidery machine should you buy? Pick by what you want to stitch. Choose the SE700 for small projects and one machine that also sews. Choose the PE900 for bigger designs if you already own a sewing machine. Choose the SE2000 for bigger designs, sewing and automatic thread cutting.
Most comparisons start with a spec sheet. Owners who regret a purchase rarely mention the spec sheet. They mention a towel, a jacket back, or a customer who wanted something bigger than the hoop. So we compared the Brother SE700, PE900, SE2000 and PE545 the way a buyer meets them: hoop size first, then sewing, then automatic thread cutting. If you want the full SE700 picture first, start with our Brother SE700 sewing and embroidery machine page.
Key takeaways
- The SE700 and PE545 stitch up to 4 x 4 inches. The PE900 and SE2000 have a 5x7 hoop.
- The SE700 and SE2000 sew and embroider. The PE900 and PE545 only embroider.
- Automatic thread cutting is listed on the SE2000. Commenters say the SE700 does not have it.
- Planning to sell embroidery? The community points to a 5x7 machine.
How we compared them
Our deepest research is on the SE700. We read Brother’s product page, 190 Amazon reviews and the r/MachineEmbroidery threads. For the other three machines we list only what we verified: hoop size, whether the machine sews, automatic cutting on the SE2000, and Amazon star ratings. Where we did not verify something, the table says “Not checked.” Check the product page for the rest.
Brother SE700 vs PE900 vs SE2000 vs PE545 at a glance
| Brother SE700 | Brother PE900 | Brother SE2000 | Brother PE545 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery area | 4 x 4 in (100 x 100 mm) | 5 x 7 in hoop | 5 x 7 in hoop | 4 x 4 in hoop |
| Sews too? | Yes: 103 stitches, 10 buttonholes | No, embroidery only | Yes, sewing and embroidery combo | No, embroidery only |
| Automatic thread cutting | No, per r/MachineEmbroidery commenters | Not checked | Yes | Not checked |
| Built-in designs and fonts | 135 designs, 10 fonts | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked |
| Amazon rating (Oct 27, 2026) | 4.5 stars, 1,056 reviews | 4.6 stars, 305 reviews | 4.7 stars | Not checked |
We show no prices because retailers change them. Use the buttons at the end to see the current price on Amazon.
Is 4x4 or 5x7 the right hoop size?
This question decides the most, and it is the first one a beginner asks. A typical post in r/MachineEmbroidery reads: “Can you use a bigger size other then 4x4 with the SE700.” Brother lists 4 x 4 inches as the SE700’s maximum embroidery area, so plan for that as the ceiling.
A 4x4 hoop fits monograms, patches, baby clothes, tea towels and napkins. It does not fit bath towels, jacket backs or larger badges. A design bigger than the hoop can be split into parts and re-hooped, but that is slower and harder to line up.
Owners who hit the limit say so, and some of them still gave five stars:
- “The small embroidery window(4x4) has not been an issue yet.” (5 stars, February 2026)
- “The only regret I have is not buying one with a bigger design space.” (5 stars, March 2026)
- “I did move up to the bigger unit for bath towels.” (5 stars, April 2026)
- “the 4-by-4 hoop feels cramped for the larger badge I had in mind” (2 stars, October 2026)
We give the happy 4x4 owner and the regretful one the same space because both are real. The community’s advice sits in the middle: “The more you know about what you want to make, the better. If you think at all you want to make larger designs, then go larger if you can.” If you can name your projects and they all fit in 4 x 4 inches, the SE700 and the PE545 cover them. If you are unsure, the 5x7 machines leave you room.
One more note on size. A Reddit commenter said the usable design inside the 4x4 hoop is 3.93 x 3.93 inches. That number is from a user, not from Brother, so confirm it in the manual before you size a design to the edge.
Should you get a combo or an embroidery-only machine?
The SE700 and SE2000 sew as well as embroider. The PE900 and PE545 only embroider. That changes who each one is for.
If you do not own a sewing machine, or you want one machine on the table for both jobs, a combo avoids buying twice. Amazon’s own summary of SE700 reviews says customers find it excellent for beginners. Several buyers wrote that it was their first sewing machine. One bought it to make doll clothes and said it was her first sewing machine ever (review, January 2026). Another bought it to save money on embroidered napkins for a wedding and now has “a new favorite hobby” (review, July 2026).
If you already own a sewing machine you like, an embroidery-only machine is a cleaner fit. The community points to the PE900 for bigger designs: it is embroidery only, with a 5x7 hoop. The PE545 gives you the same 4 x 4 inch limit as the SE700, without the sewing functions. It only makes sense if you already sew elsewhere and know 4x4 is enough.
Do you need automatic thread cutting?
Commenters in r/MachineEmbroidery say the SE700 does not cut the thread between colors, and one describes forcing “cuts” by changing colors. They also say it does not let you adjust the embroidery speed. The SE2000 is the model in this comparison that is listed with automatic cutting, together with the 5x7 hoop and sewing.
Whether it matters depends on how many color changes your designs have. For a single-color monogram, it matters little. For designs with many color blocks, trimming jump threads by hand adds up. We did not verify automatic cutting for the PE900 or PE545, so check their product pages.
Can you sell embroidery with an SE700?
Here the comparison gets blunt. A commenter answering someone who wanted to run a business wrote: “You will not really be able to run a business on the se700 it is a 4x4 hoop and you will not be able to do many clothing items with that.” The community’s usual answer for selling is the PE900.
To be fair to the SE700, small sales are happening. One five-star reviewer wrote that they make things for friends and sell a few things here and there (review, February 2026). Another said it grew into a productive side hustle (review, November 2025). The difference is volume and product type. A few monograms and patches fit a 4x4 hoop. A line of clothing does not.
What stays the same on every machine?
These points come from the SE700 reviews, but they are about embroidery in general:
- Thread and tension take practice. In our tally of 90 critical SE700 reviews, 21 are about thread, tension or the bobbin. The community’s baseline is the right stabilizer, 40 wt embroidery thread on top and 60 wt thread in the bobbin. We have no data on whether the other models do better or worse.
- Your own designs cost extra. The SE700 reads .PES files. Brother lists the Artspira app as free, with wireless transfer to a Brother WLAN machine on the free plan. Brother’s paid Artspira+ plan adds auto digitizing and photo conversion, and Brother US support lists it at US$119.99 a year. Check Brother’s current plan comparison to see whether a given model supports the paid features.
- Check compatibility if you use a Mac or iPhone. Reviews describe the SE700’s full wireless workflow as Windows and Android.
Which Brother embroidery machine should you buy?
Answer three questions.
- Will anything you plan to make be larger than 4 x 4 inches? If yes, or if you plan to sell, go to a 5x7 machine. Pick the PE900 if you already sew, or the SE2000 if you want sewing too.
- Do you need one machine for both sewing and embroidery? If yes, and 4x4 is enough, the SE700 is the combo to look at. If you already sew, the PE545 is the 4x4 embroidery-only option.
- Do your designs have lots of color changes? If so, weigh automatic cutting. Our research shows it on the SE2000 and not on the SE700.
Still unsure between 4x4 and 5x7? Read our longer guide on choosing an embroidery machine for beginners. For the SE700 on its own, with every complaint counted, see the Brother SE700 review.
You can check today’s price and availability of the SE700 on Amazon or at Brother. The Brother SE700 page has the short version.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Brother SE700 and the PE900?
The SE700 sews and embroiders with a 4 x 4 inch hoop. The PE900 only embroiders, with a 5x7 hoop. If you already own a sewing machine and want bigger designs, the community points to the PE900.
Is the Brother SE2000 better than the SE700?
It depends on your projects. The SE2000 adds a 5x7 hoop and is listed with automatic thread cutting, and it still sews. The SE700 is the choice if 4x4 is enough and you want a combo machine.
Which Brother embroidery machine is best for beginners?
Amazon’s own summary of SE700 reviews says customers find it excellent for beginners. The best fit still depends on hoop size. Write down your first projects and check whether they fit in 4 x 4 inches.
Can you run an embroidery business with a Brother SE700?
The community says no for volume work. A 4x4 hoop handles small items like monograms and patches, but selling clothing needs a bigger hoop. The usual answer for selling is the PE900.
Does the PE900 sew?
No. The PE900 and PE545 are embroidery only. The SE700 and SE2000 are combo machines that also sew.
Last checked: 2026-10-27. Specifications and availability checked against the manufacturer and retailer pages on this date. Prices change often, so the retailer page always wins.