Brother SE700 vs PE900:
Which One Actually Wins?
An exhaustive, spec-verified breakdown — hoop size, built-in designs, sewing capability, connectivity, and real-world value. One clear winner for each type of buyer.
The Brother SE700 ($516) is a combo sewing + embroidery machine with a 4″×4″ hoop area, 103 built-in sewing stitches, and 135 embroidery designs — a true all-in-one for beginners. The Brother PE900 ($1,179) is an embroidery-only machine with a larger 5″×7″ hoop area, 193 built-in designs, automatic jump stitch trimming, and advanced color-sort technology — built for dedicated embroiderers.
The right machine depends entirely on whether you want to sew and embroider or embroider exclusively at a larger scale.
You want a single machine that handles everyday sewing AND embroidery. Perfect for beginners, hobbyists, and mixed-project sewists on a moderate budget.
You do dedicated embroidery, need a bigger 5″×7″ hoop for large designs, want auto jump stitch trimming, and are ready to invest in a purpose-built machine.
Brother SE700 vs PE900: Understanding the Core Difference
Before diving into specs, you need to understand one fundamental distinction that shapes every comparison point: the SE700 is a combination sewing and embroidery machine; the PE900 is an embroidery-only machine.
The Brother SE700 is the successor to the popular SE600 and sits firmly in Brother’s SE (Sewing + Embroidery) lineup. According to Brother’s official product page, it ships with 135 built-in embroidery designs, 103 built-in sewing stitches, a 4″×4″ embroidery area, wireless LAN connectivity, and a 3.7″ LCD touchscreen — all under $520. It’s Brother’s most popular entry-level combo machine, designed for people who want to explore both sewing and embroidery without buying two separate machines.
The Brother PE900, meanwhile, belongs to Brother’s PE (Pure Embroidery) lineup. As confirmed on Brother’s official PE900 page, it offers a significantly larger 5″×7″ embroidery field, 193 built-in designs, 13 embroidery fonts (vs. 10 on the SE700), automatic jump stitch trimming, and advanced color sort technology — at a price point nearly $700 higher. It does not sew regular garment seams. It’s purely a dedicated embroidery powerhouse.
This is not a rivalry between two similar machines with marginal differences. These are two different tools for two different workflows. Understanding that is the foundation of making the right purchase decision.
Side-by-Side: Check Today’s Prices on Amazon
Both machines are available on Amazon. Prices fluctuate, so check the current listing before purchasing.
- 4″×4″ embroidery field with included hoop
- 135 built-in embroidery designs + 10 fonts
- 103 built-in sewing stitches
- Wireless LAN + Artspira App compatible
- 3.7″ LCD color touchscreen
- Sewing speeds up to 710 SPM
- Automatic needle threader & thread cutter
- 8 included presser feet
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
- 5″×7″ embroidery field (much larger area)
- 193 built-in designs + 13 embroidery fonts
- Embroidery-only (no regular sewing)
- Wireless LAN + Artspira App compatible
- 3.7″ LCD color touchscreen
- Automatic jump stitch trimming
- Advanced color sort technology
- 7.4″ needle-to-arm workspace
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Complete Specification Comparison Table
Every relevant spec, verified against Brother’s official product pages and authorized retailer listings. WIN badges indicate where one machine outperforms the other.
| Feature | Brother SE700 | Brother PE900 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Amazon) | $516 WIN | $1,179 |
| Machine Type | Sewing + Embroidery Combo WIN | Embroidery Only |
| Embroidery Area | 4″ × 4″ (100mm × 100mm) | 5″ × 7″ (127mm × 178mm) WIN |
| Built-in Embroidery Designs | 135 designs | 193 designs WIN |
| Embroidery Fonts | 10 fonts | 13 fonts (9 English, 3 Japanese, 1 Cyrillic) WIN |
| Built-in Sewing Stitches | 103 stitches + 10 buttonhole styles WIN | N/A — embroidery only |
| Sewing Speed | Up to 710 SPM WIN | N/A |
| Embroidery Speed | Up to 710 SPM | Up to 650 SPM |
| LCD Touchscreen | 3.7″ color LCD TIE | 3.7″ color LCD |
| Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) | Yes TIE | Yes |
| USB Port | Yes TIE | Yes |
| Artspira App Support | Yes TIE | Yes |
| iBroidery Platform (5,000+ designs) | Yes TIE | Yes |
| Automatic Jump Stitch Trimming | No | Yes WIN |
| Advanced Color Sort | No | Yes WIN |
| Needle-to-Arm Space | ~6.4″ work area | 7.4″ needle-to-arm WIN |
| Automatic Needle Threader | Yes TIE | Yes |
| Thread Cutter Button | Yes TIE | Yes |
| Drop-In Bobbin (Jam Resistant) | Yes TIE | Yes |
| On-Screen Design Editing | Resize, rotate, reposition | Resize, rotate, reposition, combine, zoom, letter editing WIN |
| Included Feet / Accessories | 8 sewing feet + embroidery arm | Embroidery-focused accessories + magnetic hoop compatible |
| Machine Weight | ~15 lbs WIN | ~9.7 lbs (embroidery arm attaches) |
| Best For | Beginners, combo sewing + embroidery, everyday projects | Dedicated embroiderers, large designs, monogramming at scale |
Sources: Brother SE700 Official Page · Brother PE900 Official Page · Amazon SE700 Listing · Amazon PE900 Listing
The 5 Differences That Actually Matter
These two machines share wireless connectivity, the same touchscreen size, iBroidery platform access, and Artspira app support. Here’s where they genuinely diverge:
1. Sewing Capability: Combo vs. Embroidery-Only
This is the biggest, most practical difference. The SE700 is a full sewing machine that happens to embroider. You can stitch garment seams, hem pants, make quilt blocks, and create button holes — all with 103 built-in stitches. The PE900 cannot sew a straight seam. It is only an embroidery machine. If you don’t already own a sewing machine, the PE900 requires you to buy one separately for any regular sewing tasks.
2. Embroidery Field: 4″×4″ vs. 5″×7″
The PE900’s 5″×7″ hoop area is substantially larger than the SE700’s 4″×4″ — that’s nearly double the embroidery surface. As confirmed by Brother’s official PE900 page, this larger field lets you stitch complete back-of-jacket designs, large floral panels, or multi-element compositions in a single hooping. With the SE700, you’re limited to 4″×4″ per hoop, which means multi-hooping techniques for anything larger — more work, more alignment challenges.
3. Automatic Jump Stitch Trimming
The PE900 includes a jump stitch trimming function that automatically clips excess thread between color changes. This is a quality-of-life feature that becomes enormously valuable on complex multi-color designs. On the SE700, those jump stitches must be trimmed manually with scissors after each color change. For someone doing monogramming or production embroidery, the PE900’s automatic trimming saves significant finishing time per project.
4. Advanced Color Sort
The PE900’s Color Sort technology reorders the embroidery sequence to minimize unnecessary color changes — stitching all portions of one color before switching to the next, even across different design elements. The SE700 lacks this feature. On a design with 12 colors, Color Sort can meaningfully reduce the number of thread changes and machine stops, making embroidery sessions faster and less interrupted.
5. Built-in Design Library: 135 vs. 193
The PE900 ships with 193 built-in designs and 13 fonts versus the SE700’s 135 designs and 10 fonts. Both machines also have access to the 5,000+ design library on Brother’s iBroidery platform and accept custom designs via USB or wireless transfer — so the built-in count is less critical than it might appear. Still, having more starting designs is a tangible advantage for users who aren’t yet sourcing their own design files.
Embroidery Performance & Real-World Use
SE700 Performance: Beginner-Friendly Versatility
The SE700 runs at up to 710 stitches per minute for embroidery — slightly faster than the PE900’s 650 SPM ceiling. Its 4″×4″ hoop covers the vast majority of beginner and intermediate projects: monograms on towels and shirts, small patch designs, personalized tote bags, baby clothing appliqués, and decorative accents. The wireless LAN and Artspira app connectivity allow design transfer without hunting for a USB cable, and the on-screen editing (resize, rotate, position) handles most customization needs.
Where the SE700 shines brightest is in daily utility. A sewist can finish a garment seam, add a monogram to the pocket, and hem the sleeves — all on one machine, in one session. For mixed sewists (people who both sew and embroider but aren’t dedicated to either), this versatility is genuinely irreplaceable.
PE900 Performance: Dedicated Embroidery Excellence
The PE900 is built for embroiderers who want to go deeper. The 5″×7″ field opens up large back-of-shirt designs, elaborate quilt blocks, jacket panels, and multi-element compositions that the SE700 simply cannot execute in a single hooping. According to Amazon’s verified PE900 specifications, the advanced on-screen editing includes letter editing, enhanced zoom, repositioning, and combining designs — a more capable editing suite than the SE700 offers.
The 7.4″ needle-to-arm clearance (vs. the SE700’s smaller work area) is also practically meaningful: it makes positioning bulky items like jackets and bags far less cumbersome. Combined with automatic jump stitch trimming and color sort, the PE900 dramatically reduces the “finishing work” after stitching — the thread trimming and repositioning that takes time on simpler machines.
Connectivity & Design Transfer: Both Excellent
Both the SE700 and PE900 feature wireless LAN, USB port support, and compatibility with both the Design Database Transfer software and the Artspira mobile app. Both machines connect to the iBroidery platform for access to 5,000+ designs including licensed collections. This is genuinely a tie — neither machine has a meaningful advantage in connectivity. The Artspira app allows users to draw custom designs on their mobile device and transfer wirelessly to either machine.
Ready to Check Today’s Amazon Prices?
Prices on both machines fluctuate. Check before they change.
Pros & Cons: Honest Assessment of Each Machine
- Sews AND embroiders — one machine for everything
- 103 built-in sewing stitches for garments, repairs, quilting
- Much lower price ($516 vs $1,179)
- Slightly faster embroidery at 710 SPM
- Wi-Fi + USB + Artspira app connectivity
- 8 included presser feet — great starter value
- Access to 5,000+ designs on iBroidery
- Perfect for beginners and mixed-project sewists
- Smaller 4″×4″ embroidery area — limits large designs
- No automatic jump stitch trimming (manual finishing required)
- No color sort — more manual thread change stops
- Fewer built-in designs (135 vs 193)
- Less advanced on-screen editing vs PE900
- Fewer embroidery fonts (10 vs 13)
- Multi-hooping required for anything larger than 4″×4″
- Large 5″×7″ embroidery field — handles bigger designs
- 193 built-in designs + 13 fonts (more variety)
- Automatic jump stitch trimming saves finishing time
- Advanced color sort reduces thread change interruptions
- Enhanced on-screen editing (zoom, combine, letter edit)
- 7.4″ needle-to-arm clearance — easier positioning of bulky items
- Purpose-built for serious embroidery workflows
- Wi-Fi, USB, and Artspira app support
- High price — $1,179, over $660 more than the SE700
- Embroidery ONLY — cannot sew garment seams
- Requires a separate sewing machine for regular sewing
- Slower embroidery speed (650 SPM vs 710 SPM)
- Overkill for beginners or casual hobbyists
- Larger footprint and two-machine setup if sewing is needed
Who Should Buy Each Machine?
- A beginner to both sewing and embroidery
- A sewist who also wants to embroider on one machine
- Making smaller projects (patches, monograms, apparel details)
- On a budget and can’t justify $1,000+ for embroidery-only
- Someone who sews garments and wants to add embellishments
- A hobbyist who values versatility over specialization
- Someone who doesn’t want or need a second sewing machine
- A parent crafting personalized gifts and kids’ clothing
- A dedicated embroiderer who already has a sewing machine
- Creating large designs (back panels, jacket embroidery, pillows)
- Running a small monogramming or embroidery business
- Doing high-volume work where jump stitch trimming saves hours
- Someone for whom embroidery is a primary, serious hobby
- Working with large font-heavy designs needing 13+ font options
- A maker who values polish and finishing efficiency
- Comfortable investing ~$1,200 in purpose-built equipment
Final Verdict: SE700 vs PE900
Two excellent machines from Brother’s lineup — engineered for entirely different users. There is no universally “better” machine here; there is only the better machine for your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest difference is machine type: the SE700 is a combination sewing and embroidery machine, while the PE900 is embroidery-only. The PE900 also has a much larger 5″×7″ embroidery area (vs the SE700’s 4″×4″), 193 built-in designs (vs 135), automatic jump stitch trimming, advanced color sort technology, and 13 embroidery fonts (vs 10). The SE700, however, includes 103 built-in sewing stitches and costs $663 less.
Yes — the SE700 is a full sewing machine. According to Brother’s official SE700 page, it includes 103 built-in sewing stitches and 10 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes. You can sew garment seams, hems, zippers, quilting stitches, and more, in addition to all embroidery functions. The PE900 cannot do this — it is embroidery-only.
It depends on your use case. The PE900 is worth the premium if embroidery is your primary and serious creative focus, you regularly need designs larger than 4″×4″, and you already own a separate sewing machine. If you’re a beginner, a mixed sewist, or primarily doing smaller embroidery projects, the SE700 provides exceptional value and versatility at $663 less. The PE900’s automatic jump stitch trimming and color sort alone can save meaningful time on production or complex multi-color work.
The SE700 has a 4″×4″ (100mm×100mm) maximum embroidery area with an included 4″×4″ hoop. The PE900 has a larger 5″×7″ (127mm×178mm) maximum embroidery area, per Brother’s official specifications. The PE900’s embroidery surface is approximately 75% larger by area, allowing much bigger, more complex designs in a single hooping.
Yes — both machines include Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) connectivity. Both are compatible with the free Design Database Transfer software for wireless file transfer from PC, and both support the Artspira mobile app for drawing and transferring custom designs. Both also have USB ports as an alternative connection method. Connectivity is essentially equal between the two machines.
Jump stitches are the visible threads that run across the top of a design when the machine moves between color sections without cutting the thread. On the SE700, these must be manually trimmed with scissors after the embroidery is complete. The PE900’s automatic jump stitch trimming function cuts these threads automatically during stitching, saving considerable finishing time on multi-color designs. This feature is a meaningful upgrade for anyone doing frequent or complex embroidery.
The SE700 is overwhelmingly the better beginner machine. It’s significantly less expensive, covers both sewing and embroidery so beginners can explore both disciplines, includes beginner-friendly accessories, and delivers strong performance for all typical starter projects. The PE900 is better suited for someone who has already decided embroidery is their primary creative focus and has outgrown their starter machine — not someone starting from scratch.
Yes — both machines accept custom embroidery designs via USB port (PES format files, plus other compatible formats) and via wireless transfer using the Design Database Transfer software. Both also work with PE-Design 11 digitizing software for creating your own designs. The Artspira app also allows you to draw original patterns and transfer them wirelessly to either machine. Design import capability is essentially equal on both models.
The SE700 reaches up to 710 stitches per minute (SPM) for both sewing and embroidery. The PE900 runs up to 650 SPM for embroidery. Interestingly, the SE700 is technically faster, though in practical embroidery sessions this speed difference is rarely the bottleneck — design complexity, thread changes, and finishing work are typically what determine total project time. The PE900’s color sort and jump stitch trimming often more than compensate for the slightly lower speed ceiling on complex multi-color work.
