Brother vs Janome Embroidery Machines: SE2000 vs Memory Craft 500E
Choose Brother for your first embroidery machine: the Brother SE2000 costs about $1,470, sews and embroiders, and has a 5 x 7 in field with wireless design transfer. Choose Janome when hoop size matters most: the embroidery-only Janome Memory Craft 500E offers a 7.9 x 11 in field for about $2,099.
The verdict
Brother is the better embroidery brand for beginners and anyone who wants one machine that sews and embroiders, and Janome is the better brand for embroiderers who want large designs without paying Brother's premium for big hoops. The two representative machines are different tools: the Brother SE2000 is a combo, the Janome MC500E LE is embroidery only.
Here is the useful thing most comparisons skip. The embroidery field, the largest area the machine can stitch in one hooping, decides what you can make far more than design counts or screens. A 5 x 7 in field handles most shirt fronts, towels and quilt blocks. Jacket backs, large quilt blocks and big wall hangings need the 8 x 11 in class, and that is where Janome's pricing gets interesting.
Brother vs Janome: side by side
| Feature | Brother | Janome |
|---|---|---|
| Representative model | Brother SE2000 | Janome MC500E LE |
| Price | About $1,470 | About $2,099 |
| Sews as well? | Yes, 241 sewing stitches | No, embroidery only |
| Embroidery field | 5 x 7 in | 7.9 x 11 in |
| Built-in designs | 190+ | 160 |
| Fonts | 13 | 6 monogram fonts |
| Design transfer | Wireless LAN, USB | USB |
| Embroidery speed | Not listed in the specs we verified | 400 to 860 SPM |
| Native design format | PES (Brother) | JEF (Janome) |
Which is better, Brother or Janome embroidery machines?
Brother is better under $1,500, where it has more models, wireless transfer, bigger built-in libraries and the largest online community of any home embroidery brand. The Brother SE700 and Brother PE545 start the line with a 4 x 4 in field, and the Brother PE900 and Brother SE2000 move to 5 x 7 in.
Janome is better when you want field size per dollar. The embroidery-only Janome MC400E offers 7.9 x 7.9 in for about $1,499, and the Janome MC500E LE offers 7.9 x 11 in for about $2,099. Brother's single-needle machines with a 6 x 10 in field, like the Brother NQ1700E, cost more. Owners of the 500E often praise its stitch quality on large designs; the recurring wish is for wireless transfer.
| Field size class | Brother | Janome | Better value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 in | Brother PE545 about $430, Brother SE700 about $530 (sews) | None listed | Brother |
| 5 x 7 in and 5.5 in square | Brother PE900 about $1,180, Brother SE2000 about $1,470 (sews) | Janome MC100e 5.5 x 5.5 in about $949 | Brother for 5 x 7, Janome for square |
| About 8 in square | None listed | Janome MC400E 7.9 x 7.9 in about $1,499 | Janome |
| 6 x 10 to 8 x 11 in | Brother NQ1700E 6 x 10 in about $2,400 | Janome MC500E LE 7.9 x 11 in about $2,099 | Janome |
| Largest single-needle | Brother Stellaire XE1 9.5 x 14 in about $6,500 | Janome MC550E 7.9 x 14.2 in about $2,999 | Janome on price |
| Multi-needle | Brother PR680W 6 needles | Janome MB-7 7 needles | Janome on price |
Should you buy an embroidery-only machine or a combo?
If you already own a sewing machine you like, buy embroidery only. The combo cannot sew while it embroiders, so a long design ties up your only machine, and embroidery-only models put the money into the field. If you are starting from scratch with limited space, a combo like the Brother SE2000 is a sensible one-box answer. We compare the trade-offs in embroidery-only vs combo machines.
Can Janome machines use Brother embroidery designs?
Yes, with conversion. Brother machines read PES files and Janome machines read JEF files. Most commercial design shops sell each design in every major format at no extra cost, and free or low-cost software converts between them. The practical difference is Brother's wireless workflow: designs sent from a phone or computer reach the Brother SE2000 without a USB stick. Estimate thread use and run time for any design with the embroidery stitch count calculator.
Choose Brother if
- This is your first embroidery machine and you want the easiest learning path.
- You want one machine that sews and embroiders.
- Wireless design transfer and a large built-in library matter to you.
- Most of your designs fit a 5 x 7 in hoop: shirts, towels, blocks.
Choose Janome if
- You already own a sewing machine and want embroidery only.
- You want jacket backs, large quilt blocks or wall hangings.
- You want the largest single-needle field for the money.
- You are comfortable moving designs by USB.
Our picks from each brand
Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
$529.99A 4 x 4 in combo with wireless transfer for about $530, the classic starter.
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Brother SE2000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
$1,469.99Sews and embroiders with a 5 x 7 in field, 241 stitches and wireless transfer.
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Brother Innov-is NQ1700E Embroidery Machine with BES Blue Software
$2,399.99A 6 x 10 in embroidery-only Brother with 8.3 in of needle-to-arm space.
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Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine
$1,499.00A 7.9 x 7.9 in field for about $1,499, big square designs on a budget.
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Janome Memory Craft 500E Limited Edition Embroidery Machine
$2,099.00A 7.9 x 11 in field with 400 to 860 SPM for about $2,099.
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Janome Memory Craft 550E Embroidery Machine
$2,999.00The step-up with a 7.9 x 14.2 in field and four included hoops.
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This comparison is drawn from published specifications, owner manuals and the consensus of verified owner reviews, not side-by-side testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Janome embroidery better than Brother?
Janome is better if you want big embroidery fields for less money, such as the 7.9 x 11 in Memory Craft 500E. Brother is better for beginners, combos, wireless design transfer and budgets under $1,500, where it has far more models. Owners of both brands report good stitch quality. Choose by the largest design you plan to stitch in one hooping.
What size embroidery hoop do I really need?
A 4 x 4 in field covers small logos, patches and baby items. A 5 x 7 in field covers most shirt fronts, towels, tote bags and quilt blocks, and is the sweet spot for most hobbyists. Choose 8 x 11 in or larger for jacket backs, large quilt blocks and wall art. Our embroidery hoop size calculator helps size designs against hoops.
Is the Brother SE2000 worth it over the SE700?
Do Janome embroidery machines have wireless?
The Janome embroidery-only models in our listings, including the 400E and 500E, list USB design transfer rather than wireless. That means saving designs to a USB stick and plugging it in. Brother combos like the SE2000 list wireless LAN. It is a convenience difference, not a stitch-quality difference.
Which brand is better for an embroidery business?
A home business usually outgrows single-needle machines because each color change needs a manual thread swap. Both brands sell multi-needle machines: Janome's MB-7 costs about $5,999 with 7 needles, and Brother's PR680W costs about $13,000 with 6 needles. Price your products first with our craft pricing calculator before investing.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.