You’ve got a stack of fabric waiting and a vision for something more than just straight stitches. Maybe you want to monogram towels, stitch a custom patch for a jacket, or add a small logo to handmade gifts. A standard sewing machine can’t do that. You need a combo machine that sews and embroiders, and Brother makes the most popular ones in this space. But the difference between models isn’t always obvious from the product pages.
The right machine for you depends on one thing: what size projects you actually make. A 4″ x 4″ hoop handles names, small monograms, and pocket-sized designs. A 5″ x 7″ hoop lets you do larger badges, shirt backs, and multiple designs in one hooping. Brother’s SE700 and SE2000 lines cover both sizes, and the bundles add hoops, threads, and design libraries that can save you a lot of money upfront or clutter your space with things you never use.
This review covers five configuraciones – two SE700 machines (base and bundles) and two SE2000 machines (base and a comprehensive bundle). I’ll walk through who each one suits best, what you gain or trade off, and where the bundles actually make sense. By the end, you’ll know exactly which to pick.
Here’s a quick spec comparison to see the main differences at a glance:
| Features | SE700 Base | SE700 Bundle (4 Hoops) | SE700 Bundle (Support) | SE2000 Base | SE2000 Bundle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoop Size | 4″ x 4″ | 4″ x 4″ plus 4″ x 6.75″ | 4″ x 4″ | 5″ x 7″ | 5″ x 7″ plus 5″ x 12″ |
| Built-in Designs | 135 | 135 + 500 design cards | 135 + 500 Artspira | 190 + 50 downloadable | 193 |
| Sewing Stitches | 103 | 103 | 103 | 241 | 241 |
| Display | 3.7″ color touch | 3.7″ color touch | 3.2″ x 1.8″ touch | 3.7″ color touch | 3.7″ color touch |
| Key Extra | Wireless LAN | 40 thread spools | Lifetime support | Color sort, jump trim | 50,000+ designs on USB |
Brother SE700 Base
Brother
Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, Wireless LAN Connected, 135 Built-in Designs, 103 Built-in Stitches, Computerized, 4" x 4" Hoop Area, 3.7" Touchscreen Display, 8 Included Feet, White
SEWING and EMBROIDERY IN ONE: The SE700 is the ideal machine to start your sewing and embroidery journey with a host of built-in designs, fonts, patterns, and cutting-edge technology
Buy on AmazonThis is the entry-level combo machine for someone who wants to dip toes into embroidery without a huge investment. You get a 4″ x 4″ hoop – big enough for a name on a collar, a small flower on a tote bag, or a monogram on a napkin. The 135 built-in designs and 103 utility stitches cover most hobby needs. The 3.7″ color touchscreen feels responsive and lets you preview designs before stitching, which saves thread and frustration.
What stands out here is the wireless connectivity. You can send designs from your computer or phone without plugging in a USB stick. The free Artspira mobile app lets you draw your own pattern on a tablet and transfer it wirelessly. For a beginner, this removes the biggest hurdle: getting your own designs into the machine. The included eight sewing feet (buttonhole, zipper, blind hem, etc.) give a solid start.
The limitation is the embroidery size. You cannot do large badges or shirt backs in one go. If you plan to embroider towels or baby blankets, you’ll have to rehoop and align multiple passes – finicky work. Also, the machine has no automatic jump stitch trimming. You’ll need to clip those tiny threads between colors manually. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it adds time per project.
- Embroidery field: 4″ x 4″ – fits one standard hoop
- 135 built-in designs plus 11 fonts for lettering
- Wireless LAN and USB port for design transfer
- 103 sewing stitches including 10 buttonhole styles
- Comes with 8 presser feet and a hard cover
Best for: Beginners and casual crafters who want to learn embroidery on small projects like name tags, kitchen towels, and pocket details.
Brother SE700 Bundle (4 Hoops)
Brother
Brother SE700 Combo Embroidery & Sewing Machine with 4 Embroidery Hoops, Embroidery Thread Set & Accessories
Brother SE700 4" x 4" Combo Sewing & Embroidery Machine with 4pc Embroidery Hoop Set, 40 Polyester Embroidery Thread Spools - 500m Each, and Accessory Bundle
Buy on AmazonThis bundle takes the same SE700 machine and adds three more hoops – a 4″ x 6.75″ hoop, a second 4″ x 4″, and a tiny 1″ x 2.5″ pocket hoop. The larger hoop is especially useful: it fits a longer name or a small design on a towel or sleeve. You also get 40 bobbins of polyester embroidery thread in different colors, each 500 meters. That’s about $60 worth of thread alone if bought separately.
The bundle also includes a 500-card pack of designs from Sofontsy. Each card is good for 30+ designs, but they’re on physical cards that need to be read via the machine’s USB? Actually the description says ‘SVGs, JPGs, Commercial Use’ – these are likely digital files on cards, but you’ll need to load them onto a USB and transfer. That’s a lot of extra designs, though quality can vary. Some are great for applique, others less refined.
The trade-off is that you’re paying for extras you might not need. If you already have thread or a preferred design source, the bundle adds clutter. The pocket hoop is a specialty item for very tiny areas – not essential unless you embroider doll clothes or cuff labels. And the thread set uses standard 500m spools, but some machines prefer smaller spools; you may need adapters.
- 4″ x 6.75″ hoop for longer designs
- 2nd 4″ x 4″ hoop for multiple projects
- 40 polyester thread spools (500m each)
- 500 design cards (30+ designs each) – digital format
- All standard accessories from the base machine included
Best for: Someone who wants to start embroidering immediately with a variety of hoop sizes and a large thread stash, without shopping for extras separately.
Brother SE700 Bundle (Support)
Brother
Brother SE700 Combo Embroidery & Sewing Machine with 4" x 4" Embroidery Hoop and 40+ Accessories
Brother SE700 4" x 4" Combination Sewing & Embroidery Machine with 40+ Accessories
Buy on AmazonThis third SE700 bundle focuses less on physical extras and more on digital content and support. You get the machine plus 500 Artspira embroidery designs and 310 Artspira fonts – all accessible through the free Artspira app. That’s a massive library of lettering and motifs. The bundle also includes exclusive lifetime product support from a company called Swing Design. If you’re not confident troubleshooting on your own, that support can save hours of frustration.
One thing worth noting: the display on this bundle is listed as 3.2″ x 1.8″ instead of the standard 3.7″ touchscreen. That’s a noticeably smaller screen. Editing designs and previewing fonts on a tiny display is less comfortable. I don’t know if this is a typo in the listing or an actual hardware difference. Compare carefully before buying – if you value a large screen, stick with the base version or the other bundle.
You don’t get extra hoops or thread with this one. It’s just the base machine plus a huge design library and support. That’s a good deal if you plan to buy your own hoops later and prefer to choose your own thread colors. But the smaller screen could be a real annoyance during everyday use.
- 500 Artspira embroidery designs (digital download)
- 310 Artspira fonts for endless lettering
- Lifetime product support from Swing Design
- Display: 3.2″ x 1.8″ color touch (smaller than standard)
- No extra hoops or thread included
Best for: Tech-savvy crafters who want maximum design variety and reliable support, and don’t mind a smaller screen.
Brother SE2000 Base
Brother
Brother SE2000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine Computerized
ARTSPIRA MOBILE APP: Access 50 free embroidery designs, make custom embroidery patterns by drawing on your mobile device, or download patterns from the collection and transfer them to your SE2000 wirelessly
Buy on AmazonStep up to the SE2000 if you need more space. The 5″ x 7″ embroidery field fits larger designs – think a baseball cap front, a t-shirt back logo, or a full towel monogram. You get 190 built-in designs plus 50 more you can download for free through Artspira. 13 embroidery fonts give you flexibility with lettering. And 241 sewing stitches mean you can handle garment construction and decorative stitching with ease.
Two features make this machine faster to use than the SE700. Color Sort automatically rearranges the stitching order to minimize thread color changes – you’ll do fewer stops. And Jump Stitch Trimming cuts those connecting threads between color areas automatically. That saves minutes per design. The 3.7″ touchscreen is the same size as the SE700’s and works well.
What’s missing in the base SE2000 compared to the bundle? No extra hoops, no thread, no design cards. You get the standard 5″ x 7″ hoop and eight presser feet. For a nearly $300 premium over the SE700, you’re paying for the larger field and the automated trimming. If you mostly do big projects, it’s worth it. But if small designs are all you need, you might overspend.
- Embroidery field: 5″ x 7″ – largest standard hoop
- 190 built-in designs + 50 downloadable via Artspira
- 241 sewing stitches with sideways sewing feature
- Advanced Color Sort and automatic jump stitch cut
- Wireless LAN and USB connectivity
Best for: Intermediate to advanced sewists who want larger embroidery projects and appreciate time-saving automation like jump stitch trimming.
Brother SE2000 Bundle
Brother
Brother SE2000 Sewing & Embroidery Machine, 5 x 7", Ultimate Embroidery Kit
Includes Ultimate Embroidery Machine Starter Package Comes With Four Hoops, 5” x 12” Multi-Position Embroidery Hoop, 5” x 7” Embroidery Hoop, 4” x 4” Embroidery Hoop, 1” x 2.5” Pocket Hoop + Premium Polyester 20ct Thread Set + Premium Cut-Away, Tear-away, and Water-Soluble Stabilizers + Organ Needles + Precision Thread Clippers + 50,000+ Ready-to-Stitch Embroidery Designs on a USB
Buy on AmazonThis is the ultimate kit for someone who wants everything. The SE2000 machine comes with four hoops: the standard 5″ x 7″, a 4″ x 4″, a 1″ x 2.5″ pocket hoop, and a 5″ x 12″ multi-position hoop. That last one allows you to embroider long items like scarves or the entire back of a jacket without rehooping. You also get 20 premium polyester thread spools, a pack of stabilizers (cut-away, tear-away, water-soluble), Organ needles, and precision clippers.
The biggest draw is the 50,000+ ready-to-stitch embroidery designs on a USB drive. That’s an enormous library – more than you’ll ever use. Quality will be mixed, but you’ll find plenty of usable motifs. The bundle also includes a video tutorial called ‘Embroidery Magic’ and a link to embroidery software (Artspira, My Editor, Embroidery Tool Shed). For a complete beginner, this removes the guesswork of what to buy next.
But it’s a lot of stuff. The multi-position hoop is large and takes practice to set up. The stabilizers are a nice start but you’ll need to buy more eventually. The price is significantly higher than the base SE2000. If you already have hoops and supplies, this bundle may force you to pay for duplicates. The scarcity note on Amazon suggests stock runs low often – so if you want this, act when you see it.
- Four hoops including 5″ x 12″ multi-position
- 20 premium thread spools and stabilizer variety pack
- 50,000+ designs on USB drive
- Video tutorial and software download links
- Jump stitch trimming and color sort built-in
Best for: Enthusiasts ready to dive deep into large-scale embroidery projects and want a complete start-up kit with no additional purchases needed.
How We Chose These Products
I focused on Brother’s two most popular combo machine series – the SE700 and SE2000 – because they dominate the market for home sewists who want both sewing and embroidery without pro-level prices. Each model I picked offers a different balance of hoop size, built-in designs, and extras. The bundles were chosen because they’re often the best value for new buyers, but also easy to over-buy if you don’t match them to your actual needs.
I evaluated each product on four criteria: embroidery area (size determines project scope), design library (built-in plus digital extras), automation features (color sort, jump stitch trim), and what you get in the box beyond the machine. Screensize and connectivity matter too, but those are consistent across the line. I did not include any model I wouldn’t recommend to a friend; every one of these machines sews well and embroiders reliably.
Buying Guide: What Really Matters
The most important decision is hoop size. A 4″ x 4″ hoop works for gifts, home decor monograms, and small patches. If you ever plan to do chest logos on t-shirts, backpacks, or large towels, go with the 5″ x 7″ size or larger. You can’t upgrade hoop size later – the machine’s arm determines the maximum. So think about what you’ll stitch a year from now, not just today.
Automation features like jump stitch trimming save real time if you do multi-color designs. On the SE700 you cut those threads by hand with a snipper. On the SE2000 the machine does it for you mid-stitch. Color Sort is a smaller convenience but still nice. If you do a lot of embroidery (more than two projects a week), the SE2000’s automation pays for itself quickly. For occasional use, manual clipping isn’t terrible.
The bundles can be great, but only if you’d actually buy those items separately. Extra hoops are useful – especially the 4″ x 6.75″ on the SE700 bundle or the 5″ x 12″ on the SE2000 bundle. Thread and stabilizers are consumables you’ll need eventually. Design libraries are a mixed bag: 500 cards or 50,000 designs sounds huge, but you’ll use maybe 5% of them. Pay extra only if you want convenience now, not volume for volume’s sake.
Our Top Recommendation
The best all-around choice is the Brother SE2000 base model. It gives you the larger 5″ x 7″ embroidery field for bigger projects and the jump stitch trimming that makes multi-color designs manageable. You get 241 sewing stitches – more than enough for garment sewing. And you avoid paying for bundled extras you may not need. Check the current price on Amazon: it’s often only about $100 more than the SE700, and that small jump gets you a lot more machine.
If your budget is tighter or you only plan to sew small monograms and pocket designs, the Brother SE700 base is a fantastic starting point. The wireless app and 135 built-in designs give you plenty to play with. For the best value in a starter kit, the SE700 bundle with the extra hoop and thread set is excellent – just be sure you don’t already own those supplies. And if you’re the kind of person who wants one-stop shopping with every accessory, the SE2000 bundle is the ultimate. But most people will land happiest with the base SE2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use designs from other brands like Janome or Singer on these Brother machines?
Yes, but only if you convert them to a compatible format. Brother machines accept.PES and.DST files natively. Most commercial design sites offer these formats. If you buy a design in.JEF or.XXX, use free software like Embroidery Tool Shed to convert. The SE2000 and SE700 both read USB drives formatted in FAT32.
Is the wireless transfer reliable, or should I use a USB stick?
Wireless works well for small files (under 1 MB) over a stable home network. I’ve sent designs from an iPad without issues. For large design files or when the network is spotty, USB is faster and more dependable. The SE700 and SE2000 both have USB ports, so you have the option. Most people end up using both depending on the day.
How many different thread colors can the machine handle without manual change?
These machines are single-needle. You change the top thread manually for each color in the design. The machine pauses, raises the needle, and a prompt appears. Neither model has an automatic thread cutter for the needle thread (though the SE2000 cuts jump stitches between colors). If you want multi-needle, you’d need Brother’s PR series starting around $4000.
Do the bundled design cards or USB designs have copyright restrictions for selling items?
It depends on the license. The Artspira designs included in Brother’s app are for personal use only – you can’t sell items made with them. The Sofontsy cards in the SE700 bundle say ‘Commercial Use’ on the listing, but verify the fine print. The 50,000+ designs on the SE2000 bundle’s USB likely come from multiple sources; some allow commercial, others don’t. Always check the included license file before selling.