Reviews 5 min read
Janome vs Brother Embroidery Machine: Field, Format, Price
Brother's PE900 is $1,179.99 for a 5x7 field. Janome's MC500E is $2,399 for a 7.9x11 field. How the ecosystems, file formats, and buying channels differ.
Brother dominates home embroidery under $1,200 with the SE700 ($579.99, 4x4 field) and PE900 ($1,179.99, 5x7 field), sold through Amazon, Best Buy, and major retailers. Janome’s current flagship, the Memory Craft 500E, starts at $2,399 at authorized dealers with a 7.9x11 inch field. These brands are rarely competing for the same buyer. The decision between them comes down to whether the 5x7 ceiling is enough for the work you actually do.
How do their price ladders compare?
| Machine | Brand | Field | Area | Retail | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE700 | Brother | 4” x 4” | 16 sq in | $579.99 | Amazon, retailers |
| PE900 | Brother | 5” x 7” | 35 sq in | $1,179.99 | Amazon, retailers |
| MC500E | Janome | 7.9” x 11” | ~87 sq in | $2,399+ | Authorized dealers |
| MC550E | Janome | 7.9” x 14.2” | ~112 sq in | Higher | Authorized dealers |
Prices verified June 2026 against manufacturer and authorized dealer pages.
The gap between the Brother PE900 and the Janome MC500E is $1,219 for approximately 2.5 times the embroidery area (35 square inches versus 86.9 square inches). The area jump is real. Whether you need it depends on your design categories, not on which brand you prefer.
What design categories fit in each field?
| Design | Typical size | Brother SE700 (4x4) | Brother PE900 (5x7) | Janome MC500E (7.9x11) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small left-chest logo | ~3.5” wide | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standard 3-letter monogram | 3-4” | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large towel monogram | 4-6” tall | No | Borderline at 6” | Yes |
| Baby blanket name (large) | 5-7” | No | Yes | Yes |
| Quilt block (full) | 6-8” | No | No | Yes |
| Jacket back lettering | 8-10” | No | No | Yes |
For embroiderers whose work stays in the left-chest logo and small monogram range, the SE700’s 4x4 covers the category completely. For sewists doing towel sets, quilt appliqué, or large patches, the PE900’s 5x7 is the practical floor. For embroiderers who regularly work in designs 8 inches or wider, the MC500E’s 7.9x11 opens territory neither Brother machine reaches.
Do the file formats matter?
Yes, especially for design purchasing and existing libraries.
Brother’s machines use PES as their native format. PES is the most widely distributed format in home machine embroidery. Etsy sellers, major design marketplaces (Embroidery Online, Urban Threads, Embroidery Library), and most free design sites include PES alongside DST. If you are buying pre-made designs, the PES pool is the largest.
Janome’s MC500E uses JEF as its native format. JEF libraries exist on all major design marketplaces, typically bundled in multi-format downloads alongside PES and DST. Buying a design for a Janome is not difficult. But if you have an existing Brother-format library, you need conversion software to move it to a Janome. Hatch Embroidery and Embrilliance Essentials both convert between formats; neither is free.
The practical impact: switching from Brother to Janome costs you your existing PES library unless you buy conversion software (~$50-200 depending on product). Starting fresh on either brand is equally accessible. The embroidery file formats guide covers PES, JEF, and DST in detail.
Where do you buy each brand?
Brother: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, and sewing retailers. Standard retailer return windows apply (15-30 days). Warranty service through Brother’s authorized service network, which is broadly distributed across the country. Replacement feet and accessories available on Amazon.
Janome: Sold through an authorized Janome dealer network. No Amazon, no box stores for current Memory Craft models at authorized pricing. The dealer provides setup support, machine service, and often trade-in programs. If a machine needs service under warranty, it goes back to the dealer.
For a first machine, Brother’s retailer availability means same-day pickup and a flexible return window. The Janome dealer relationship means slower purchase logistics but access to on-site service and in-person expertise that does not exist at a box store. For a $2,399 machine used heavily over years, the dealer service access is part of what you are buying.
Which brand should you choose?
Choose Brother if you are buying below $1,200, want the largest selection of pre-made designs in PES format, need retailer availability and standard return windows, or are buying your first embroidery machine and are not yet certain how far you will develop the craft.
Choose Janome if you have already exceeded the Brother PE900’s 5x7 field regularly, work in designs that are consistently 6 inches or wider, want a dealer-service relationship for a machine you plan to use heavily for years, and have a budget above $2,000.
Most home embroiderers do not need the Janome MC500E. The majority of designs sold on Etsy and major embroidery marketplaces were digitized to fit in 4x4 or 5x7 fields. The Brother PE900 review and SE700 review cover the Brother home line with owner-sourced data. The Janome MC500E review covers what the larger field enables for buyers ready for that tier.
