Brother PE545 vs SE700: Which Is Better? (October 2026)
The Brother PE545 and SE700 both stitch on a 4 x 4 inch field, but only the SE700 can sew. Pick the SE700 for sewing and embroidery in one machine, and the PE545 for a slightly lighter embroidery-only machine if you already sew.
On this page (21 sections)
- The main difference: sewing
- Same 4 x 4 inch field and screen
- Designs, fonts and the Artspira app
- Sewing: what the SE700 adds
- Threading and trimming
- Screen, editing and preview
- Design transfer: wireless and USB
- Weight and size
- What comes in the box
- Power, safety and warranty
- Learning curve for a first machine
- Trade-offs to plan for
- Choose the SE700 if
- Choose the PE545 if
- Who should skip the PE545
- Who should skip the SE700
- Real first projects on a 4 x 4 field
- Which one fits your first project
- Thread and needles you'll use
- Questions to ask before you buy
- Brother PE545 vs SE700: which to buy
Buy the Brother SE700 if you want sewing and embroidery in one machine. Buy the Brother PE545 if you already sew and want an embroidery-only machine that weighs a little less.
This Brother PE545 vs SE700 comparison goes through both machines feature by feature, so you can match one to your first project. We compared the specs for both and scored each against what a first-time buyer is choosing between.
New to embroidery? Start with embroidery machines for beginners to see how a home machine works before you pick a model.
Best for sewing and embroidery in one machineBrother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The PE545 scores 8.6 and the SE700 scores 8.5, which is close, because the PE545 is the simpler, lighter machine while the SE700 adds sewing.
| Product | Best for | Type | Embroidery field | Weight | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother PE545 Embroidery Machine | a lighter first machine | Embroidery only | 4 x 4 in | 14.1 lb | 8.6 |
| Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine | sewing and embroidery in one machine | Sewing and embroidery combo | 4 x 4 in | 15.6 lb | 8.5 |
The table shows the three specs both machines share: type, embroidery field and weight.
The main difference: sewing
The SE700 sews and embroiders. The PE545 only embroiders, and Brother says it doesn't work as a traditional sewing machine.
That one difference decides most choices, since the field and the design library are so close. Everything else on this page is a detail that matters less.
Same 4 x 4 inch field and screen
Both machines have a 4 x 4 inch embroidery field, a 3.7 inch color touchscreen and a 4 x 4 inch frame set in the box. A 4 x 4 inch field is about the size of a drink coaster, so it suits monograms, initials and small motifs.
Brother PE545 and SE700: what a 4 x 4 inch field can't do
A design larger than 4 x 4 inches won't fit in one hoop on either machine. If you need more room, the PE900 review covers the 5 x 7 inch field.
Our hoop sizes guide explains how design size and hoop size work together, so check it before you buy.
Designs, fonts and the Artspira app
Both come with 135 built-in designs. The PE545 has 10 built-in fonts, 7 English and 3 Japanese, and the SE700 has 10 lettering fonts.
Both work with the Artspira app, which lets you draw custom patterns on a mobile device or download patterns and send them to the machine wirelessly.
Both have a USB port, and the PE545's built-in memory function imports designs from a USB stick. That's useful if you already have a stick of files you want to stitch.
Sewing: what the SE700 adds
The SE700 has 103 built-in sewing stitches, including 10 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes, and 8 sewing feet. Brother says it sews at up to 710 stitches per minute, so start slower while you learn.
The feet cover zigzag, zipper, buttonhole, blind stitch, overcasting, button fitting, monogramming and embroidery work. For a beginner who wants to mend and sew as well as embroider, that's the main reason to pick the SE700.
Threading and trimming
The PE545 has an easy needle threading system and built-in tutorial videos. The SE700 adds an automatic needle threader and an automatic thread cutter.
The SE700 also has a drop-in top bobbin that Brother describes as jam resistant.
Screen, editing and preview
The PE545 has a 3.7 inch color touchscreen with a drag and drop feature, so you can move and position a design on the screen before you stitch. The SE700 has a 3.7 inch touchscreen for on-screen editing and preview.
Both let you check a design on screen before it stitches. Keep your fingers clear of the needle while the machine runs.
Design transfer: wireless and USB
Both machines have wireless LAN and a built-in USB port. Both work with Brother's free Design Database Transfer software, which sends embroidery files from a PC over a wireless network.
Brother says wireless transfer needs a wireless network and that compatibility may vary by device and operating system. The USB port is the wired backup if your network or computer doesn't cooperate.
Weight and size
The PE545 weighs 14.1 pounds and the SE700 weighs 15.6 pounds, so the gap is small. Both machines measure 16.5 x 7.76 x 12.09 inches, deep, wide and tall, so they take up the same space on your table.
Measure your table and the space under any shelf before you order, since one check covers both machines.
What comes in the box
The SE700 includes 8 sewing feet, a needle set, a twin needle, an embroidery arm and a 4 x 4 inch frame set. The PE545 includes pre-wound bobbins, bobbin clips, a dust cover, a cleaning brush, a 4 x 4 inch frame set and an accessory pouch with needles, spool caps, a seam ripper and scissors.
Neither box includes a cap frame. Caps need a frame that lists your exact model, so check the model list before you buy.
Power, safety and warranty
Both machines are sold for US use at 120 volts, and Brother says any other use may void the warranty. Check the voltage before you plug either one in.
Both carry the same warranty split: 1 year on parts, labor and accessories, 2 years on electronic components and circuit boards, and 25 years on the chassis casting. Brother says the original receipt sets the purchase date, so keep it with the box.
Unplug the machine before you change a needle, and keep your fingers clear of the needle while it runs. Cut thread with snips.
Learning curve for a first machine
The PE545 is the simpler machine to learn, since it does one job and comes with tutorial videos and an easy needle threading system. The SE700 asks more of you because it does two jobs, though its automatic needle threader and thread cutter remove two of the fiddliest steps.
Start with embroidery on either machine, stitching a few names on scrap fabric. Learn the hoop and the touchscreen first, and leave the sewing side for later on the SE700.
Trade-offs to plan for
The PE545 trades sewing for simplicity and a little less weight. Its 4 x 4 inch field and the lack of sewing are the two limits to plan around.
The SE700 trades a little more weight and more to learn for a second job. Its field is the same 4 x 4 inches, so the field limit applies to both machines.
Neither machine comes with a cap frame, so budget for one if caps matter to you.
Choose the SE700 if
- You want hems, mending and embroidery on one machine.
- You want automatic threading and an automatic thread cutter.
- You have a small sewing space and want one machine instead of two.
- You don't mind 1.5 pounds of extra weight.
Choose the PE545 if
- You already own a sewing machine you like.
- You want a slightly lighter embroidery-only machine at 14.1 pounds.
- You want tutorial videos and a simple threading system instead of sewing features.
- You mostly stitch monograms and small motifs, and you don't need the sewing side.
Who should skip the PE545
Skip the PE545 if you want to sew hems, mend clothes or make bags on the same machine. Skip it too if you need a design bigger than 4 x 4 inches, since it can't stitch one in a single hoop.
Who should skip the SE700
Skip the SE700 if you only embroider and don't want a sewing side to learn. It's also the wrong pick if you want the lighter of the two, since it weighs 1.5 pounds more than the PE545.
Real first projects on a 4 x 4 field
A monogram on a hand towel, initials on a pillowcase or a small logo on a tote bag all fit a 4 x 4 inch field. Those are the projects where either machine does the job well.
Start with a monogram on scrap fabric so you can check the size and the thread before a gift project.
A longer name across the back of a hoodie may need a bigger field, so check the design size first. The PE900 review covers the 5 x 7 inch option.
Which one fits your first project
Start with the size of your first design and whether you also sew. The table matches common first projects to a machine.
| If your first project is | The better fit |
|---|---|
| A monogram, initials or small motif | Either machine |
| Hems, mending or sewing plus embroidery | SE700 |
| Embroidery only, and you already own a sewing machine | PE545 |
| A design bigger than 4 x 4 inches | Neither, see the PE900 review |
Price changes, so compare the current price of both machines on the day you buy.
Thread and needles you'll use
The PE545 pouch includes needles and pre-wound bobbins, and the SE700 includes a needle set and a twin needle. A dull or bent needle is one of the most common causes of skipped stitches, so keep spares on hand.
Our embroidery machine needles guide explains when to change one.
Questions to ask before you buy
Run through these five questions before you order.
- Do you need hems, zippers or buttonholes? If yes, the SE700 is the pick.
- Do your designs fit inside 4 x 4 inches? If not, look at the PE900 review.
- Will you need a bigger field later? The SE2000 review covers the 5 x 7 inch combo.
- Do you plan to stitch caps? If yes, check that the cap frame lists your exact model before you buy either machine.
- Is a 1.5 pound difference important to you? If not, pick on features alone.
Brother PE545 vs SE700: which to buy
Pick the SE700 if you want sewing and embroidery on one machine. It covers hems and mending along with monograms and small motifs.
Pick the PE545 if you already sew and want an embroidery-only machine that weighs a little less. It keeps the same 4 x 4 inch field and 135 built-in designs.
Read the SE700 review for the full picture on the combo. If you outgrow the 4 x 4 inch field, the PE900 review and the SE2000 review cover the 5 x 7 inch machines.
If you're also weighing Poolin, the Poolin vs Brother comparison looks at a larger-field Poolin against the PE545.
Measure your largest design before you order. The 4 x 4 inch field decides more than any single spec on this list.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Brother PE545 sew?
No, the PE545 is embroidery only, and Brother says it does not work as a traditional sewing machine. If you need hems, zippers or buttonholes, the SE700 has 103 built-in stitches and 8 sewing feet on the same machine.
Do the PE545 and SE700 have the same embroidery area?
Yes, both have a 4 x 4 inch embroidery field and include a frame set in that size. A design larger than 4 x 4 inches won't stitch in one hoop on either machine, so measure your designs before you buy.
Which one is lighter?
The PE545 weighs 14.1 pounds and the SE700 weighs 15.6 pounds, so the PE545 is the lighter of the two by 1.5 pounds. Both machines measure 16.5 x 7.76 x 12.09 inches, so their footprint on your table is the same.
Which Brother is better for a first machine?
The SE700 suits a beginner who wants sewing and embroidery in one machine. The PE545 suits a beginner who already sews, or doesn't plan to sew, and wants a simple embroidery machine with tutorial videos.
