Brother PE800 vs PE900: Which Is Better? (October 2026)
Choose the PE900 for wireless transfers, more built-in designs and a larger screen; choose the PE800 for a USB workflow. Both are embroidery-only machines with a 5 x 7 in field.
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Choose the PE900 for wireless transfers, more built-in designs and a larger screen; choose the PE800 for USB design import. Both Brother PE800 and PE900 embroidery machines have a 5 x 7 in field.
The PE900 has 193 built-in designs, 13 lettering fonts, a 3.7 in touchscreen and wireless LAN. The PE800 has 138 designs, 11 fonts, a 3.2 in touchscreen and USB import.
Both are embroidery-only machines. If you also need regular sewing, the Brother SE1900 is a combo option with a 5 x 7 in embroidery field and 240 built-in sewing stitches.
Brother PE800 vs PE900: what changes?
The PE900 adds wireless design transfer and more built-in designs, while both machines share a 5 x 7 in embroidery field. The PE800 has built-in designs, fonts, a color screen and USB import.
The PE800 has 138 built-in designs and 11 fonts: 7 English, 3 Japanese and 1 Cyrillic. Its 3.2 in color touchscreen lets you preview designs before stitching.
The PE900 has 193 built-in designs and 13 fonts: 9 English, 3 Japanese and 1 Cyrillic. Its 3.7 in touchscreen supports on-screen editing, including letter editing, enhanced zoom, resizing, rotating, repositioning and combining designs.
Both machines have a USB port. The PE900 also supports wireless file transfer and the Artspira app, which offers access to 50 free designs and tools for making custom patterns on a mobile device.
Does the PE900 stitch larger designs?
No, its embroidery field is not larger than the PE800's. Each machine has a 5 x 7 in maximum embroidery area.
A larger design library doesn't mean a larger stitchable area. Check the dimensions of a design before transferring it, and plan to reposition or resize it if needed.
If your project needs a larger hoop, see our guide to embroidery machines with a large hoop. The field size matters more than the number of built-in designs for that choice.
Which machine makes design transfer easier?
Choose the PE900 for wireless transfers; choose the PE800 if USB fits your routine. Both machines can import compatible designs, and the PE900 also offers wireless transfer.
With the PE800, you can use its USB port to import designs into built-in memory. This suits a process where you prepare files on a computer and move them by USB.
The PE900 can receive files wirelessly through Brother's downloadable Design Database Transfer software. It also connects with the Artspira mobile app for transferring designs and drawing custom patterns on a mobile device.
Wireless transfer can reduce the need to move a USB drive between devices, but it adds a software or app step. If USB is convenient for your files, the PE800 may have the transfer method you need.
What does the Artspira app add?
Artspira adds mobile design tools and access to 50 free embroidery designs for the PE900. You can draw patterns on a mobile device or download designs from its collection and transfer them wirelessly.
The app may suit you if you want to sketch an idea away from a computer. If you already have a source of compatible embroidery files, its mobile workflow may matter less.
The PE800 has a USB port for design import. Choose the PE900 if you expect to use its wireless app workflow.
How do the built-in designs and fonts compare?
The PE900 includes 55 more built-in designs and 2 more lettering fonts than the PE800. That gives you more starting choices without first transferring a separate design file.
Both libraries include scrollwork, florals and quilt patterns. The PE800 has 10 frame designs; the PE900 also has 10 frame designs and 14 stitch patterns.
The extra fonts matter most if you plan to personalize names or short text at the machine. If you mainly stitch imported artwork, the difference between 11 and 13 fonts may not affect your choice.
Neither machine's built-in library guarantees that a motif or lettering style will fit your project. Check a design's dimensions before stitching, especially for a small garment panel or a gift with limited space.
Which touchscreen is easier to use?
The PE900 has the larger touchscreen at 3.7 in, compared with 3.2 in on the PE800. Both have color touchscreens for previewing designs.
The PE800 screen supports design preview. The PE900 adds editing options for letters, enhanced zoom, resizing, rotating, repositioning and combining designs.
Consider how much editing you want to do on the machine itself. If you often adjust lettering or combine elements, the PE900's larger screen and editing tools give you more on-screen control.
If you prepare a finished design elsewhere and transfer it ready to stitch, the PE800's smaller screen may be enough. The display size doesn't change the 5 x 7 in embroidery limit.
Are the PE800 and PE900 embroidery-only machines?
Yes, both machines are for embroidery and don't work as traditional sewing machines. If you need to sew seams, hems or buttonholes as well, consider a combo model.
The Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery machine combines embroidery with 240 built-in sewing stitches. It has the same 5 x 7 in embroidery field and 138 built-in designs as the PE800, along with 11 embroidery fonts.
That added sewing function may make sense if you want one machine for both crafts. If you already have a sewing machine, a dedicated PE model keeps the choice focused on embroidery features.
For an overview of first purchases, start with machine embroidery gear for beginners. It covers other supplies and setup decisions that go with the machine.
What should you check before choosing?
Match the machine to how you source designs and whether you need regular sewing. The field size is the same, so wireless access, on-screen editing and machine type are the practical decision points.
Choose the PE900 when you want wireless transfer, more built-in designs, 2 additional fonts and the larger touchscreen. Its color sort adjusts the stitch order for multicolor designs, while jump stitch trimming automatically trims excess thread jumps within a color.
Choose the PE800 when USB import suits you and its 138 designs and 11 fonts cover your needs. It retains the same 5 x 7 in field as the PE900.
Both models are specified for 120 volts and intended for sale in the US. Check that the machine's voltage and intended market match your location before buying.
Would a larger hoop matter more than wireless features?
A larger hoop matters when your designs need more than a 5 x 7 in field. Neither PE800 nor PE900 has a larger field, even though the PE900 offers more designs and transfer choices.
If your usual projects are monograms, small motifs or designs sized for a 5 x 7 in field, that shared area may be sufficient. For larger work, compare machines by their maximum embroidery field and compatible hoop options.
Our guide to 4 x 4 vs 5 x 7 embroidery machines explains how hoop size affects the projects you can stitch. It can help you decide whether these machines fit your work.
Brother PE800 vs PE900: which should you buy?
Pick the PE900 if wireless transfer, more built-in designs and a larger touchscreen will make your embroidery workflow easier. Pick the PE800 if USB transfer and its smaller design library meet your needs.
Choose either PE model if you want embroidery only and a 5 x 7 in field. Choose the SE1900 if you also want built-in sewing stitches; read our Brother SE1900 review for a closer look at that combo machine.
Before buying, consider where your designs come from and whether you want to edit them on the machine. That workflow is the clearest way to choose between the PE800 and PE900.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between the Brother PE800 and PE900?
The PE900 adds wireless LAN transfer, 193 built-in designs, 13 fonts and a 3.7 in touchscreen. The PE800 has USB transfer, 138 built-in designs, 11 fonts and a 3.2 in touchscreen.
Both have a 5 x 7 in embroidery field and are embroidery-only.
Do the PE800 and PE900 have the same embroidery area?
Yes. Both have a maximum embroidery field of 5 x 7 in, so the PE900's larger design library and wireless features don't provide a larger field.
If hoop size is your deciding factor, compare other machines in our guide to embroidery machines with a large hoop.
Can the Brother PE800 transfer designs wirelessly?
The PE800 has a USB port for importing designs into its built-in memory. The PE900 adds wireless LAN, with options that include Design Database Transfer software and the Artspira app.
Choose based on how you prefer to move compatible files to the machine.
Can you sew with the Brother PE800 or PE900?
No. Both are embroidery-only machines, so they don't function as traditional sewing machines.
If you need sewing and embroidery in one machine, compare the Brother SE1900, which includes 240 built-in sewing stitches and a 5 x 7 in embroidery field.
