Janome 500E vs Brother PE900: Is a 7.9 x 11 Inch Field Worth $920 More?
Buy the Brother PE900, about $1,180, if 5 x 7 inch designs cover your projects: 193 designs, 13 fonts, wireless, color sort and jump stitch trimming. Buy the Janome Memory Craft 500E Limited Edition, about $2,099, for large designs: a 7.9 x 11 inch field, 4 included hoops, 400 to 860 SPM and an automatic thread cutter.
Janome Memory Craft 500E Limited Edition Embroidery Machine $2,099.00 Check price on Amazon The verdict
The Janome 500E is the better machine for large designs such as jacket backs, big quilt blocks and wall hangings, and the PE900 is the better value for everything that fits 5 x 7 inches. Both are embroidery-only machines, so the decision is purely about the size of work and the extras you want.
The useful thing most comparisons skip: the Janome stitches more than twice the area in one hooping, 86.9 square inches against 35, and comes with 4 hoops. The Brother wins on convenience features, with wireless LAN, color sort and a larger design and font library.
Janome MC500E vs Brother PE900: side by side
| Feature | Janome MC500E | Brother PE900 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $2,099 | About $1,180 |
| Max embroidery area | 7.9 x 11 in | 5 x 7 in |
| Included hoops | 4: 7.9 x 11, 7.9 x 7.9, 5.5 x 7.9, 5.5 x 5.5 in | 1 frame set, 5 x 7 in |
| Built-in designs | 160 | 193 |
| Fonts | 6 monogramming fonts | 13 embroidery fonts |
| Embroidery speed | 400 to 860 SPM | Up to 650 SPM |
| Thread trimming | Automatic thread cutter, programmable jump thread trimming | Jump stitch trimming, color sort |
| Design transfer | USB | Wireless LAN |
| Needle to arm | Not published in the specs we verified | 7.4 in |
| Weight | 25.2 lb | 17.64 lb |
Is the Janome 500E better than the Brother PE900?
For large-format embroidery, yes. Janome lists a 7.9 x 11 inch maximum area on the Memory Craft 500E, with RE28b (7.9 x 11 in), SQ20b (7.9 x 7.9 in), RE20b (5.5 x 7.9 in) and SQ14b (5.5 x 5.5 in) hoops included. Having the right hoop for each design matters, because a snug hoop reduces fabric shifting and puckers.
For typical home projects, the PE900 is the smarter spend. Towels, tote bags, children's clothes and 6 inch quilt blocks all fit 5 x 7 inches, and its wireless transfer, color sort and 13 fonts make everyday embroidery easier.
| Project | Typical size | [[janome-memory-craft-500e-le]] | [[brother-pe900]] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monograms and names | 2 to 4 in | Yes | Yes |
| Towel borders and tote bags | 5 to 7 in | Yes | Yes |
| Sweatshirt front | 6 to 9 in | Yes | Only up to 5 x 7 in |
| 8 in quilt block motif | 7 to 7.5 in | Yes, SQ20b hoop | No |
| Jacket back | 8 to 11 in | Yes | No |
| Large wall hanging panel | 10 to 11 in | Yes | No |
| Many small multi-color designs | Varies | Good | Better, color sort and wireless |
Is the Janome Memory Craft 500E discontinued?
Janome's product page notes that the original, non-Limited Edition model has been discontinued. The current listing is the 500E Limited Edition, which carries the same headline specifications on the listing: a 7.9 x 11 inch field, 160 designs, 6 monogram fonts and 400 to 860 SPM. Buy from an authorized Janome dealer or seller so warranty and support are clear.
If you want an even bigger field from Janome, the Janome MC550E stretches to 7.9 x 14.2 inches with four hoops up to the RE36b for about $2,999.
What are the alternatives between the PE900 and Janome 500E?
The Janome MC400E, about $1,499, stitches up to 7.9 x 7.9 inches with 4 included hoops, a good fit for 8 inch quilt blocks without paying for the 11 inch length. The Poolin EOC06, about $1,400, lists an 11 x 7.9 inch field and 7 inch touchscreen, with a trade-off in brand support and file formats covered in our Poolin vs Brother comparison.
From Brother, the Brother NQ1700E offers a 6 x 10 inch field with wireless and 258 designs for about $2,400. Use the embroidery hoop size calculator to see which field your designs need.
Choose Janome MC500E if
- You want jacket backs, large quilt blocks and wall hangings.
- You want 4 hoops included, up to 7.9 x 11 in.
- You want embroidery speeds up to 860 SPM.
- You are happy transferring designs by USB.
Choose Brother PE900 if
- Your designs fit within 5 x 7 inches.
- You want wireless transfer and color sort.
- You want 193 designs and 13 fonts built in.
- You would rather spend about $920 less.
Our embroidery-only picks by field size
Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine
$1,179.99A 5 x 7 in field with wireless, color sort and jump stitch trimming.
Check price
Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine
$1,499.00A 7.9 x 7.9 in field and 4 hoops for about $1,499.
Check price Janome Memory Craft 500E Limited Edition Embroidery Machine
$2,099.00A 7.9 x 11 in field, 4 hoops and speeds up to 860 SPM.
Check price
Brother Innov-is NQ1700E Embroidery Machine with BES Blue Software
$2,399.99A 6 x 10 in field with wireless and 258 designs.
Check price
Janome Memory Craft 550E Embroidery Machine
$2,999.00A 7.9 x 14.2 in field for the largest single-hooping projects.
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
What hoops come with the Janome Memory Craft 500E?
Janome lists four hoops with the Memory Craft 500E: RE28b at 7.9 x 11 inches, SQ20b at 7.9 x 7.9 inches, RE20b at 5.5 x 7.9 inches and SQ14b at 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Using the smallest hoop that fits a design gives the firmest hold. Brother includes one 5 x 7 inch frame set with the PE900.
Can the Brother PE900 read Janome designs?
The PE900 reads Brother formats, typically PES, while the Janome 500E uses Janome formats such as JEF. Most commercial designs are sold in multiple formats, and embroidery software can convert between them. Designs larger than 5 x 7 inches will not fit the PE900 regardless of format, so check sizes when buying.
Does the Janome 500E have wireless?
Janome lists USB design transfer for the Memory Craft 500E, not wireless. You save designs to a USB stick and plug it into the machine. If wireless transfer matters, the Brother PE900 and Brother NQ1700E both list wireless LAN. For many embroiderers, USB is reliable and simple, and a labeled stick for each project keeps design files organized.
How fast does the Janome 500E embroider?
Janome lists an embroidery speed range of 400 to 860 stitches per minute for the Memory Craft 500E, compared with up to 650 for the Brother PE900. A 30,000 stitch design takes about 35 minutes of stitching at 860 SPM, before color changes. Dense designs and metallic threads often stitch better at a slower setting, so the top speed matters less than the time saved on color changes and trimming.
Is a large embroidery field worth it for quilters?
Often, yes. Quilters who embroider full blocks find that an 8 inch finished block needs a design about 7 to 7.5 inches across, which fits the 7.9 x 7.9 inch or 7.9 x 11 inch hoops of the Janome 500E but not the 5 x 7 inch PE900. For 6 inch blocks and quilt labels, 5 x 7 is enough.
Sources
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.