Purchasing a digital embroidery machine for the first time is a daunting experience if you don't know a great deal about them. We've put together a list of our top 9 favourite machines, and given you all the must-know details. We've included pros and cons for each machine, and listed their top features so you can easily compare them and come to a decision.
Take a look at our round-up of the best embroidery machines that will work well for the home crafter. We are only looking at the best-computerised embroidery machines with a single needle, not the multi-thread machines that are more suited to a business environment. We'll flag up if they are embroidery machines or embroidery sewing machines that have a dual function. Which is the best digital embroidery machine for you?
You might also like our other sewing machine round-ups – the best sewing machines and our favourite best sewing machines for quilting, or best long arm quilting machines roundup.
See our buyer's guide for more information on how to choose the best embroidery machine for you.
Best embroidery machines at a glance
- Best overall | Bernina Bernette B79
- Best for experienced embroidery machine users | Janome Memory Craft 500E
- Best for American starter machine embroiders | Brother PE535
9 of the best embroidery machines
1. Bernina Bernette B79 Sewing & Embroidery Machine
Best overall
- Buy in the US from Amazon ($2,199)
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 60 x 55 x 50
- Max hoop size (cm): 26 x 16
- Weight (kg): 15
- Stitches per minute: 1000
- Built-in designs: 208
The little sister of the Bernina sewing machines, the Bernette will not only happily complete your embroidery tasks, but you'll also be able to sew with it. You can also take on free motion embroidery if you'd like – talk about multitasking!
This versatile machine has a multitude of functions, yet is simple to operate for the newbie thanks to its use of the same interface as high-end Bernina models.
Pros: Sew Cutwork designs, create a custom design, dual feed, read/sew a range of embroidery file formats including Pfaff (vip and vp3), Husqvarna (hus), and Janome (jef).
Cons: Switching from sewing mode to embroidery mode tricky, only one thread colour at a time.
2. Silver WiFi embroidery machine CH03
Best for connecting to smartphone
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 45 x 51 x 42
- Max hoop size (cm): 18 x 12
- Weight (kg): 14
- Stitches per minute: 800
- Built-in designs: 70
This powerhouse of an embroidery sewing machine is designed to be flexible to give you hundreds of options for all your sewing and embroidery machine needs.
It has 130 built-in stitch patterns, 70 built-in embroidery designs plus 100 extra on the included CD.
Plus it has the ability to wirelessly connect to your smart device, so you can add designs and control the machine via their downloadable app.
Pros: Dual needle compatibility, Stitch Pro software app makes it easy to combine motifs for custom design.
Cons: Only 1 thread colour in the machine at a time, no in-built display screen.
3. Janome Memory Craft 500E Embroidery machine
Best for experienced embroidery machine users
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 33 x 55 x 60
- Max hoop size (cm): 20 x 36
- Weight (kg): 11.1
- Stitches per minute: 860
- Built-in designs: 180
Here's a machine that many users say is the best embroidery machine for experienced machine embroiderers to try. This is because of its versatility with difficult fabrics.
This is not an embroidery sewing machine, it is a dedicated embroidery machine, aiming to be the best digital embroidery machine to help you personalise pillowcases, clothing and accessories.
Pros: Works with all fabrics, including lycra stretch, activewear and denim, convert multicoloured designs into a single colour, large LCD screen, remaining stitch time calculated and displayed.
Cons: Overwhelming for a beginner, large machine that takes up space, only one thread colour at a time.
4. Brother Innovis V3 embroidery machine
Best range of features
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 57.1 x 28.4 x 33.2
- Max hoop size (cm): 20 x 18
- Weight (kg): 13.8
- Stitches per minute: 1050
- Built-in designs: Over 200
The Innovis v3 machine could be the best-computerised embroidery machine for you if you want to create larger designs but are not quite ready to commit to a multi-needle embroidery machine. It has a large 30 x 18cm embroidery area – and a lovely large colour display screen, too!
It has the features of the NV870 but is a bit faster, slightly larger design area and bigger display screen, and with a larger design library. If you are committed to using an embroidery machine, we recommended this higher spec model over the other Brother models here.
Its speed, larger size and easy-to-use screen are worth the extra financial investment.
Pros: Big colour touch screen, simple user interface, independent bobbin winder, horizontal top loading drop-in bobbin system, easy threading, auto tension and thread sensors.
Cons: Single needle machine means user input is required to create designs with more than 1 colour, the extra-long arm gives you a large workspace (111/4”, 285 mm) which could benefit from a wider range of hoop sizes included in the pack – only 2 are included.
5. Janome Memory Craft 550E
Best for large working area
- Buy in the US from eBay ($2,800)
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 56.6 x 33.5 x 53.2
- Max hoop size (cm): 20 x 36
- Weight (kg): 11.6
- Stitches per minute: 860
- Built-in designs: 180
The Janome 550 E brings you a larger working area of 20 x 36cm – larger than the Innovis v3 and the machine has a lower retail price too – as well as 4 different embroidery hoops!
But it also has fewer features than the Innovis v3, and a smaller inbuilt library of embroidery motifs. But if you favour a larger embroidery area over the choice of motifs, this could be the best embroidery machine for you.
Pros: Design time and stitch counter indicator, convert artwork into stitches to make and load your own designs, large full-colour display screen, auto return post thread break so the machine can continue after a break.
Cons: Louder machine than the Innovis V3, only one thread colour at a time.
6. Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine
Best for American starter machine embroiders
- Buy now from Joanns ($399.99).
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 53.8 x 41.9 x 39.3
- Max hoop size (cm): 10.16 x 10.16
- Weight (kg): 6.8kg
- Stitches per minute: 400
- Built-in designs: 80
Here's a dedicated embroidery machine deal that will make you smile if you are based in America. But it will make you unhappy if you are in the UK - we are sorry!
But when Joanns started selling the Brother PCE535 digital embroidery machine at 33% off at the beginning of 2021, we just had to add it to our roundup.
This is an older model now but has some brilliant features at a very affordable price. If you are looking for a low-price, entry-level machine to help you learn the ropes of a computerised embroidery machine, this could well be the best embroidery machine for you.
Pros: Full-colour large display screen makes it easy to see what your finished design will look like, touch screen function on display screen for user-friendly interface, low entry-level price point, 25 year limited warranty.
Cons: Small 4x4in embroidery area (you can purchase larger hoops to expand this), three of the font styles are in Japanese, which is not useful if you won't use Japanese fonts, lightweight machine, slower stitch speed.
7. Brother FS100WT Free Motion Embroidery/Sewing and Quilting Machine
Best for quilters dabbling in machine embroidery
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 40.4 x 49.5 x 32.3
- Max hoop size (cm): N/a
- Weight (kg): 7.7
- Stitches per minute: 850
- Built-in designs: N/a
This embroidery sewing machine is geared up to excel at free-motion embroidery too. This is something you can do with most sewing machines, but this machine comes with a dedicated free motion embroidery foot. This makes it especially useful for quilters who want a combined embroidery sewing machine for a real wealth of sewing machine functions.
However, although this is an embroidery sewing machine, with an alphabet set for monogramming included in the machine, that is the limit of its embroidery machine functions. There is no hoop included, and no option to purchase and add one – monogramming uses a dedicated monogram, in foot. So this is more of a specialised quilting sewing machine, with some limited embroidery options.
Pros: The basic pack includes an extension table, giving you a larger working surface for sewing, brilliant machine for quilters and free motion embroiderers.
Cons: Embroidery options comprise of a single alphabet set with upper case letters only, no embroidery hoop function, only a monogramming foot.
8. Brother Innov-is M380D Disney Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery machine
Best for multicrafters
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 41.9 x 19.4 x 30.7
- Max hoop size (cm): 10 x 10
- Weight (kg): 6.8
- Stitches per minute: 850
- Built-in designs: 200
If you're an embroiderer who loves to sew, then this machine is a fantastic option as it can easily be used for both. As well as a huge selection of built-in embroidery designs, this machine has a range of hi-tech features including an advanced needle threader, colour touchscreen and the ability to create your own designs using My Custom StitchTM.
It comes with 11 built-in fonts, plus four lettering fonts, so it's perfect for all of your machine embroidery requirements. Of course, the Innov-is M380D is a particularly tempting choice for Disney fans, as it comes with 65 Disney designs built in!
For sewers, it includes a whopping 181 sewing stitches plus 10 buttonholes, so it'll suit all of your crafting needs.
Pros: Very advanced with lots of hi-tech features. It's a good choice for those who enjoy sewing as well as embroidery. The machine can be operated without a foot pedal, so it's suitable for crafters with limited mobility. It's also a must for Disney lovers!
Cons: The set up can be very technical, which is likely to be tricky for beginners to master.
9. Brother Innov-is F540E Embroidery Machine
Best for intermediate embroiderers
Key features
- Dimensions (cm): 44.4 x 24.8 x 30.
- Max hoop size (cm): 18 x 13
- Weight (kg): 8
- Stitches per minute: 650
- Built-in designs: 193
This stylish and practical embroidery machine is a joy to use. There's 193 built-in embroidery designs to play with – and if that's not enough, you can generate your own designs using Brother's Artspira app.
As you'd expect from a Brother embroidery machine, there are plenty of helpful features to make sewing a breeze, such as colour sorting, advanced needle threading and jump stitch trimming. There's also a high quality LCD touchscreen to help you set up each project.
The Innov-is F540E comes with all the accessories you'll need to get the most out of your embroidery machine including bobbins, an embroidery foot and a needle set.
Pros: A great machine for intermediate crafters with a variety of embroidery designs and fonts to enjoy. It's a small machine that can be easily stowed away when not in use.
Cons: It's specifically designed for embroidery, so it's not the best option for sewers.
What is free motion embroidery?
You don't need a specialized embroidery sewing machine for free motion machine embroidery; most sewing machines can be used for this purpose.
Simply ensure your sewing machine allows you to keep the feed dogs down and manipulate the fabric direction while the machine does the stitching. Depending on your machine, you may need to switch to a darning or free motion foot.
Mounting the fabric in an embroidery hoop, placed upside down, helps maintain flatness and tension. If you're focused on free motion embroidery, the ideal embroidery machine for you is a sewing machine with feed dog lowering capability.
Take a look at our free motion embroidery with machine embroidery projects to try out this technique for yourself!
How does a digital embroidery machine work?
Bespoke embroidery machines have a built-in hoop or frame to hold the fabric taut and are digitally controlled, allowing the machine to move the fabric and make the stitches.
Users simply select the design, mount the fabric, and typically only need to change the thread colour while the machine handles the rest.
In lower-spec models, users may also manually trim thread ends if automatic trimming is not included.
Do I need a single needle or multi needle digital embroidery machine?
Multi-needle embroidery machines are ideal for businesses, providing options for monogramming and personalized items. For most home crafters, a single-needle embroidery machine is sufficient.
The best single-needle digital machines can hold multiple thread bobbins and automatically change colours, making it easy for users to load the thread and start designing, especially with designs that have few colours.
Do I need an embroidery machine or a sewing and embroidery machine?
Dedicated embroidery machines automate adding embroidery detail to fabrics. Choose a sewing and embroidery machine if making clothes is your passion and you want to embellish them with embroidery but don't have the time and inclination to add it by hand.
The best embroidery machine can add custom detail very quickly. You can buy embroidery sewing machines that have both functions, so they serve as embroidery machines and sewing machines.
They are also useful for monogramming or adding custom details to clothing and accessories – no more school name tags!
What features to look for when buying an embroidery machine
The ideal features of your digital embroidery machine depend on how you are going to use the machine, but here's a few that are important:
Size
The key feature we recommend considering is the size of the design you want to add. Large designs need bigger hoops and a bigger working area. This tends to make the machine much larger and more expensive.
If you want to create large designs, you can't add a larger working space later on, so spending more on a larger machine upfront will save you money in the longer term.
Built-in designs
The number of in-built designs plays a part too, especially when it comes to fonts and lettering, which are popular machine embroidery designs. These can often be added later.
If you want a wide range, choose a machine that comes with more, or make sure your machine has the ability to add new designs via USB or design software.
Design software
If you want to create your own designs rather than just using an in-built library, you will need a machine that has access to accompanying design software.
Best embroidery machine thread
To find the ideal embroidery machine thread for your specific machine, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations. Steer clear of extremely cheap non-branded threads, as they tend to be thin and prone to breaking.
Low-quality threads can lead to long-term machine clogging and immediate frustrations due to frequent breaks, hampering your progress.
Why trust Gathered?
Hannah Bellis boasts over six years of editorial experience at The World of Cross Stitching. With a background in stitching and embroidery, her skills span multiple crafting domains, from card making to knitting.
Hannah drew upon personal experience, user reviews, and extensive research across reputable brands when reviewing contenders for the best embroidery machine. Her editorial experience and diverse crafting expertise ensure authentic and insightful recommendations on embroidery machines.
More machine embroidery on Gathered
If you'd like to upload some fancy new designs to your embroidery machine, check out these beautiful free machine embroidery designs, from the Love Embroidery team.
