Brother currently sells eleven home sewing machines worth comparing, from the 17-stitch LX3817 to the 205-stitch SQ9285, and it has discontinued several older favorites, including the CS6000i and CS7000i. The chart below puts every one of them side by side using the numbers on brother-usa.com, checked October 3, 2026. If you want the short answer: the XM2701 is the cheap machine to beat, the CS7000X is the best all-rounder for quilters, and the XR9550 is for people who want lettering and decorative stitches.
Quick picks
| Cheapest machine worth buying | Brother XM2701 | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best computerized machine on a budget | Brother CS5055 | Amazon |
| Best all-rounder for quilters | Brother CS7000X | Amazon |
| Best for lettering and decorative stitches | Brother XR9550 | Amazon |
How we built this chart
Every spec in the main table comes from the structured product data on each model's page at brother-usa.com, read on October 3, 2026. The same data carries Brother's own lifecycle flag, which reads either "New" (current) or "Discontinued". That flag is the source for the status column. We did not infer anything from "out of stock" on Amazon.
Where Brother's fields disagree with each other, we say so instead of picking one. Two examples: the XM3700 page lists the light as a bulb in one field and an "LED work area" in its feature text, and the discontinued JX2517 shows 38 in one stitch field while its feature list says 17 stitches and 38 "stitch functions". We read the operation manuals on support.brother.com for a few details the product pages skip (stitch length and width controls, included feet, bobbin type).
Sales signals come from Amazon search results on the same day: the "bought in past month" figure and the rating count. They show what people actually buy. They are not a quality score.
This is a spec review. We compared Brother's published specs and manuals, plus Amazon listings; we did not sew on every machine. How we research.
The chart: every current Brother sewing machine
Sorted from simplest to most features. "Speed" is Brother's maximum stitches per minute; a dash means Brother's page doesn't list it.
| Model | Stitches | Buttonholes | Feet in box | Needle threader | Speed (spm) | Wide table | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX3817 | 17 | 1 four-step | 4 | Manual | 850 | No | Dial |
| XM2701 | 27 | 1 one-step | 6 | Automatic | 800 | No | Dials |
| GX37 | 37 | 1 one-step | 6 | Automatic | 850 | No | Dials |
| XM3700 | 37 | 1 one-step | 5 | Automatic | 800 | No | Dials |
| ST371HD | 37 | 1 one-step | 6 | Automatic | 800 | No | – |
| CS5055 | 60 | 7 one-step | 7 | Automatic | 750 | No | LCD |
| CS7000X | 70 | 7 one-step | 10 + quilt guide | Automatic | 750 | Yes | LCD |
| XR9550 | 165 (incl. 55 letters/numbers) | 8 one-step | 8 | Advanced | – | Yes | LCD |
| HC1850 | 185 (incl. 55) | 8 one-step | 8 | Advanced | 850 | Yes | LCD, start/stop |
| SQ9285 | 205 (incl. 55) | 8 one-step | 10 + quilt guide | Automatic | 710 | Yes | LCD, start/stop, speed lever |
| PQ1600S | 1 (straight stitch) | None | 7 | – | 1,500 | Yes (11.1 x 23.3 in) | Knee lifter, thread cutter |
Source: each model's page on brother-usa.com (linked in the table or below), checked October 3, 2026. All eleven show Brother's "New" lifecycle status. The PQ1600S has no verified Amazon listing in our research, so it links to Brother. Feet counts for the CS7000X and XR9550 also match the "Included Accessories" sheets on support.brother.com.
Discontinued Brother sewing machines (and the closest current model)
Brother's product data lists these four as discontinued as of October 3, 2026. Brother doesn't name a replacement on those pages, so the right-hand column is our pick of the closest current model on paper, with the reason. Treat it as a comparison, not an official successor.
| Discontinued model | What it had | Closest current model | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS6000i | 60 stitches, 7 one-step buttonholes, 9 feet, wide table, start/stop, needle up/down, 850 spm | CS5055 | Same 60 stitches and 7 buttonholes. Brother lists 7 feet, no wide table and 750 spm, so it's a step down in the box. |
| CS7000i | 70 stitches, 10 feet incl. walking and 1/4" piecing, wide table, hard case, 850 spm | CS7000X | Same 70 stitches, 10 feet, wide table and hard case. Brother lists 750 spm for the X. |
| JX2517 | 17 stitches (38 stitch functions), 4-step buttonhole, manual threading, 4 feet | LX3817 | Also 17 stitches, a 4-step buttonhole, manual threading and 4 feet. |
| PQ1500SL | Straight stitch only, 1,500 spm, knee lifter, thread cutter, pin feed | PQ1600S | Same 1,500 spm straight-stitch design with knee lifter, thread cutter and pin feed. |
If you already own a CS6000i, there's no reason to replace a machine that works. These models stay supported in the sense that manuals and accessories remain listed on support.brother.com; for parts and repairs, Brother points owners to authorized service centers.
Which Brother machine fits which sewer
The chart has eleven rows, but most people choose between four machines. Here they are with the reason each one earns its place.
Brother XM2701
Amazon's top-selling sewing machine on October 3, with 5,000 bought in the past month and 19,262 ratings. It has the two features that make a first machine pleasant to use, an automatic needle threader and a one-step buttonhole, plus separate stitch length (to 4 mm) and width (to 5 mm) dials. Brother's manual lists the walking foot as an optional extra.
- Stitches27
- Buttonhole1 one-step
- Feet6
- Threaderautomatic
- Max speed800 spm
- Statuscurrent
Why it stands out
- Automatic threader and one-step buttonhole at the lowest price in the range
- Free arm and 6 feet included
Think twice if
- You want quilting feet or a wide table in the box
- You need stitches wider than 5 mm
Brother CS5055
The CS5055 is the jump from dials to an LCD screen. You get 60 stitches and seven buttonhole styles, which matters if you sew garments with different closures. It also showed 1,000 bought in the past month on Amazon. The listing doesn't include a wide table, so quilters usually go up to the CS7000X.
- Stitches60
- Buttonholes7 one-step
- Feet7
- Threaderautomatic
- Max speed750 spm
- DisplayLCD
Why it stands out
- Seven one-step buttonhole styles
- LCD stitch selection and a 7 mm stitch width
Think twice if
- You quilt: the CS7000X adds the wide table and quilting feet
Brother CS7000X
For quilters, this is the machine in the range to buy. Brother's page lists ten feet, including a walking foot and a 1/4" piecing foot, plus a quilt guide, a wide table and a hard case. The listing also describes a metal frame and fixed needle bar. It does not embroider, whatever some comparison sites claim. Our CS7000X review goes through it in detail.
- Stitches70
- Buttonholes7 one-step
- Feet10 + quilt guide
- Wide tableyes
- Hard caseyes
- Max speed750 spm
Why it stands out
- Walking foot and 1/4" foot included, so nothing to add for quilting
- Wide table and hard case in the box
Think twice if
- You want lettering for labels: it has no alphabet font
Brother XR9550
Pick the XR9550 over the CS7000X when lettering and decorative stitches matter more than quilting feet. It adds an alphanumeric font for names and labels and an eighth buttonhole style. Brother's included-accessories sheet lists a quilting (free-motion) foot but no walking foot; that's an optional SA140 according to the manual.
- Stitches165 (110 + 55 alphanumeric)
- Buttonholes8 one-step
- Feet8
- Wide tableyes
- Hard caseyes
- Threaderadvanced
Why it stands out
- 55 alphanumeric stitches for labels and names
- Wide table and hard case included
Think twice if
- You need a walking foot from day one, since it's sold separately
The other current models, briefly
LX3817. The simplest machine Brother sells: 17 stitches, a 4-step buttonhole and a manual needle threader. Its manual shows no separate stitch length or width dials; you pick a length by picking a pattern. Read XM2701 vs LX3817 before saving the money.
GX37 and XM3700 both have 37 stitches and a 7 mm stitch width. The GX37 comes with 6 feet, the XM3700 with 5. Either is a sensible step up from the XM2701 if you want wider satin stitches.
The ST371HD is Brother's "Strong and Tough" machine: 37 stitches, 6 feet including a nonstick foot, and drop feed. Our heavy-duty sewing machine guide compares it with Singer's Heavy Duty line.
HC1850 and SQ9285 are the high-stitch-count machines. The SQ9285 has 205 stitches, a start/stop button, a speed lever and 10 feet including walking and 1/4" piecing feet per Brother's page. The HC1850 has 185 stitches and 8 feet. The SQ9285's Amazon listing showed no recent sales figure on October 3, so check the seller before you buy.
Then there's the PQ1600S, a straight-stitch-only machine that runs at 1,500 stitches per minute, with a knee lifter, push-button thread cutter and a 5.7 x 8.7 inch needle-to-arm space per Brother. It's a quilter's piecing and quilting machine, not a first machine.
What the numbers in the chart actually change
Stitch count
Most of the count is decorative. Garment sewing uses straight stitch, zigzag, a stretch stitch, blind hem and a buttonhole, and every machine above has those. Count the alphanumeric stitches separately: on the XR9550, HC1850 and SQ9285, 55 of the total are letters and numbers.
Buttonholes
A one-step buttonhole sizes itself to the button you put in the foot. A four-step buttonhole (LX3817) has you turn the dial through each side by hand. If you make shirts, that difference shows up on every placket.
Threader and controls
An automatic or advanced threader pushes the thread through the needle eye with a lever. Start/stop and speed controls let you sew without the pedal, which helps with free-motion quilting. Brother's data lists start/stop on the HC1850 and SQ9285 among current models; the discontinued CS6000i and CS7000i had it too.
Bobbins
The manuals we read (XM2701, LX3817, CS7000X, XR9550) all call for the SA156, a Class 15 type plastic bobbin, 11.5 mm tall. Our bobbin lookup covers more models, and the Brother error code guide covers what the computerized models mean when the screen shows an E code.
Head-to-head comparisons
- CS7000X vs XR9550: quilting feet or lettering, at nearly the same price.
- XM2701 vs LX3817: what you give up on Brother's cheapest machine.
- Brother vs Singer for the brand question.
- Reviews: XM2701 and CS7000X.
If you only read one line
Buy the XM2701 if the budget is tight and you sew repairs and simple projects. Buy the CS7000X if quilting is anywhere on your list. Everyone else should start with our best sewing machine for beginners guide, which weighs Brother against Singer and Janome.
Sources: brother-usa.com product pages for each model (lifecycle status and specs), checked October 3, 2026; operation manuals and included-accessories sheets on support.brother.com; Amazon listings and search results, October 3, 2026. Prices change, so the buttons show the current price on Amazon. How we research · Affiliate disclosure