Singer vs Brother Sewing Machine Comparison – Which is Better?
Anyone even remotely familiar with sewing machines would know that Singer and Brother are the two biggest brands when it comes to sewing machines.
Both have a history of producing some of the most high-quality sewing machines you find out there, and are popular enough to dominate the best seller list for pretty much every type of sewing machine too.
However, it goes without saying that you just can’t pick one over the other. Sure, one of these two brands would turn out to be better for certain users but it would depend on a few different factors, mainly the type of sewing machine you’re looking to buy and your budget.
So instead of just trying to pick one brand over the other on a general level, it makes sense to consider how these two brands compare as well as the different types of sewing machines so that you can choose the one that meets your needs and budget better.
| Parameter | Singer | Brother |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner-Friendly | Yes, with a variety of budget-friendly and beginner-friendly machines | Yes, offers some beginner-friendly machines that are versatile and functional |
| Ease of Use | Good, with features like adjustable needle position, adjustable pressure foot, automatic buttonhole feature, etc. | Excellent, with features like speed control, easy bobbin winding, detailed stitch chart, easy threading, etc. |
| Durability | Very durable and can last for decades with some care | Generally durable and able to handle prolonged stitching sessions |
| Price Range | Offers both budget-friendly and high-end models | Generally similar to Singer, with both budget-friendly and high-end models available |
| Performance & Stitch Quality | Known for smooth and even stitches | Provides excellent stitch quality suitable for a wide range of fabrics |
| Features | Basic models may lack some advanced features compared to Brother. High-end models come with advanced features pleasing to professional sewers | Packed with features like automatic needle threading, extensive built-in stitches, adjustable speed control, etc. |
| Sergers for Beginners | Offers advanced models like Singer 9960 and Singer 14CG754 with more bells and whistles but at a higher price tag | Provides functional and beginner-friendly models like Brother 1034D and Brother DZ1234 |
| Embroidery Machines for Beginners | Limited options, Singer 9960 is versatile but might not impress professionals | Dominates the market with models like Brother PE800 and Brother SE600 offering advanced features whilst being beginner-friendly |
| Overall | Better for those looking for durability and the ability to sew through thick fabrics smoothly | Better for those seeking versatility, ease of use, and advanced features especially in embroidery machines |
Table of Contents
- 1 Which is Better for Beginners? Singer vs Brother Detailed Comparison
- 2 What are the important features of Singer Sewing Machines?
- 3 What are the important features of a Brother Sewing Machine?
- 4 Specific recommendations:
- 5 Which is the Best Serger for Beginners -Singer vs Brother?
- 6 Which Embroidery Machine is best for beginners – Singer vs Brother?
- 7 Final Verdict
- 8 Head to Head Comparison of Singer vs Brother Sewing Machines
- 9 Recommended Reading:
Which is Better for Beginners? Singer vs Brother Detailed Comparison
Both Singer and Brother have their own unique advantages, but a lot depends on your needs and the type of sewing machine you’re looking to buy. This means that while one of them may turn out to be a better option for a certain type of users, the other may serve some different type of needs better.
So let’s do a detailed comparison of what these two brands offer in terms of the most important features so that you can decide which one fits your bill better.
Singer
Singer has a huge variety of machines that would quality as both budget-friendly and beginner-friendly sewing machines. However, while Brother has fewer of them, they are some of the best ones and are easily comparable to the most popular Singer sewing machines.
What are the important features of Singer Sewing Machines?
Some of the important features of most Singer sewing machines:
- Adjustable needle position which makes life easier for a beginner sewer
- Many different types of in-built stitches
- Many beginner-friendly Singer machines are surprisingly heavy duty
- Can sew through multi-layer fabrics and thick fabrics like denim as well
- Many of their machines also come with other beginner-friendly features like an adjustable pressure foot, automatic buttonhole feature, adjustable stitch length and more
- Durable and long-lasting, many of them can easily last for decades with some care
However, you would rarely get any fancy features or any type of bells and whistles with a budget beginner-friendly Singer. Of course, that’s certainly not the case with the more sophisticated and expensive models, as they do come with a long list of advanced features that would please the professional sewers.
What are the important features of a Brother Sewing Machine?
Brother
Brother offers some great beginner-friendly sewing machines as well, and some of them are indeed much better than their Singer counterparts especially if you’re looking for something well beyond the basic.
Brother sewing machines are often also much more versatile, with some of them also coming with a free arm or an extension table and serving multiple purposes like both sewing and quilting.
Many of them are also just as easy to use as some of the most beginner-friendly Singer machines, thanks to features like speed control, super easy bobbin winding, detailed stitch chart right on the machine itself, easy threading (even by hand), freehand quilting and many more.
In fact, some of the users mention how they have never sewn anything in their life before, but were able to do so right off the bat with a beginner-friendly Brother.
Which sewing machine is better for beginners – Singer vs Brother?
Many Brother machines also offer a much better value than their Singer counterparts as they offer a higher level of functionality and superior features for a considerably lower price than the latter.
Conclusion
If you’re an absolute beginner and want to avoid the steep learning curve, a beginner-friendly Brother is your best bet.
However, if you’re already familiar with the basics of sewing and will be do a lot of sewing or work on some demanding sewing tasks on a regular basis like sewing denim and other thick fabrics, then a heavy duty Singer would make more sense.
Specific recommendations:
The Brother CS6000i and Brother HC1850 are a couple great all-round choices. If you’re on a super tight budget and completely new to sewing, the Brother XM2701 would hit the spot for you.
As for Singer, our picks would be the Singer 4452 and Singer 7258.
Which is the Best Serger for Beginners -Singer vs Brother?
Now that we have discussed the more beginner-friendly and general sewing machines, let us get to something more advanced: Sergers.
Brother
For beginners, Brother again seems to be having an edge with its models like the Brother 1034D, as they are both functional and beginner-friendly.
They are easy to set up and use, allow different types of adjustments to take out the challenge from serging depending on the type of tasks you’re working on including stitch adjustments and fabric adjustments, and are a great value for their price.
A more advanced model like the Brother DZ1234 also offers a more consistent stitch quality, a great differential feed ratio, high speed stitching, surprisingly easy overclocking and a ton of versatility.
Singer
The Singer ones like the Singer 9960 and Singer 14CG754 come with many more bells and whistles though, while also covering all the essential features well. But that comes with a much higher price tag too.
Some of the more advanced features of these Singer sergers include self-adjusting tension, built-in rolled hems, decent stitching speed, wide flatlock, trim bin and many more.
However, they are also more difficult to use and get familiar with.
Our recommendation?
You should go for one of the Brother sergers if you prefer ease of use and versatility and the Singer 9960 if you’re after all the advanced features. The Singer 14CG754 can make a good fairly advanced serger too but not without trade-offs.
Which Embroidery Machine is best for beginners – Singer vs Brother?
Brother absolutely dominates when it comes to embroidery machines, as it offers a huge variety of options as against only a couple real options from Singer.
In fact, it manages to grab 3 out of 5 spots on our list of the best embroidery machines on the market.
The Brother PE800 is an incredible choice for professional embroidery work with virtually unlimited design options, super large work field, color LCD touchscreen, on-screen editing and a ton of other advanced features. To your surprise, however, it still manages to be very beginner-friendly, which is what helps Brother offer the best of both worlds.
The Brother SE600 is another great choice for those looking for a cheaper option. It comes with a large color touchscreen too.
The Singer 9960 isn’t a bad option for embroidery work, but professionals wouldn’t find it too impressive. However, users that aren’t looking to do professional work but rather a variety of sewing tasks would find it to be a more versatile option.
Final Verdict
As we mentioned above, there isn’t a clear winner here. However, if you have gone through everything we discussed above, you can see that Brother has an edge over Singer in many areas, especially for embroidery machines and when looking for a higher level of versatility.
But that’s not saying Singer doesn’t have its place anywhere. It’s certainly a great choice when you’re looking for something more durable and heavy duty on a budget; something that can sew through otherwise hard-to-sew fabrics smoothly and can handle a lot of sewing without giving any trouble.
Head to Head Comparison of Singer vs Brother Sewing Machines
When comparing and contrasting Singer and Brother sewing machines, there are several key points to consider:
1. Performance and Stitch Quality:
- Both Singer and Brother sewing machines generally offer good stitch quality.
- Singer machines are known for their smooth and even stitches, resulting in professional-looking finished projects.
- Brother machines also provide excellent stitch quality, suitable for a wide range of fabrics.
2. Features:
- Singer offers a variety of models with different features to cater to different needs. However, some basic models may have fewer advanced features compared to Brother.
- Brother sewing machines often come packed with a wide range of features such as automatic needle threading, extensive built-in stitches, adjustable speed control, and more.
3. Ease of Use:
- Many users find both Singer and Brother sewing machines easy to set up and operate.
- Singer provides straightforward controls and user-friendly interfaces that are intuitive for beginners.
- Brother machines typically have user-friendly features like automatic needle threading, making them convenient for sewers of all skill levels.
4. Reliability and Durability:
- Both brands are generally considered reliable and durable, although individual models may vary.
- Some users appreciate the robust build quality of Singer machines, which ensures longevity even with heavy usage.
- Brother machines are also well-regarded for their durability and ability to handle prolonged stitching sessions.
5. Price Range:
- The price range can vary significantly between models from both brands.
- Generally, entry-level Singer sewing machines tend to be more affordable than comparable Brother models.
- Higher-end or feature-rich models from both brands may be similarly priced.
It’s important to note that specific models within each brand can differ in terms of performance, features, and price. Therefore, it’s essential to consider individual model specifications when making a detailed comparison between specific Singer and Brother sewing machine options.
