First of all, decide on the features you must have. I considered needle up down, wide throat space, built in scissors, handy quilting stitches, and ease of use. Then try out machines that have the features you want. I also bought from a local quilt shop where I can get service easily. When you try them out, you will find the one that is the "right fit" for you. I also did a lot of research online before I started looking, so I had narrowed down the search list. Good luck shopping. It is a lot of fun.