FabDigit vs Protolabs Network: which fits your part?
Protolabs Network (formerly Hubs) is a marketplace of 250+ partner shops with a five-second instant quote and duties covered for EU / UK / US buyers. FabDigit is a network too, with more in the quote — 790 grades, 150+ finishes, 30 heat treatments, 4 inspection levels — an engineer on every quote, and a price-beat offer.
Side by side
Same rows for both. “Edge” names the side whose published fact is the stronger one on that row; “Even” means neither, or the two are not comparable on one line.
| Compared on | FabDigit | Protolabs Network (Hubs) |
|---|---|---|
| MaterialsEdge: FabDigit | 790 grades, all quotable790 grades with full datasheets in the Material Explorer — the largest published library of the platforms compared (Xometry 50+, Hubs 75+, Fictiv 45+); every grade quotable, tempers priced separately | 75+ materials75+ metals and plastics for CNC; sheet metal 1–6 mm in aluminum 5052/5754, stainless 304/316L, mild steel, copper |
| Finishes & heat treatmentEdge: FabDigit | 150+ finishes · 30 heat treatments150+ finishes priced in the quote — anodize (Type II, hard Type III), chem film, passivation, electropolish, zinc / zinc-nickel / nickel / electroless nickel / chrome / tin / silver / gold plating, black oxide, phosphate, e-coat, powder coat, paint, Cerakote, PVD / CVD / DLC, blasting, brushing, tumbling, polishing, laser marking, PEM and helicoil hardware; 30 heat treatments (Q&T, H900–H1150, T6 / T651 / T73, carburize, nitride, induction, cryogenic, stress relief, anneal); 33 post-processes — all selectable per line | 37 CNC · 17 sheet finish options37 CNC and 17 sheet metal finish options in its quoting configurator (anodize, bead blast, powder coat, plating, brushing), as shown 2026-05-31 |
| Price policyEdge: FabDigit — price-beat offer on every FabDigit quote | Price-beat on every quoteInstant price with quantity breaks; lower quote for the same part? Send it — FabDigit can almost always beat it, and says so on every quote. No software or platform fee | Instant; "competitive pricing" claimInstant price; states it uses network competition to guarantee competitive pricing; import duties included for EU / UK / US |
| Design feedbackEdge: FabDigit | Engineer reviews every quoteA FabDigit engineer reviews DFM on every quote before it is released — not an automated flag list, and not only on request | Automated in the quoteInstant DFM in the quote |
| Inspection & certificatesEdge: FabDigit | 4 inspection levels · 8 certificates, per line4 inspection levels (standard, dimensional report, CMM, custom) and 8 certificates (CoC, material certs, traceability, DFARS US-melted, domestic material, hardware certs, ISO 9001 / AS9100 supplier) chosen per line in the quote; first-article inspection on every order | Not published |
| QuotingEven | Instant from CAD, engineer-checkedInstant quote from CAD (STEP, SLDPRT, IGES, X_T; DXF for flat patterns) with an engineer DFM review on every quote | Instant, ~5 secondsInstant machine-learning quote in about 5 seconds from STEP, STP, IGES, IGS, SLDPRT, 3DM, SAT or X_T |
| Minimum orderEven | None — 1 to 10,000+No minimum — single prototypes to 10,000+ parts | 1 part |
| Standard lead timeEven | 5–7 business days5–7 business days CNC; expedite on request | From 5 business daysCNC and sheet metal from 5 business days |
| CNC toleranceEdge: FabDigit — ±0.025 mm standard vs ISO 2768-m | ±0.025 mm standard±0.025 mm standard; ±0.005 mm on critical features with grinding or wire EDM | ISO 2768-m / -fISO 2768-m or -f; down to ±0.020 mm (±0.001") per drawing |
| ProcessesEven | CNC milling (3/4/5-axis) and turning, sheet metal (laser cutting, bending, welding, PEM hardware, finishing), injection molding (bridge and production tooling), 3D printing | CNC milling (3/4/5-axis) and turning, 3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF), sheet metal (laser cutting, bending), injection molding |
| CertificationsEven | ISO 9001 partners; AS9100 / IATF on requestProduction partners hold ISO 9001:2015 (verified at onboarding); AS9100 / IATF 16949 work placed only with partners certified to that standard; FABDIGIT INC. itself is not ISO-certified | ISO 9001; partners AS9100 / 13485; no ITARProtolabs Network is ISO 9001 certified; partners hold ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 13485, IATF 16949; no ITAR |
| How parts are madeEven | US front end + vetted partner networkUS engineering front end (quoting, DFM review, program management, quality review) with a vetted ISO 9001 partner network in the US, Canada, Mexico and Asia; FABDIGIT INC. is the contracting party on every order | Partner network, shop undisclosedNetwork of manufacturing partners in North America, Europe and Asia; the buyer chooses local or global production, the shop is not disclosed |
| Ships toEdge: Protolabs Network (Hubs) — EU / UK cross-dock, duties covered | US; international acceptedUnited States; international orders accepted (customer is importer of record, Terms §11.4) | EU, UK, US — duties coveredEU, UK and US with customs clearance and import duties covered |
Which one fits your part
Choose FabDigit when
- More materials, finishes and heat treatments in the instant quote. Protolabs Network lists 75+ materials and 37 CNC / 17 sheet metal finish options in its configurator. FabDigit instant-quotes 790 grades, 150+ finishes and 30 heat treatments per line.
- An engineer on every quote. Protolabs Network quotes automatically in about five seconds and flags DFM in the engine. A FabDigit engineer reviews DFM and the inspection plan on every quote before release.
- Inspection and certificates chosen per line. 4 inspection levels and 8 certificates (CoC, mill certs, traceability, DFARS) in the quote form.
- A lower price on the same drawing. FabDigit prints a price-beat offer on every quote. Protolabs Network states it uses network competition to keep pricing competitive but publishes no match or beat policy.
Choose Protolabs Network when
- You are buying from Europe or the UK. Amsterdam cross-dock, duties and customs covered, local-or-global sourcing choice. FabDigit accepts international orders with the customer as importer of record.
- Protolabs factories as a fallback in the same account. Protolabs Network can route to Protolabs’ own ISO 9001 / AS9100D factories for parts that fit.
FabDigit vs Protolabs Network — FAQ
Is FabDigit cheaper than Protolabs Network (Hubs)?
By policy: FabDigit prints a price-beat offer on every quote and almost always beats a competing quote for the same part, quantity, material, tolerance and finish. Protolabs Network states its network competition keeps prices competitive; it publishes no match policy.
Does FabDigit have more materials than Hubs?
Yes. Protolabs Network lists 75+ materials; FabDigit instant-quotes 790 grades with tempers, plus 150+ finishes and 30 heat treatments against 37 CNC and 17 sheet metal finish options in the Hubs configurator.
Hubs or FabDigit for a US buyer?
FabDigit — US engineering front end, an engineer on every quote, inspection reports chosen per line and a price-beat offer. Protolabs Network’s edge is European buying with duties covered.
Sources
- FabDigit — Company facts: fabdigit.com/trust/
- FabDigit — CNC machining: fabdigit.com/services/cnc-machining/
- FabDigit — Sheet metal: fabdigit.com/services/sheet-metal-fabrication/
- FabDigit — Material Explorer: fabdigit.com/materials/
- FabDigit — Pricing: fabdigit.com/pricing/
- FabDigit — Terms: fabdigit.com/legal/user-terms-conditions/
- Protolabs Network (Hubs) — Home: hubs.com/
- Protolabs Network (Hubs) — CNC machining: hubs.com/cnc-machining/
- Protolabs Network (Hubs) — Sheet metal: hubs.com/sheet-metal-fabrication/
- Protolabs Network (Hubs) — Acquisition release: protolabs.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/protolabs-completes-acquisition-3d-hubs
Facts read from each company’s own public pages on September 13, 2026; FabDigit runs this site and is listed first. Prices are compared as published policy, not as one number — our sampled prices are in the CNC and sheet metal cost guides. Protolabs Network is described from its own public pages. Protolabs Network is not affiliated with FabDigit; its name identifies the service compared. Vendor names identify the services compared and belong to their owners. Out-of-date fact? sales@fabdigit.com.
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Get the FabDigit quote next to your Protolabs Network quote.
Same STEP file, instant price, 790 grades and 150+ finishes to pick from, an engineer’s DFM review, inspection and certificates chosen in the form — and if the other quote is lower, send it and FabDigit beats it.