FabDigit vs Protolabs: which fits your part?
Protolabs makes quick-turn parts in its own automated factories with a narrow material and finish menu and same-day expedites. FabDigit prices a far wider material, finish and heat-treatment menu instantly, has an engineer review every quote, lets you pick inspection reports per line, and beats the competing quote.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30+ CNC materials30+ CNC materials; 100+ molding materials; six sheet metal material families, 0.024–0.250" |
| 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 | Anodize, chromate, bead blast, powder coatCNC: as-machined, bead blast, anodize and chromate (+5 days); sheet metal: powder coat (+2 days), plating (+2 days); heat treatment not listed |
| 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 | Expedite / Standard / Economy tiersInteractive quote with Expedite / Standard / Economy price tiers; no published price list or price-match statement |
| Design feedbackEven — both review the part before the price is final | 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 DFM with the quoteFree interactive manufacturability analysis on every quote; inspection from basic to dimensional report and AS9102 first-article inspection |
| 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 | Up to AS9102 FAIInspection tiers from basic to dimensional report and AS9102 first-article inspection; CoC and material certs available |
| 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 | Within hoursUpload CAD; DFM analysis and pricing come back within a few hours (simple sheet metal in as fast as one hour) |
| Minimum orderEven | None — 1 to 10,000+No minimum — single prototypes to 10,000+ parts | NoneNo minimum order quantity |
| Standard lead timeEdge: Protolabs — same-day / 1-day CNC from own factories | 5–7 business days5–7 business days CNC; expedite on request | 3 days; Economy 7–18CNC 3 days standard; Economy 7, 12 or 18 days; sheet metal 3-day or 5-day tier |
| CNC toleranceEven | ±0.025 mm standard±0.025 mm standard; ±0.005 mm on critical features with grinding or wire EDM | ±0.127 mm without drawing±0.005" (0.127 mm) without a drawing; ISO 2768-f linear with a drawing; ±0.0005" on specified bores |
| 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 | Injection molding (incl. LSR), CNC milling (3-axis and 5-axis indexed) and turning, 3D printing (7 technologies), sheet metal (laser cutting, punching, forming, welding) |
| CertificationsEdge: Protolabs — ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100D, ITAR at company level | 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 / 13485, AS9100D, ITARISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, AS9100D, ITAR registered (site-specific — sheet metal lists ISO 9001 and ITAR only) |
| How parts are madeEdge: Protolabs — own factories, if the part fits the envelope | 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 | Own factories + NetworkHybrid — its own digital factories (molding, CNC, 3D printing; sheet metal in New Hampshire) plus the Protolabs Network of manufacturing partners for parts outside the factory envelope |
| Ships toEven | US; international acceptedUnited States; international orders accepted (customer is importer of record, Terms §11.4) | US, EuropeUS and Europe; no free-shipping statement published |
Which one fits your part
Choose FabDigit when
- Material outside the Protolabs list. Protolabs CNC runs a fixed catalogue of stocked metals and plastics. FabDigit instant-quotes 790 grades — tool steels, copper alloys, superalloys, titanium grades, engineering plastics — with tempers priced.
- Finish, plating or heat treatment on the part. Protolabs lists as-machined, bead blast, anodize and chromate (+5 days) for CNC and powder coat or plating (+2 days) for sheet metal; no heat treatment is listed. FabDigit prices 150+ finishes and 30 heat treatments in the same quote.
- The part is bigger than the Protolabs envelope. Protolabs CNC milling tops out at 22 × 14 × 3.75 in and sheet metal at 0.125" on the 3-day tier. FabDigit’s partner network quotes larger machined parts, plate and welded assemblies.
- Production quantities and a lower price. Protolabs is priced for quick-turn prototypes and low volume. FabDigit quotes single parts to 10,000+ with quantity breaks and a price-beat offer printed on every quote.
- Quality documents chosen in the quote. 4 inspection levels and 8 certificates (CoC, mill certs, traceability, DFARS) picked per line and reviewed by an engineer before release.
Choose Protolabs when
- You need it tomorrow. Protolabs publishes same-day, 1-day and 2-day CNC expedites from its own factories for parts that fit its envelope and material list.
- ITAR, ISO 13485 or AS9100D at company level. Protolabs holds them itself. FabDigit’s production partners hold ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 work goes only to partners certified to it; FABDIGIT INC. holds no ISO certificate of its own.
- One factory, one QMS. Protolabs makes the part in its own plant. FabDigit uses a vetted partner network with FABDIGIT INC. as the contracting party and quality reviewer.
FabDigit vs Protolabs — FAQ
Is FabDigit cheaper than Protolabs?
Usually, and by policy: FabDigit prints a price-beat offer on every quote — send the Protolabs quote for the same part and FabDigit almost always beats it. Protolabs’ price tiers (Expedite / Standard / Economy) trade speed for price; FabDigit’s quantity breaks favour batches of 10 and up.
Does FabDigit offer more materials and finishes than Protolabs?
Yes. Protolabs runs a fixed stocked catalogue and lists anodize, chromate, bead blast, powder coat and plating as finishes. FabDigit instant-quotes 790 grades, 150+ finishes and 30 heat treatments (quench and temper, H900–H1150, T6 aging, carburize, nitride, cryogenic).
Protolabs or FabDigit for a prototype?
Protolabs if you need it same-day or next-day and the part fits its envelope and material list. FabDigit if the material, finish or size is outside that list, or you want an engineer reviewing the part and inspection reports chosen in the quote; simple 3-axis parts start at 2 business days.
Does FabDigit review DFM like Protolabs?
Both do. Protolabs returns automated DFM analysis with the quote; a FabDigit engineer reviews DFM and the inspection plan on every quote before it is released, and the instant price is shown first.
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 — CNC machining: protolabs.com/services/cnc-machining/
- Protolabs — Sheet metal: protolabs.com/services/sheet-metal-fabrication/
- Protolabs — Sheet metal design guidelines: protolabs.com/services/sheet-metal-fabrication/design-guidelines/
- Protolabs — Lead times: protolabs.com/help-center/lead-times/
- Protolabs — Certifications: protolabs.com/iso/
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 is described from its own public pages. Protolabs 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 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.