In the world of modern digital manufacturing, many engineers will choose between Xometry and Protolabs. These are two large, global manufacturing companies that offer roughly the same experience. In this guide, you’ll learn the specific differences between both options to understand which is better for you. In addition, we’ll discuss which cases fit Jiga’s transparent model better than both of these options, which relies on direct supplier communication to get accurate and competitive results.
About Xometry
Xometry is a digital manufacturer that offers on-demand manufacturing for prototypes or production parts. The appeal of Xometry is its large network of fabrication shops that can perform the work for you, and they don’t do much fabrication in-house.
Xometry’s business model is built similarly to Uber’s: They will connect you to the right person to do the job, but (for the most part) they don’t do the work themselves. However, there is no transparency about which supplier is handling your fabrication project, how many times the project will be sub-contracted, or any specs about the individual fabricators. To some, this is an issue.
Simply put, Xometry is a middleman between you and a machine shop.
About Protolabs
Protolabs is also a tech-first on-demand manufacturer that offers a lot of services under one roof. They will use outside suppliers to handle larger, more complicated, or specialty projects, but they also do plenty of manufacturing under their own roof.
Protolabs used to do all of their manufacturing in-house, but they acquired Hubs which came with a global network of vendors and fabricators. Today, they offer a combination of in-house manufacturing, and manufacturing that is outsourced to a company within their network. Comparatively, Xometry outsources the vast majority of its projects and does almost no manufacturing in-house.
Part of their outsourcing focus comes from their acquisition of companies like Hubs, which works identically to Xometry. With this, Protolabs can shop out a lot of their projects to outside vendors if they don’t have the bandwidth or capability to handle your project.
Protolabs either manufactures the part themselves, or they use one of their partners to do the work.
Xometry vs Protolabs: Comparison of the 7 biggest differences
Both companies offer a simple way to get your parts manufactured, but there are plenty of differences between each company. Consider the following core features to better make your decision:
Manufacturing capabilities
Both companies offer standard manufacturing options like CNC machining, 3D printing, and sheet metal fabrication. Xometry goes one step further by also providing a wider variety of processes such as urethane casting.
Xometry is also better for specialty fabrication, such as projects that require complex parts or very tight tolerances. Xometry can handle a broader range of part sizes, including larger parts that Protolabs may not be able to support.
Materials and finishes
Xometry and Protolabs are both great choices for a wide variety of materials and finishes. In this category, Xometry does everything Protolabs does, but a little more. With Xometry, you can use specialty materials and access a wider range of finishes.
You can fall back on Xometry if Protolabs doesn’t have the materials you’re looking for.
Pricing
Pricing is typically pretty close between Xometry and Protolabs. Since Xometry allows you to shop with in-network manufacturers, it’s easier to find lower prices.
Xometry’s prices tend to scale better for larger production runs compared to Protolabs.
However, 3D printing and simple CNC machinery projects tend to be less expensive at Protolabs since they handle these projects in-house – doing it under their roof means that they can afford to charge you less since your part is not changing hands between multiple companies.
Lead times
Xometry and Protolabs both offer great turnaround times. Protolabs tends to be quicker with projects that they fabricate in-house, since they aren’t relying on another shop to finish and arrange logistics.
Support
The support from Protolabs is of higher quality and more specific to your needs. Xometry’s business model prioritizes getting a high volume of projects and assigning a Project Manager to juggle multiple projects at once. As a result, there are some issues due to the high workload of these Xometry employees.
Scalability
You can easily scale your product with either Xometry and Protolabs. Mass production tends to work better with Xometry, though it isn’t ideal since you can’t talk directly with the person doing the fabrication.
ITAR compliance for regulated industries
Both Protolabs and Xometry offer ITAR-compliant manufacturing. However, Protolabs only complies with ITAR standards for their in-house manufacturing, not their outsourced fabrication. This means that any project they have to outsource will not meet your needsAs a result, Xometry is the better option for highly regulated industries, since all of their work meets ITAR regulations.
| Use case | Xometry | Protolabs | Jiga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prototyping vs. production | Strong for prototyping and mid-volume; less consistency at scale since work is spread across a large partner network | Fast for prototypes and low-volume runs made in-house; weaker for sustained production since capacity is optimized for quick turns, not long-term partnership | Built for repeat, production-grade work with a smaller vetted network and a named account manager per program |
| Sheet metal fabrication | Broad process coverage but no direct line to the shop actually cutting and forming the part | In-house and outsourced sheet metal with fast quoting; feedback still routes through Protolabs, not the fabricator | Direct supplier communication on sheet metal specs, tolerances, and DFM feedback before the order is placed |
| Aerospace / defense (ITAR) | ITAR-compliant across its network, including subcontracted work | ITAR compliance applies only to in-house manufacturing; outsourced orders are not guaranteed ITAR-compliant | Suppliers are ITAR-registered and vetted individually, with full traceability on regulated programs |
Consider a third option for better results: Jiga
Although we respect Xometry and Protolabs for what they are, we believe that they don’t deliver the best digital manufacturing experience for many engineers, particularly those who need to communicate and source complex parts. They don’t let you talk directly with suppliers, you can’t shop quotes, and it’s hard to get clear manufacturability feedback from suppliers.
Which option is better for engineers and designers?
For quick turn and simple parts, Protolabs is the better option. For more uncommon machinery or materials needs, you should consider Xometry. However, if you want a long-term production partner that prioritizes reliability and quality of each part, you should choose Jiga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for CNC machining projects, Xometry or Protolabs?
Xometry has the deeper CNC machining bench: a larger partner network gives it more tolerance and material flexibility, plus better support for larger or more complex parts. Protolabs is faster for simple, quick-turn CNC jobs it can run in-house, but it has less headroom for complex tolerances or large parts.
How does Xometry's network model differ from Protolabs' in-house approach?
Xometry operates almost entirely through outside partner shops, similar to a marketplace, so your part could be built by any of dozens of fabricators with no visibility into which one. Protolabs does a meaningful share of work in-house and only routes overflow or specialty jobs to its network (including Hubs), giving it more direct control over the projects it manufactures itself.
What are the pros and cons of Protolabs vs Xometry for sheet metal fabrication?
Protolabs offers in-house sheet metal with fast turnarounds and DFM feedback, but capacity and part-size range are more limited. Xometry’s larger network covers more sheet metal variations and larger runs, but you lose the consistency of a single shop handling every order and there’s no direct line to the fabricator.
Which platform is best for aerospace and defense parts?
For ITAR-regulated aerospace and defense work, Xometry has an edge over Protolabs because its ITAR compliance extends across its full network, not just in-house work. Protolabs’ ITAR compliance only covers what it manufactures itself, so outsourced orders on regulated programs need extra scrutiny. Jiga is built for this case specifically, with ITAR-registered suppliers vetted individually and full traceability on every regulated order.
