Manufacturing · head to head
GrabCAD Print vs Xometry
GrabCAD Print
Manufacturing
Stratasys print preparation, free in Standard form and 5,000 US dollars a year for Pro
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Xometry
Manufacturing
Custom parts marketplace whose quoting software is free because the money is in the order
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GrabCAD Print it only drives Stratasys printers, so the free Standard tier is a hardware retention mechanism rather than a portable tool, and prepared jobs do not move to another vendor.; Xometry xometry is the counterparty rather than the shop, and the margin between what you pay and what the maker receives is never disclosed, so buyers cannot benchmark the part price.
- They diverge on capability: GrabCAD Print covers Native CAD import, Xometry covers Instant Quoting Engine.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GrabCAD Print and Xometry actually diverge.
| Attribute | GrabCAD Print | Xometry |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user per year | Per order, priced on the part |
| Platforms | Windows, Desktop, Cloud | Web, API |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Manufacturing).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in GrabCAD Print
- Native CAD import
- Multi-technology support
- Tray arrangement and supports
- Nesting (Pro)
- Manufacturing templates (Pro)
- Part labelling (Pro)
- Wall thickness analysis (Pro)
- Cost estimation (Pro)
Only in Xometry
- Instant Quoting Engine
- Multi-process coverage
- Teamspace
- Thomasnet
- Supplier network
- Certifications
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GrabCAD Print
- A service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per partnot Xometry
- A production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change themnot Xometry
- A design office running FDM and PolyJet machines and wanting one preparation tool rather than twonot Xometry
- An engineering team importing native CAD assemblies directly rather than maintaining an STL export workflownot Xometry
Xometry
- An engineering team needing machined prototypes in a week without qualifying a shopnot GrabCAD Print
- A procurement group consolidating dozens of low-value part suppliers onto one purchase ordernot GrabCAD Print
- A startup with no supply chain buying a first low-volume production runnot GrabCAD Print
- A design team price-checking a geometry change before committing to itnot GrabCAD Print
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GrabCAD Print
- It only drives Stratasys printers, so the free Standard tier is a hardware retention mechanism rather than a portable tool, and prepared jobs do not move to another vendor.
- Pro is 5,000 US dollars per named user per year on top of machines that already cost six figures, and there is no floating licence in the standard offer, so shift-based teams buy multiple seats.
- The production features that most justify the spend, nesting and manufacturing templates, are all locked behind Pro, meaning the free tier is not viable for a bureau.
- Stratasys materials are proprietary and cartridge-locked, so the software sits on top of a consumables model where the recurring cost is set entirely by the vendor.
- Support and feature coverage vary by printer family; newer technologies such as SAF and the Neo SLA line have historically lagged FDM in the depth of preparation options exposed.
Xometry
- Xometry is the counterparty rather than the shop, and the margin between what you pay and what the maker receives is never disclosed, so buyers cannot benchmark the part price.
- You usually do not choose or even know which supplier makes the part, so repeat orders can come from different shops with visibly different finish and process consistency.
- For parts bought repeatedly over years the marketplace margin compounds, and qualifying a shop directly becomes materially cheaper.
- Instant quotes are geometry-driven and degrade on unusual features, tight tolerances or complex assemblies, where a manual review changes the price after you have planned around the automated figure.
- Because the software is free and the revenue is in orders, there is no software contract to hold the vendor to; support and continuity are governed by your value as a parts customer, not by a licence.
Pricing, plan by plan
GrabCAD Print
Free- GrabCAD Print StandardFree
- Free for Stratasys printer owners
- Native CAD import and tray arrangement
- Support generation and section tools
- GrabCAD Print Pro$5000/year
- Per named user per year
- Automated build nesting
- Manufacturing templates with locked process parameters
Xometry
Free- Buyer accountFree
- Instant Quoting Engine at no charge
- Teamspace collaboration
- Thomasnet sourcing access
- Enterprise$undefined/year
- Negotiated part pricing and terms
- Dedicated account and programme management
- Procurement system integration
Which should you pick?
Choose GrabCAD Print if
- You need native cad import.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Desktop, Cloud.
- You also want multi-technology support.
Choose Xometry if
- You need instant quoting engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, API.
- You also want multi-process coverage.
Questions people ask
- Is GrabCAD Print or Xometry better?
- Neither clearly leads. GrabCAD Print starts at Free and Xometry at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GrabCAD Print or Xometry?
- GrabCAD Print starts at Free and Xometry at Free.
- Does GrabCAD Print or Xometry run on more platforms?
- GrabCAD Print runs on Windows, Desktop, Cloud. Xometry runs on Web, API.
- Can I use GrabCAD Print for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GrabCAD Print best used for?
- GrabCAD Print is most often used for a service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per part, a production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change them, a design office running fdm and polyjet machines and wanting one preparation tool rather than two, an engineering team importing native cad assemblies directly rather than maintaining an stl export workflow. Of those, a service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per part and a production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change them are not what Xometry is typically brought in for.
- What can GrabCAD Print do that Xometry cannot?
- GrabCAD Print covers Native CAD import, Multi-technology support, Tray arrangement and supports, Nesting (Pro). Xometry covers Instant Quoting Engine, Multi-process coverage, Teamspace, Thomasnet.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GrabCAD Print: Is GrabCAD Print free?
GrabCAD Print Standard is free for Stratasys printer owners. GrabCAD Print Pro is 5,000 US dollars per user per year.
Xometry: Does the Xometry software cost anything?
No. Quoting and Teamspace are free. Xometry earns on the parts you order, with the margin built into the part price.
GrabCAD Print: Can it drive a non-Stratasys printer?
No. It is tied to Stratasys hardware.
Xometry: Do I get to choose the shop?
Normally no. Xometry routes the job within its supplier network and remains your contracting party.
GrabCAD Print: What do I actually get for the Pro fee?
Nesting, manufacturing templates, part labelling, wall thickness analysis and build cost estimation. These are production rather than prototyping features.
Xometry: Is it cheaper than going direct to a machine shop?
For one-off and low-volume work usually yes, once you count sourcing time. For repeat production the marketplace margin makes a direct qualified supplier cheaper.
GrabCAD Print: Is there a trial?
Yes, Stratasys has offered 30 and 60 day trials of Pro.
Xometry: Can it handle ITAR or aerospace work?
It offers ITAR-registered and AS9100 routing on qualifying orders, but you must specify those requirements at quote time.
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