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ERP · head to head

Katana MRP vs Protolabs

Katana MRP logo

Katana MRP

ERP

Smart manufacturing software for scaling brands

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Protolabs logo

Protolabs

Manufacturing

Instant online quoting for machined, moulded, printed and sheet metal parts

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Katana MRP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Katana MRP the free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period; Protolabs this is a manufacturing service, not software you licence, so comparing it with CAD or MES tools is a category error; the platform is free because the margin is in the parts.
  • They diverge on capability: Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling, Protolabs covers Instant CAD quoting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Katana MRP and Protolabs actually diverge.

Attributes where Katana MRP and Protolabs differ
AttributeKatana MRPProtolabs
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileWeb, Cloud, API
CategoryERPManufacturing
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Katana MRP

  • Visual production scheduling
  • Real-time inventory
  • Bill of materials
  • Purchase orders
  • Shop floor app
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • QuickBooks

Only in Protolabs

  • Instant CAD quoting
  • Automated DFM feedback
  • CNC machining
  • Injection moulding
  • Industrial 3D printing
  • Sheet metal fabrication
  • Protolabs Network
  • Account tooling

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Katana MRP

  • Manufacturing resource planning for small production businessesnot Protolabs
  • Tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasingnot Protolabs

Protolabs

  • A product team needing five machined aluminium prototypes in hand this week to unblock a design reviewnot Katana MRP
  • A startup bridging to volume with an aluminium injection mould before committing to hardened production toolingnot Katana MRP
  • An engineer wanting manufacturability feedback on a part before sending it to an internal machine shopnot Katana MRP
  • A maintenance team ordering a one-off sheet metal bracket without opening a supplier accountnot Katana MRP

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Katana MRP

  • The free plan caps SKUs at 30 after a 15 day unlimited period
  • The Core plan starts at $299 a month and includes one location, with more sold as a usage based add on
  • Core is billed per sales order delivered on top of the base price, so cost tracks throughput
  • Manufacturing management, traceability and warehouse management are separate add ons at $199, $249 and $149 a month
  • A full manufacturing setup therefore stacks to well above the headline $299

Protolabs

  • This is a manufacturing service, not software you licence, so comparing it with CAD or MES tools is a category error; the platform is free because the margin is in the parts.
  • Unit prices are well above a conventional job shop at volume, and past a few thousand parts a traditional supplier or an offshore moulder will beat it substantially.
  • The instant quoting engine only handles geometry it can analyse automatically; complex parts, unusual features or tight tolerances fall out to a manual quote and lose the speed advantage that justified the premium.
  • Material, finish and tolerance options are constrained to what the automated process supports, so designs needing a specific alloy temper or an unusual surface treatment are pushed to Protolabs Network and lose the one-day lead time.
  • Protolabs Network parts are made by third-party partners rather than in Protolabs own factories, so quality consistency and communication depend on which partner is allocated, and the buyer does not choose.

Pricing, plan by plan

Katana MRP

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 30 SKUs (unlimited during 15-day trial)
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Core$299/month
    • Unlimited SKUs
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited integrations
  • Advantage$null/mo
    • Custom annual contract
    • Everything in Core plus custom integrations
    • Custom dashboards and automations

Protolabs

On request
  • Protolabs parts$undefined/month
    • The quoting platform itself is free to use with no subscription
    • Parts are priced per order from geometry, material, quantity and lead time
    • No minimum order quantity, including on injection moulding

Which should you pick?

Choose Katana MRP if

  • You need visual production scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time inventory.
Katana MRP review

Choose Protolabs if

  • You need instant cad quoting.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, API.
  • You also want automated dfm feedback.
Protolabs review

Questions people ask

Is Katana MRP or Protolabs better?
Neither clearly leads. Katana MRP starts at Free and Protolabs at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Katana MRP or Protolabs?
Katana MRP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Katana MRP and On request for Protolabs.
Does Katana MRP or Protolabs run on more platforms?
Katana MRP runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile. Protolabs runs on Web, Cloud, API.
Can I use Katana MRP for free?
Yes. Katana MRP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Protolabs starts at On request.
What is Katana MRP best used for?
Katana MRP is most often used for manufacturing resource planning for small production businesses, tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasing. Of those, manufacturing resource planning for small production businesses and tracking live inventory across making, selling and purchasing are not what Protolabs is typically brought in for.
What can Katana MRP do that Protolabs cannot?
Katana MRP covers Visual production scheduling, Real-time inventory, Bill of materials, Purchase orders. Protolabs covers Instant CAD quoting, Automated DFM feedback, CNC machining, Injection moulding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Katana MRP: How much does Katana MRP cost?

Katana offers a free plan with 30 SKUs and all core features. Core plan starts at $299/month for unlimited SKUs and users. Usage-based pricing applies to sales orders delivered and additional locations beyond the 1 included. Add-ons like Manufacturing Management cost $199/month.

Source
Protolabs: Is Protolabs software or a service?

A service. The online quoting platform is free software wrapped around a parts business; you cannot licence the platform on its own.

Katana MRP: How does Katana charge for multiple locations?

Core plan includes 1 location. Additional locations beyond the included location are charged separately with per-unit costs decreasing at higher volumes. Exact pricing for additional locations is calculated based on scale.

Source
Protolabs: What does the quoting platform cost?

Nothing. You pay only for parts you order.

Katana MRP: What are the manufacturing add-on costs for Katana?

Katana charges $199/month for Manufacturing Management, $249/month for Traceability, and $149/month for Warehouse Management add-ons. Onboarding package costs $2,000 but is included with Core plan.

Source
Protolabs: Is there a minimum order?

No minimum order quantity, including injection moulding, where a single-cavity aluminium tool can produce a handful of parts.

Protolabs: When should I stop using Protolabs?

Once volumes are stable and in the thousands. At that point hard tooling with a conventional moulder or a job shop is materially cheaper per part.

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