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Manufacturing · head to head

OpenBOM vs Protolabs

OpenBOM logo

OpenBOM

Manufacturing

Cloud bill of materials and part catalogue management priced per seat, with free read-only users

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 OpenBOM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenBOM pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.; 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: OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Protolabs covers Instant CAD quoting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenBOM and Protolabs actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenBOM and Protolabs differ
AttributeOpenBOMProtolabs
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, APIWeb, Cloud, API

Identical on both: 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 OpenBOM

  • Multi-level BOMs
  • Part catalogue
  • CAD add-ins
  • Change management
  • Free read-only users
  • REST API

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.

OpenBOM

  • A hardware startup replacing a shared BOM spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing runnot Protolabs
  • A contract manufacturer sharing structured BOMs with customers who should see but not edit themnot Protolabs
  • An electronics team pulling BOMs straight out of Altium and mechanical CAD instead of retyping themnot Protolabs
  • A small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a PLM projectnot Protolabs

Protolabs

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

Where each one falls short

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

OpenBOM

  • Pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • Paying yearly nearly halves the seat price, from $55 to $30 and $165 to $90, so monthly billing carries an unusually heavy penalty for teams that want flexibility.
  • Change management, revision control and CAD file management are absent from the entry Team plan, so the cheapest tier is a catalogue rather than a working PLM.
  • It lacks the approval workflows, effectivity dating and audit depth that regulated medical and aerospace suppliers need, so companies pursuing ISO 13485 or AS9100 typically migrate away.
  • Record count is metered separately and a large imported part library can push a small team into a higher data tier without adding a single user.

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

OpenBOM

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 2,000 data records
    • Basic BOM and catalogue management
    • Non-commercial and educational use
  • Professional Team$55/month
    • $30 per seat per month billed yearly
    • BOM management, part catalogue, inventory
    • RFQ and purchase orders
  • Company$165/month
    • $90 per seat per month billed yearly
    • Everything in Team
    • CAD file management and revision control
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Single sign-on
    • Custom integrations
    • Private or custom hosting

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 OpenBOM if

  • You need multi-level boms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
  • You also want part catalogue.
OpenBOM 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 OpenBOM or Protolabs better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenBOM 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, OpenBOM or Protolabs?
OpenBOM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenBOM and On request for Protolabs.
Does OpenBOM or Protolabs run on more platforms?
OpenBOM runs on Web, Windows, macOS, API. Protolabs runs on Web, Cloud, API.
Can I use OpenBOM for free?
Yes. OpenBOM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Protolabs starts at On request.
What is OpenBOM best used for?
OpenBOM is most often used for a hardware startup replacing a shared bom spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing run, a contract manufacturer sharing structured boms with customers who should see but not edit them, an electronics team pulling boms straight out of altium and mechanical cad instead of retyping them, a small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a plm project. Of those, a hardware startup replacing a shared bom spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing run and a contract manufacturer sharing structured boms with customers who should see but not edit them are not what Protolabs is typically brought in for.
What can OpenBOM do that Protolabs cannot?
OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Part catalogue, CAD add-ins, Change management. Protolabs covers Instant CAD quoting, Automated DFM feedback, CNC machining, Injection moulding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenBOM: Is OpenBOM free?

There is a genuine free tier limited to 2,000 data records and aimed at non-commercial and educational use. Commercial teams start at $30 per seat per month billed yearly.

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.

OpenBOM: Do I pay for people who only look at BOMs?

No. Read-only users are unlimited and free on every paid plan, which is the main reason the total cost undercuts seat-for-seat PLM tools.

Protolabs: What does the quoting platform cost?

Nothing. You pay only for parts you order.

OpenBOM: Are the CAD add-ins included?

No. They are $25 per seat per month billed yearly, $45 monthly, and require an active Team or Company subscription.

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.

OpenBOM: Can OpenBOM replace a full PLM?

For a startup, usually yes. For regulated manufacturing needing controlled workflows and full audit trails, no.

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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