Manufacturing · head to head
Oqton vs Paperless Parts
Oqton
Manufacturing
3D Systems manufacturing operating system for additive, narrowed after Geomagic was sold to Hexagon
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Paperless Parts
Manufacturing
Quoting and estimating software for job shops, with geometry analysis and ITAR-aware handling
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Oqton 3D Systems sold the Geomagic portfolio to Hexagon in April 2025, so buyers who chose Oqton for an end-to-end scanning-to-production suite now deal with two separate vendors and two roadmaps.; Paperless Parts no pricing is published at any tier, and the mandatory implementation and data migration are quoted on top of the subscription, so the first-year cost is materially higher than the recurring one.
- They diverge on capability: Oqton covers Manufacturing OS, Paperless Parts covers Geometry analysis.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Oqton and Paperless Parts actually diverge.
| Attribute | Oqton | Paperless Parts |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Windows, API | Web |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), 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 Oqton
- Manufacturing OS
- Build preparation
- Machine connectivity
- Traceability
- Automated nesting
- Quality data
Only in Paperless Parts
- Geometry analysis
- Costing rules
- Customer portal
- Quote revisions
- ITAR-aware handling
- ERP hand-off
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Oqton
- A metal additive production site scheduling builds across several machines rather than per operatornot Paperless Parts
- A dental manufacturer needing batch to part traceability for regulated devicesnot Paperless Parts
- A 3D Systems printer customer moving from prototyping to serial productionnot Paperless Parts
- A factory automating build nesting to raise platform utilisationnot Paperless Parts
Paperless Parts
- A CNC machine shop losing RFQs because quotes take three days to return by emailnot Oqton
- A defence supplier that must process controlled RFQ files without exposing them to a generic cloud toolnot Oqton
- A fabricator standardising estimating so quotes do not vary by which estimator picked them upnot Oqton
- A contract manufacturer giving customers a portal to submit parts and receive prices themselvesnot Oqton
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Oqton
- 3D Systems sold the Geomagic portfolio to Hexagon in April 2025, so buyers who chose Oqton for an end-to-end scanning-to-production suite now deal with two separate vendors and two roadmaps.
- No pricing is published, and licensing is split between the manufacturing OS and separately licensed build preparation modules, so the quoted figure is rarely the full cost.
- Support is deepest on 3D Systems hardware despite multi-vendor claims, so a mixed fleet gets uneven data capture and control.
- The parent company has been under financial pressure and has already divested a major software line, which is a genuine continuity risk for a system running a production floor.
- It is additive-only, so a manufacturer with mixed processes needs a conventional MES alongside it and an integration between the two.
Paperless Parts
- No pricing is published at any tier, and the mandatory implementation and data migration are quoted on top of the subscription, so the first-year cost is materially higher than the recurring one.
- The quality of automated quotes depends on costing rules the shop must write, which takes an experienced estimator out of production for weeks before the system is useful.
- ERP and shop system integration is gated to higher tiers, so a small shop on the entry plan is still retyping won quotes into its job system.
- Geometry analysis handles prismatic machined and sheet metal parts well but struggles with complex organic surfaces, weldments and assemblies, which still need manual estimating.
- Once costing logic and quote history live in the platform, moving to another system means rebuilding the rules from scratch, which is a strong practical lock-in beyond the contract term.
Pricing, plan by plan
Oqton
On request- Oqton Industrial Manufacturing OS$undefined/year
- Annual subscription quoted by 3D Systems
- Priced on connected machines and sites
- Build preparation modules licensed separately
Paperless Parts
On request- Basic$undefined/year
- Quoting and geometry analysis
- Customer portal
- For small job shops and contract manufacturers
- Pro$undefined/year
- Integrations with ERP and shop systems
- Deeper costing configuration
- For mid-sized manufacturers
- Enterprise$undefined/year
- Controlled data handling for defence and aerospace
- Multi-site and multi-process support
- Priority support and dedicated onboarding
Which should you pick?
Choose Oqton if
- You need manufacturing os.
- You work on Web, Windows, API.
- You also want build preparation.
Choose Paperless Parts if
- You need geometry analysis.
- You also want costing rules.
Questions people ask
- Is Oqton or Paperless Parts better?
- Neither clearly leads. Oqton starts at On request and Paperless Parts at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Oqton or Paperless Parts?
- Oqton starts at On request and Paperless Parts at On request.
- Does Oqton or Paperless Parts run on more platforms?
- Oqton runs on Web, Windows, API. Paperless Parts runs on Web.
- What is Oqton best used for?
- Oqton is most often used for a metal additive production site scheduling builds across several machines rather than per operator, a dental manufacturer needing batch to part traceability for regulated devices, a 3d systems printer customer moving from prototyping to serial production, a factory automating build nesting to raise platform utilisation. Of those, a metal additive production site scheduling builds across several machines rather than per operator and a dental manufacturer needing batch to part traceability for regulated devices are not what Paperless Parts is typically brought in for.
- What can Oqton do that Paperless Parts cannot?
- Oqton covers Manufacturing OS, Build preparation, Machine connectivity, Traceability. Paperless Parts covers Geometry analysis, Costing rules, Customer portal, Quote revisions.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Oqton: Who owns Oqton?
3D Systems, which acquired it in 2021 and made it the central software brand.
Paperless Parts: How much does Paperless Parts cost?
It does not publish pricing. Expect a tiered annual subscription plus a separately quoted implementation and data migration.
Oqton: Did Oqton include Geomagic?
It did. 3D Systems completed the sale of the Geomagic portfolio, including Design X, Control X, Freeform and Wrap, to Hexagon for $123 million in April 2025. Oqton retained 3D Sprint, 3DXpert and the Manufacturing OS.
Paperless Parts: Does it quote automatically without setup?
No. It applies your costing rules to analysed geometry, and those rules have to be built with your estimator during implementation.
Oqton: Does Oqton work with printers from other manufacturers?
It connects to multi-vendor equipment, but the deepest integration and support is on 3D Systems machines.
Paperless Parts: Can it handle ITAR-controlled RFQs?
It markets controlled data handling for defence and aerospace work, which is a main reason regulated shops choose it over generic quoting tools.
Oqton: How much does it cost?
Not published. It is quoted annually, typically on connected machines and sites, with build preparation modules licensed separately.
Paperless Parts: Will it integrate with my shop ERP?
Integrations exist but are gated to the higher tiers, so confirm your ERP is covered at the tier you are quoted.
Related pages
More on Paperless Parts
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