Price Comparison
Prices checked on Mar 1, 2026
Why alternatives? When we uploaded our CNC benchmark bracket to Protolabs, it required an RFQ instead of providing an instant quote. Five other platforms quoted instantly, with estimated delivered costs ranging from ~$100 to ~$167. Hubs (owned by Protolabs) also quoted at ~$152.
Configured to Aluminum 6061-T651/T6, qty 1, and default as-machined options, but review page still shows '$—' with 'This part needs to be configured' and only RFQ path.
This doesn't mean Protolabs can't make this part — it means their instant quoting system didn't handle this specific geometry. They may provide competitive pricing through their RFQ process.
| Platform | Raw Quote | Est. Delivered | Confidence | Origin | Lead Time | Instant Quote? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RapidDirect | $65.55 | ~$112.00 | medium | China (Shenzhen) | Standard - 5 business days | Yes |
| Xometry | $118.10 | $118.10 | high | Global network (US and international) | Standard - 3 business days | Yes |
| SendCutSend | $150.54 | $150.54 | high | US | Default lane (arrives Mar 5) | Yes |
| Hubs(owned by Protolabs) | $151.58(EUR 141.66) | ~$151.58 | medium | Global network (cross-docks in Amsterdam and Chicago) | Standard - 14 business days | Yes |
| eMachineShop | $166.81 | $166.81 | high | US | Standard - 20 days | Yes |
Five platforms provided instant CNC quotes for our benchmark bracket: RapidDirect ($65.55 raw, ~$100–125 delivered from China), Xometry ($118.10 all-in from a global network), Hubs (~$152 all-in, owned by Protolabs), SendCutSend ($150.54, US-based), and eMachineShop ($166.81, US-based).
Common reasons include: Protolabs requires an RFQ for some part geometries instead of instant quotes, you want to compare prices across multiple platforms, or you need a platform with a public API for automated workflows.
Hubs is owned by Protolabs, so it's technically part of the same company. However, Hubs operates as a marketplace with a global supplier network, while Protolabs direct uses its own factories. Hubs provided an instant quote when Protolabs didn't, so it may serve as a workaround for the same parent company.
By raw quote, RapidDirect at $65.55. By estimated delivered cost, RapidDirect at ~$100–125 (China-based, shipping extra). Xometry at $118 is the cheapest all-in option for US delivery.
Xometry quoted 3 business days for our benchmark part. SendCutSend quoted ~4 calendar days. RapidDirect's 5-day manufacturing lead time becomes 8–15 days including international shipping.
Sometimes — but not always. In our 2026-03-01 test, our Al 6061 bracket showed '$—' with 'This part needs to be configured' and only offered an RFQ path. Protolabs does offer an instant quoting tool, but complex or non-standard geometries route to human review. If instant quoting is important to your workflow, test your specific STEP file on Protolabs before committing. If they require RFQ, Hubs (a Protolabs subsidiary) may quote the same part instantly.
Hubs quotes in EUR for all regions. Our benchmark bracket was €141.66 total (€125.66 part + €16 shipping) under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms — all costs included in the quote. At the March 2026 rate (~$1.07/EUR), this converts to approximately $151.58 USD. Hubs is more expensive than Xometry ($118.10) but similar to SendCutSend ($150.54). The key advantage of Hubs over the other EUR/international options is the DDP terms: no surprise customs charges on delivery.
Protolabs direct uses its own US-based manufacturing facilities — in-house, vertically integrated. Hubs (owned by Protolabs since 2021) operates as a global marketplace with 250+ manufacturing partners, similar to Xometry's model. In our test, Hubs provided an instant quote when Protolabs did not. If you need Protolabs-level brand trust with faster quote access, Hubs is worth testing — though its EUR pricing and global manufacturing network differ from what Protolabs direct offers.