Xometry alternatives: Makelab for plastic 3D printing, and five more by process
If you are leaving Xometry for plastic 3D printing, Makelab gives you an instant quote, five processes in one Brooklyn factory and the engineers who run your job. Xometry is a marketplace that routes each job to a partner shop. Below, Makelab and five other alternatives, with how each one makes parts.
How the six alternatives compare
What you get from Makelab
An instant quote that checks your file
- Upload a CAD file and see the price and every lead-time option in seconds.
- The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints.
Five processes, large parts included
- FDM, SLA, Industrial SLA, MJF and FGF, in 21 materials.
- One-piece parts up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm) on FGF and 67 x 31 x 24 in (1700 × 800 × 600 mm) on Industrial SLA.
The engineers who run your job answer you
- Questions about orientation, splits or material go to the people printing the part.
- Our design engineers repair files, rebuild parts from scans and redesign them for printing.
Pickup in Brooklyn, next-day delivery in NYC
- Pickup at our Sunset Park factory is free, and delivery across NYC and northern New Jersey is next day.
- We ship to all 50 states.
Prices you can see before you order
- The instant quote gives the price before you order. There is no minimum order, and bulk discounts start at 10 parts.
- Our cost estimator shows price ranges from shipped orders.
One part or a production run
- We ship 5,000+ parts a week. A single prototype gets the same file review and inspection as a production order.
- Certificates of conformity, material data sheets and inspection reports on production orders.
Our recommendation
When another option fits
Protolabs
- Molding, machining and metal printing from its own factories, with certifications on file.
- A good fit when a prototype is heading toward injection molding.
Protolabs Network
- Marketplace-style ordering across hundreds of partner shops, with Protolabs behind it.
Fictiv
- A managed supply chain with production regions in the US, China, India and Mexico.
Craftcloud
- Several offers for the same part, side by side. Useful outside the US, since offers are tailored to your location.
SendCutSend
- Flat and bent sheet parts from its own facilities, with prices shown on the site.
Parts we 3D print, by material and process
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Xometry alternative?
For plastic 3D printing, Makelab: one US factory with five processes, instant quotes and engineers you can talk to. For other work it depends on the process: Protolabs for injection molding and CNC from its own factories, SendCutSend for sheet metal, and Craftcloud or Protolabs Network for comparing prices across many shops.
Which Xometry alternatives make parts in their own factories?
Of the six here, Makelab (Brooklyn, NY, where most parts are printed on our own floor), Protolabs (Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, the UK and Germany) and SendCutSend (Nevada, Kentucky and Texas). Protolabs Network, Fictiv and Craftcloud route work to partner manufacturers, as Xometry does.
Do these Xometry alternatives offer instant quotes?
Yes, all six price a CAD upload online. Protolabs and Fictiv add design-for-manufacturability feedback, and Craftcloud shows several partner offers at once. Makelab's instant quote at quote.makelab.com checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints.
Which Xometry alternative can print large parts in one piece?
Makelab prints plastic parts in one piece up to 1700 × 800 × 600 mm on Industrial SLA and up to 2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm on FGF. For comparison, Protolabs lists 29 x 25 x 21 in as its largest SLA build, and Xometry lists 24 x 36 x 36 in without splitting.
Is there a 3D printing service in New York that makes parts in-house?
Yes. Makelab is a 3D printing factory in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, running FDM, SLA, Industrial SLA, MJF and FGF, and most parts are printed on our own floor. Pickup is free, and we deliver next day across NYC and northern New Jersey. Upload a file at quote.makelab.com for an instant price.
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FDM
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FDM
PLA vs ABS — the two classic FDM filaments compared.
FDM
PETG vs ASA — indoor workhorse vs outdoor champion.
MJF
Nylon PA12 vs aluminum — when printed nylon replaces machined metal.
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FDM vs MJF — cost-effective prototyping vs production-grade nylon.
SLA vs MJF
SLA vs MJF — precision and finish vs production-grade strength.
FDM vs Industrial SLA
FDM vs Industrial SLA — two paths to large-format 3D printing.
MJF
MJF vs injection molding — when does 3D printing make more sense?
FDM vs SLA vs MJF
FDM vs SLA vs MJF — the complete 3D printing technology comparison.
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Makelab vs Protolabs for plastic 3D printing and large parts
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Related Services
FDM 3D Printing Service
FDM 3D printing in 5 thermoplastics — PLA, PETG, ASA, PC CF, TPU. The fastest and most cost-effective way to get functional parts in your hand.
SLA 3D Printing Service
Smooth-finish SLA 3D printing in 13 resins. Visual prototypes, snap-fit validation, and presentation models down to 25μm layers.
MJF 3D Printing Service
HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing in Nylon PA12, PA11, and PA12 Glass Filled. Batch-consistent production parts in 5–7 business days.
Large Format 3D Printing Service
Parts up to 2400mm on FGF and 1700mm on Industrial SLA. Architectural models, trade show props, full-scale prototypes.
Related Comparisons
Makelab vs Xometry for plastic 3D printing: one factory or 5,000 suppliers
For plastic 3D printing, choose Makelab. The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints. Most parts are printed and inspected on our own floor in Brooklyn, so the people answering your questions are the people running the job. Parts print in one piece up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm) on FGF, past Xometry's 24 x 36 x 36 in limit without splitting. If the file needs work first, our design engineers repair it, rebuild it from a scan or redesign it for printing. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.
Makelab vs Protolabs for plastic 3D printing and large parts
For plastic 3D printing, choose Makelab. Our Industrial SLA prints up to 67 x 31 x 24 in (1700 × 800 × 600 mm) in one piece, where Protolabs' largest SLA build is 29 x 25 x 21 in. FGF goes up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm). You work through orientation, splits and material with the engineers who print the part. The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints. If the file needs work, our design engineers repair it, rebuild it from a scan or redesign it for printing. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.
Makelab vs Craftcloud: one US factory or 150+ partner shops
For plastic parts made in the US, choose Makelab. One shop owns the job from the file check to delivery, so a question about your part goes to the engineers printing it. Reorders run with the same team and QA, which matters once a prototype becomes a production part. Industrial SLA prints up to 1700 × 800 × 600 mm and FGF up to 2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm in one piece. Production orders come with certificates of conformity, material data sheets and inspection reports. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.
Xometry vs Protolabs vs Craftcloud vs Makelab: which to choose for 3D printing
For plastic 3D printing in the US, choose Makelab. Parts print in one piece up to 94 x 94 x 39 in (2400 × 2400 × 1000 mm) on FGF, bigger than the limits Xometry and Protolabs list. The instant quote checks wall thickness and part size as you upload, and an engineer reviews every file before it prints. Most parts are printed and inspected on our own floor in Brooklyn, and you talk to the engineers running your job. There is no minimum order, and bulk discounts start at 10 parts. In New York and northern New Jersey, pickup is free and delivery is next day.
Related Technologies
FDM
FDM 3D printing service — fastest turnaround, lowest cost per part. 5 engineering thermoplastics including PETG, ASA, and PC CF. Build volume up to 360mm. Brooklyn, NY.
SLA
SLA 3D printing service — smoothest surfaces and tightest tolerances in our catalog. 14 resin options from Standard to High Temp. Build volume up to 1700mm on Industrial SLA.
Industrial SLA
Industrial SLA 3D printing for large-format parts up to 1700 x 800 x 600mm. Presentation-quality surfaces at 5 Ra μm. Architecture models, props, and oversized prototypes.
MJF
MJF 3D printing service — production-grade Nylon PA12, PA11, and PA12 Glass Filled with batch consistency. Isotropic strength, no supports, lead times from 5 business days. Brooklyn, NY.
FGF
FGF 3D printing service — largest build envelope in our facility at 2400 x 2400 x 1000mm. Pellet-fed extrusion for oversized structural parts and props.
Ready to start production?
Upload your CAD file and get a quote in minutes — or talk to our engineers about your next production run.