PBCway vs OSHpark - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 02:54:13 pm
content: Just had this experience.I wanted to have some Imsaiguy boards made. Went to OSHpark, who wanted over $50 for 3 boards. Went to PCB way who made 10 of those boards (and 5 others) for a total of $5 for an order of 10 and $5 for an order of 5 but $50 shipping. Interesting.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 02:56:41 pm
content: As you're importing into the USA I'm curious how big the tariffs will be for this. Let us know

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 03:26:14 pm
content: I use OSHPark from time to time. Yes, with free shipping they are often ahead, especially if you really don't need 5 or 10 boards. But the issue I have with them is time. You really should use them if you are not in a hurry, they take a log time to make them. The time depends on demand, they make them as soon as they can fill the panel, so it is also unpredictable.I also hate their puke purple color, so I can only order after dark (black substrate and transparent solder mask). This is limited to two layers, which also limits a lot of designs. I really wish they would drop that color gimmick and just make standard green PCBs.And another annoyance with OSHPark is that they don't do full experimenter routing. PCBs arrive with small tabs that you need to sand. Given the competition, it is really not acceptable.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 04:23:43 pm
content: Quote from: watchmaker on September 21, 2025, 02:54:13 pmWhat shipping method did you choose? The shipping fee might include tariffs.If you use the slow shipping option from JLCPCB it's really cheap. I've had a few recent orders of 10 PCBs each, and they came out to under $10 including shipping each.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 06:11:54 pm
content: JLC slow boat shipping is honestly quicker than I expected (to UK at least) and very affordable. That said I normally tack my board orders onto work stuff so that I share the fast shipping (and DHL is very good on that route - often only 2 days to London).

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 06:37:53 pm
content: DHL is also fastest to the US. But you certainly pay for it! My last order was PCBA service for 5 boards. $40 total including parts and shipping after a $9 coupon. If I shipped it DHL, it would have cost double that.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2025, 08:15:24 pm
content: I went with DHL. From PCBway I got 15 boards for $50 total, while OSHpark wanted $50 for only three boards, plus shipping.That is a substantial difference. And includes the royalty to Imsaiguy!

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 08:55:11 am
content: It's good to have multiple suppliers to choose from (for now at least), and often comes down to a personal choice: 'How much extra am I prepared to pay to support a business in my own locality or country?'

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 04:48:33 pm
content: My problem with that philosophy stems from the potential to spend exponentially more money, and not receive better quality.I've seen some very expensive UK/US companies create PCBs that would be rejected by JLCPCB. JLC is by no mean the best PCB house I use, and they've certainly screwed up some orders, so that says something.If I can get a PCB for $2, that's better quality than another company will charge $80 for, there's no choice to be made.For higher quality PCBs, I've had great luck with WellPCB. Others like PCBWay too, though I haven't tried them.I've not found a single domestic company that does better quality work at any kind of reasonable pricing. In fact, I found multiple PCB companies in the US and Canada that charge a premium price for PCB/PCBA work, and send the projects out to China to be manufactured. I wouldn't be surprised if you find other companies in the UK doing the same thing.I'll support my own domestic company by not wasting money on a middleman.Thanks,Josh

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 06:08:24 pm
content: Yes, I want to be clear that I use OSHPark not because I want to support US companies, I don't care even a bit. I use them when it is a better deal overall.OSHPark (or rather their vendor) screwed up my orders 4 or 5 times. From under-etching to slots not being milled. Neither JLC or PcbWay have delivered a defective board.OSHPark does make it right, of course, so no issues there. But if I were that PCB vendor, I would certainly work on improving my processes.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 06:15:37 pm
content: Entirely correct. Some so called local companies dare to take a gigantic uplift (x3 or more) and then still order abroad but never tell you.The quality of PCBWay and JLCPCB is really good for the common stuff (my experience is limited to 4 layers and 0.15mm traces which is pretty much standard these days). They have lots of volume in these things, competition is heavy too, consequently they have to keep the quality high else it will impact their revenue a lot. In the ordering process I also appreciate the web interface, it just works and price is immediate and final.Mind you they still make a decent living with these prices. What they send you for 5 or 10 bucks probably costs them about a tenth of that. Again, the volume are key here.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 08:08:02 pm
content: Wrong section of the forum.OSHpark like DKred is USA made so prices are expected to be higher.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/new-pcb-service-from-digikey-dkred/Quote from: Swake on September 22, 2025, 06:15:37 pmTenth, highly unlikely. Chinese companies are known for offering very low markups though, as low as 5-10%. Some are 0% and then make the margin on subsidies.