JLCPCB vs PCBWAY

[metal]

Hi,

Anyone tried both, can you just compare the quality of the PCBs? Which is better?

thanks!

[PM3295]

I use JLC regularly.  I have used PCBWAY sometime in the past, but prefer JLC. I also like ALLPCB since they didn't charge me extra for yellow soldermask with black silkscreen. Everybody else wanted to charge a premium for that specific combination.

I can't complain about JLC's work. Quality has always been good. Haven't used PCBWAY for several years.

[koky]

I made pcbway and jlpcb do the same thing, on the double faces I doubt that they were made by the same hand,
the position of the symbol they put was in the exact same position

[Flash50]

You can compare their capabilities. I have been using JCL for 4 years. Their prices are good. I am satisfied with their quality.

https://jlcpcb.com/capabilities/Capabilities

[neom]

JLC have a good quality. I think JLC PCB's are good value for money.

[Xwing]

The quality offered by JLCPCB and PCBWAY is practically identical, some complementary services offered and some rates change.
Personally i prefer JLCPCB because it has lower shipping prices with DHL than PCBWAY and on the order of a single PCB, 5 pieces, i can stay under the ceiling of 22 E, for the European rules under this threshold no VAT and no duty is paid, which involves a significant saving on the final cost.

[Catcatcat]

I tried to make boards in PCBWAY, but settled on JLCPCB, they make boards with assembly much cheaper, they easily go to contact to solve problems, listen to wishes. In my libraries in Altium, I bind the components to their JLCPCB Part #, at the end of the project I immediately get a ready-made BOM. It is convenient to visualize the arrangement of components on a printed circuit board and check the orientation of the components. If it is urgent to make, then I received printed circuit boards with assembly in my hands (Ukraine), 5 days after payment.

Now I was negotiating with them so that they add LEDs to the assembly, they promised to think about it.

NS107S/HD107S     
https://www.addressableledstrip.com/uploads/20200605/f302333fd25704eeb54398b6e17b4dca.pdf

NS107S-2020/HD107S-2020
https://www.addressableledstrip.com/uploads/20200605/ce9d2a12224d7f3c2a83cdc4e54d2826.pdf

NS108-5050-16bit/HD108-5050-16bit
https://www.addressableledstrip.com/uploads/20200605/3cc6b3c4b37d1544ed0c4a320947d9d5.pdf

NS108-2020/HD108-2020
https://www.addressableledstrip.com/uploads/20200605/4f52cfe131c621396b39cc84dd83422f.pdf

[dR-mR]

I think that Pcbway is alot more expensive than Jlcpcb.
I ordered boards for LCR Meter from elector 2020-11, from Jlcpcb i paid 65euro for 3 different boards one is 4 layaer (main pcb), one stencil for the main pcb and shipping to the Netherlands.
Pcbway wants 114 euro only for one (the main) pcb 4 layer board 99.9 x 202mm, with shipping.

[OrciBorg]

JLPCB is much cheaper than PCBWAY. The quality is the same.

[Catcatcat]

JLCPCB Comes out on top! 

[metal]

yes, apparently most people are into JLCPCB

[optikon]

yes, apparently most people are into JLCPCB

I've done both but I would say PCBWay has a a slightly better quality. I would also say that I think the support at PCBWay is much better. Anyhow, I consider them both comparable for overall performance and agree that PCBWay is in general, a bit more expensive. They both are great and low cost so in my book so you cant go wrong with either one. Send your design to both.

[Catcatcat]

I very rarely make just a printed circuit board, mainly a printed circuit board and an assembly at the same time, and when I start checking and comparing the cost of manufacturing, I have no doubts where to send the order.
Even with the smallest batch of printed circuit boards for a prototype, the difference is immediately $ 50-100. And also the preparation time at JLCBCB is always the shortest.
About Ukrainian manufacturers of printed circuit boards, I generally keep quiet, here the price is 5-6 times higher and the quality is 10 times lower, and the production time is not guaranteed, as it is not regrettable, but it is a fact!

[Sideshow Bob]

What is the lead time to Europe  for JLCPCB/PCBWAY?

[Old_but_Alive]

I placed my first order with jlcpcb on the 15th May, boards made on 22nd, shipped on 24th.
I expect to get them in the UK next week. so 3weeks from start to finish.

So far very impressed, 10 boards (70x45mm) for $20 total

I could have paid extra for dhl etc, but 20 days is fine for me

[Catcatcat]

What is the lead time to Europe  for JLCPCB/PCBWAY?

DHL up to 6 days. Fedex - up to 14 days.

[metal]

About Ukrainian manufacturers of printed circuit boards, I generally keep quiet, here the price is 5-6 times higher and the quality is 10 times lower, and the production time is not guaranteed, as it is not regrettable, but it is a fact!

nearly the same everywhere..

[dR-mR]

What is the lead time to Europe  for JLCPCB/PCBWAY?

My order from JLCPCB took only 10 days, i ordered 11-05 i received the package on 21-05 in  Netherland. The package vas send with Fedex, that was the cheapest option for my package, 16 euro.

[metal]

I use shop n ship, it is much cheaper in my case.

[metal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FVaMbBCmJ4&t=946s

[papibaer]

JLC is great for simple prototyping, espacially if you can stick to their basic components. But also for extended components it was quite limited. If they did not have stock, you never know when or if they will restock. So it happened many times that during design there was stock, but later on final order day there was no stock... Also in the past they did not really have SMT connectors. Now since few month they also offer assambly for many popular SMT conncetors and even THD assembly.
Also they promoted that they soon will be accepting parts from 3rd paty suppliers like LCSC and even DIGI-Key, Mouser, etc... so you do not need to relay on their own stock only for productions.
This, and also the announcement that they soon will be offering double-sided SMTA will make them even more attractive... Others like PCBWAY will have a lot of preassure if their "unique features" also will be available with JLC...

[Catcatcat]

Confirm that there are problems with JLCPCB Sets of. We often had to make changes, that the position is available, then it is not.

[papibaer]

By the way, for comparing / finding parts for JLC PCB assembly I came across and frequently use this great project. It is very easy to find JLC stock-parts and filter by basic/extended and check their parameter and prices:

https://yaqwsx.github.io/jlcparts/#/

For sure will be usefull for some of you, too

[younder]

Confirm that there are problems with JLCPCB Sets of. We often had to make changes, that the position is available, then it is not.

I agree. JLC is better in my eyes too. However, I also had this bad experience to design a project, use for i.e. a microchip MCU (available at the time in their stock). The problem is that they seems to never restock the chips from microchip anymore since then.

[Catcatcat]

I spoke with JLCPCB about "what to do if a component is needed which is not in stock". In the beginning, they generally "sent" you about this. Now they can meet your wishes if the quantity is in the size of 1-2 standard packs of components. But if you need 10-20 pcs for a prototype, then this is unrealistic.

[bvrakgvnay]

I've experinced both , and my approaches are going to be on soldering and desoldering life of the PCB , They both are reflowable upto 4 times , after that the tiny pads might loose and seperate from the FR4 epoxy .. Signal quality have been measured with various scopes (LeCroy) and there is no significant resistive or inductive poor copper quality . Other measurements have been taken after the PCBs have been used for a long time and there is no bending or copper seperation issues detected . They are both good but I like the JLC a bit more than the PCBWAYs edge rails are more rigid that makes things easier  for the assembly machine . (They are not easily deformed or broken nor it is too hard to break them .)

[OscarH]

I have used both of them in the past, and for low volume I didn't found any major difference.
If I had to choose, JLCPCB would have my preference, but it is purely subjective.

I didn't ordered recently, or at least not since Europe introduce this new VAT payment for non-European sourced items on 1st July 2021.
It is not clear if both companies includes VAT into order, and if not included, then country will charge you upon receipt the 20% extra for VAT and a fixed fee of ~7$ per shipment.
For low volume, the 7$ fixed fee make a big difference, while the VAT is what you would have paid anyway.

This is something I need to consider for next order...
OH

[BuBEE]

   In my company, I use JLC and PCBWay in different terms.
   
     1. Cheap -> JLC
     2.  Quality -> PCBWay

   Because I found many quality problems with JLC such as solder mask, trace and so on.
   When I found problems with JLC's pcb. I complained to them and they asked me to take photos.
   I couldn't do it for them because the PCB is already assembled.

   Instead of PCBWay, they give back in credit without much more questions.

  For the shipping, there is no problem at all for both of them.
   

For me, if you need quality, The PCBWay is better than JLC.
(Usually, I order 2layer and 4 layer FR4 PCB)

Cheers !
 
       
   

[LeslieT]

JLC cannot manufacture more complex pcbs (>6L, >2oz, etc).
Pcbway can do it all, but they are starting to get very expensive.
Recently, the offer price was doubled after the design review without any reason.
So I ordered it from Allpcb.

[maurer]

I vote for JLCPCB

[bobcat1]

Hi

For cheep project or test JLC offer low cost PCB is most suitable
For more complex PCB and batter quality PCBWay is the answer
Till today I only use JLC for doing some test circuit

All the best

Bobi

[OrciBorg]

I have made many boards with JLPCB and their quality and service is very good.

[Catcatcat]

And I don’t like it anymore, they closed the possibility of assembling printed circuit boards for Ukraine

[Eddy71]

Take a look at this manufacturer. They have not said anything about stopping the production of orders for Ukraine, they seem to be working fine. Take a look at this manufacturer. They have not said anything about stopping the production of orders for Ukraine, they seem to be working fine. Both board manufacturing and assembly

https://www.seeedstudio.com/fusion_pcb.html

[Catcatcat]

JLCPCB disappointed me. You can make boards and stencils from any manufacturer, the cost is almost the same. And you have to orient to the assembly in Ukraine. This, of course, adds a lot of additional work, but as they say - “It happened worse”

[Sideshow Bob]

A few years ago I looked into the cost of producing PCBs in house. And half way came to the conclusion That the investment was not worth it at all. Even for non plated two layer simple prototypes. We found it is better to at a very early phase to give the customer the options we have regarding PCB production. Most go for the domestic alternative, because has a shorter lead time and is safer 

[Catcatcat]

Unfortunately, in Ukraine the cost of manufacturing printed circuit boards is often 3-4 times higher than in China, and the quality is from the expression “Very disgusting”. By assembly, you can find acceptable factories, but the problem is with the availability of components.

[Xwing]

I think the current problem to get pcb from china to ukraina is that international couriers currently don't deliver/pick up in ukraine, russia and belarus due to the current geopolitical situation.
On the homepage of all couriers it is clearly written that international delivery services in Ukraine are suspended.
The cost to make PCBs in China is decidedly lower than that offered by local services in one's own country, for example in Europe the average cost for two double-sided PCBs 100x100 mm with solder and silkscreen is more than 80 Euros with delivery in 4-6 working days, in China the same pcb with 5 Euros they give me 5 piece, plus shipping with Fedex, 3-5 working days for delivery, the total cost comes to less than 23 Euros.

[Catcatcat]

The possibility of manufacturing and delivering printed circuit boards to Ukraine is available from JLCPCB. Build not available. And without assembly, the whole point of ordering boards only at JLCPCB is lost; they really did it efficiently and at a high professional level. The cost of manufacturing just printed circuit boards is the same for many factories.