The Grid by CircuitHub
Shares rank 4 of 8 PCB manufacturing services by recommenders
Short lead times for boards within its Proto Board spec, comparable to JLCPCB on those boards; critics say it costs more and its requirements and sign-up are strict.
Short lead times for boards within its Proto Board spec, comparable to JLCPCB on those boards; critics say it costs more and its requirements and sign-up are strict.
30 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 15
- criticize it
- 15
- approval share
- 50%
Recommended in 3 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 15 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 1 recommender for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, not met.
- Recommended in 3 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Short lead time for Proto boards
“if you fit within the Proto Board spec we are very comparable with JLC on much shorter lead time”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “Can't wait to see how quickly I can get boards next time I need a batch!”
Comment from 27 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Pricier than JLCPCB, especially multilayer
“quite a bit more expensive, even taking into account the USA tariffs”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “The site quotes prices for ≥4 layer board production are on the order of 10x JLCPCB.”
Comment from 26 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “so expensive that it makes your service unpalatable”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” Strict account signup and uploads
“signup was painful it needs a major review. Then I uploaded a zip of my gerbers and it came up with some error”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “it wouldn't let me continue unless I uploaded schematics and board files”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “until the moment I click the "order" button, do not require me to log in”
Comment from 29 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” - Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand”
Rejects standard Gerber and KiCad files
“signup was painful it needs a major review. Then I uploaded a zip of my gerbers and it came up with some error”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “Also uploaded an old gerber export straight from KiCAD and no dice.”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand” “You don't accept industry standard formats and require source”
Comment from 28 Oct 2026 in “The Grid, a factory-scale robot in Massachusetts that builds PCBs on demand”
Other PCB manufacturing services people recommend
The four most recommended other PCB manufacturing services, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLCPCB | 83 | 13 | 86% | 12 | 6.5 yrs4 owners | Approved |
| PCBWay PCB fabrication | 32 | 6 | 84% | 10 | — | Approved |
| OSH Park | 17 | 7 | 71% | 7 | — | Approved |
| The Grid by CircuitHubThis page | 15 | 15 | 50% | 3 | — | — |
| ProvenMetal | 15 | 3 | 83% | 1 | — | — |
What people said
30 of the 32 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“Your website is not mobile-friendly.”
“until the moment I click the "order" button, do not require me to log in”
“I don't see how $620.26 is competitive.”
“it wouldn't let me continue unless I uploaded schematics and board files”
“It's actually way more integrated than JLC.”
“Also uploaded an old gerber export straight from KiCAD and no dice.”
“if you fit within the Proto Board spec we are very comparable with JLC on much shorter lead time”
“several steps up from Chinese manufacturers already”
“You don't accept industry standard formats and require source”
“it sure looks like it at first glance”
“the Sherman fab only does rad-hardened components”
“the components are mostly coming from China anyways”
“I got stuck at make an account and didn't progress farther.”
“so expensive that it makes your service unpalatable”
“we cannot even get a quote to know the pricing of grids proto”
“Great news, wish you all the best.”
“Their legal terms offer very little protection or reassurances that they will protect my IP.”
“make the project nonviable for me”
“A supply chain that also comes from Shenzhen”
“Pretty strict board requirements. They give an example motor controller, but then require your board to be 1oz copper.”
“signup was painful it needs a major review. Then I uploaded a zip of my gerbers and it came up with some error”
“quite a bit more expensive, even taking into account the USA tariffs”
“Can't wait to see how quickly I can get boards next time I need a batch!”
“The site quotes prices for ≥4 layer board production are on the order of 10x JLCPCB.”
“Development had been glacial, but looking at their website it seems they finally support degoogled android”
“100% free, no subscriptions, no accounts, no cloud”
“Stop it with “free forever”. It never ever is.”
“probably adaptive milling, which will be in an upcoming release”
“Oh, man, and just wait until you find out that you can modulate literally every control in the UI...”
“complain I didn't have enough VRAM (because I had more than 2GB)”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.