Ohmbo and Diode compared by prototype service scope
Compare Ohmbo Proto Kit with Diode Self-serve and Enterprise by starting inputs, engineering responsibility, quotation scope and delivery evidence.
Choosing between Ohmbo and Diode starts with the work you want someone else to do. Do you want to operate a design tool, hand requirements to an engineering team, or order five prototypes within a defined package? Those are different purchasing decisions, even when all three begin with a description of a board.
This comparison is based on public service descriptions checked on 2026-10-19. It is not a hands-on tool evaluation or a comparison of completed orders. Ohmbo publishes this page about its own service; no equivalent project quotations were obtained from Diode.
Compare the starting point and responsibility
| Service | Starting input | Design responsibility | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohmbo Proto Kit | A board brief, constraints and acceptance requirements | AI-assisted draft followed by engineer review before fabrication | $149 for five prototypes within the defined two-layer scope |
| Diode Self-serve | Description, block diagram or KiCad project | Customer works with Diode's AI agent; manufacturing checks precede fabrication | Immediate fabrication and assembly quotation |
| Diode Enterprise | Project requirements | Diode's electrical engineers | From $10,000 per design, with fabrication charged additionally |
These Diode details come from its official service comparison (checked 2026-10-19). The Enterprise offering also lists hardware bring-up and dedicated support. Its starting design fee is not a minimum price for Self-serve, and Diode's stated manufacturing and assembly offering should not be described as a file-only service.
Know what the Ohmbo package includes
The Ohmbo Proto Kit is for five low-voltage DC, two-layer boards: 1.6 mm FR-4, green solder mask, a maximum size of 100 × 100 mm, single-sided SMT, up to five through-hole components per board and a component allowance of $10 per board.
Four- or six-layer work requires manual engineer review and a separate quote. Shipping and import duties are extra, confirmed before payment. Orders and payments are manually confirmed; the package is not an instant manufacturing booking.
Eligible prototypes ship 10–15 working days after engineer approval, with courier transit additional. Testing uses an agreed written plan, test firmware and acceptance criteria, with a report for each board. Establish who provides firmware, peripherals and fixtures before approving the order. See how the process works.
Each account receives one free online design preview. Downloadable files are released after payment confirmation and order release. Confirm exact formats, editability and usage rights in the order; this comparison does not promise native KiCad delivery.
Request a comparable quotation
Send the same requirements to each service you are considering. Include:
- Board dimensions, quantity, proposed layers and required connectors.
- Whether you have only a brief, a schematic or manufacturing-ready files.
- Component requirements, allowable substitutions and assembly sides.
- The functions to test, firmware ownership and required acceptance records.
- File formats, editing needs, manufacturing rights and revision expectations.
- Shipping destination, total charges and the event that starts the schedule.
Keep unresolved fields visible. For example, if a proposed sensor needs a fixture, ask who supplies it and whether its cost and preparation time are included. This is an illustrative procurement question, not evidence of a particular provider's fixture capability.
We did not confirm equivalent per-board test-report coverage, download conditions or delivery timing for Diode from the public comparison reviewed. Those are questions for a project quote, not grounds to claim that the capabilities are absent.
Choose for the next hardware decision
Consider Ohmbo when your next milestone is a small, defined prototype run and your requirements fit the package. Use the first-prototype checklist and startup guide to prepare the brief. If you prefer working directly in a design tool or need a broader engineering engagement, investigate the corresponding Diode offering using the same acceptance requirements.
Ohmbo's board library currently shows design demonstrations, not proof of physical delivery or testing. Its MCP service is not deployed; the MCP page should not be read as a verified integration tutorial. Judge fit using the written scope, review record and test evidence, rather than an unmatched comparison between a prototype package and an engineering engagement.