Instant quote versus an RFQ
An instant quote is produced by the file: geometry is measured, material and quantity are applied, and a price and lead time appear in under a minute with nobody involved. An RFQ is produced by a person reading the file and replying, which usually takes one to three working days. The difference matters most when a part is being iterated, because an instant quote can be re-run after every change and an RFQ cannot.
Get an instant price No account and no sales call. Upload and see the number.
Side by side
| Instant quote | RFQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to a price | Under a minute | Typically 1 to 3 working days |
| Account needed | No | Usually |
| Cost of asking again | Nothing, re-run it | Another wait |
| Handles unusual materials | No, those go to a person | Yes |
| Handles a stated tolerance | No, send it with the file | Yes |
| Good for | Iterating, budgeting, comparing materials | Complex or certified work |
When an RFQ is still the right thing
An instant price is a real price, not an estimate, but it is produced from geometry and nothing else. A part with a stated tolerance, an unusual material, a required certificate, or a finishing operation that has to be specified is quoted properly by a person. Both routes start the same way here: upload the file, and add what matters in the notes.
Get an instant price Upload a file and the price appears in under a minute.