We begin by creating a comprehensive parametric model of the reference part, then isolate the key technical parameters. Using the key parameters we search databases covering 50 million part numbers to identify candidate alternates. We then build comprehensive parametric models for each candidate, which we compare to the reference part to find the alternates.
Dynamic means we are creating the candidate pool in real time. Every other source of cross-references is static, meaning it was done once and likely never looked at again, resulting in stale cross-references. But electronic components are not static, roughly 10,000 new parts are introduced every quarter, and 500,000 parts are obsoleted each year.
Because no single data source has all the attributes necessary for cross-referencing. This includes datasheets, which are very useful but not sufficient for cross-referencing.
X-Refs was built by a team of industry veterans with over 50 years of experience in the component sourcing space.
Free sources for drop-in replacements are X-Refs and DigiKey. X-Refs covers all manufacturers and provides real-time price and availability from all distributers. DigiKey returns only their franchised lines and their stock. All other sources, including aggregators like Octopart and Findchip, get their alternates from either Accuris(IHS), Silicon Expert, or Z2Data.
The best free options are via the distributors, most of which offer EOL notifications. Paid services generally include EOL notifications (Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), Z2Data, Cofactr, Calcuquote, Luminovo).
Every source of alternates we know of provides RoHS information. REACH compliance is more nuanced, since REACH compliance is predicated on the total weight of substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the end product. Some sources, including X-Refs, notify you if the alternate contains SVHCs.
X-Refs provides API access, contact us for details. Octopart has an API, free to use up to 1000 parts per month. Trustedparts and Oemsecrets also have APIs, Findchips does not.
"Better" is quite relative, it depends on the cross-referencing intent. Does better mean lower cost, more stock, better leadtime, longer predicted lifecycle? You can achieve these outcomes with any of the paid component data suppliers; Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), or Z2Data. You can also achieve this with X-Refs via API access customized to your preferences.
If you have a few hundred parts use the BOM tools from any of the aggregators like Octopart. For more than ~500 parts you will need to use API access and write your own code to use the data.
This is a suprisingly common problem because all cross-reference data sources are static, done once any maybe never touched again. X-Refs is the only dynamic source of cross-references, and therefore the only one that is always up-to-date
X-Refs offers batch processing via the API. Otherwise the best approaches are the paid services Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), and Z2Data.
X-Refs will return automotive qualified parts if the reference part is automotive qualified. Otherwise you need a paid service like Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), or Z2Data.
No component search platform will maintain an audit trail. Cofactr does an excellent job of maintaining audit data and traceability. This type of requirement is really more appropriate for PLC tools like Agile and Arena.
Any tool, including X-Refs, will communicate with ERPs via an API. The ability to connect your ERP to external APIs is the most robust solution, but requires more technical resources to set up and maintain. Many paid component services offer pre-built connectors to popular ERPs, making the connection somewhat easier.
Octopart, TrustedParts, and Oemsecrets all offer this via API. Findchips does not. For a few hundred parts you can also achieve this using BOM tools from any aggregator.
We recommend Octopart for historical pricing.
The paid providers Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), and Z2Data all provide comprehensive compliance information and links to documentation. X-Refs provides RoHS and SVHC but not links to the documentation. X-Refs can provide more comprehensive compliance data and links to documentation via API.
None. All cross-referencing is accomplished by comparing key attributes. There will always be some secondary attributes that vary between manufacturers, so the only true validation is functional test in your product.
Stock alerts are available in BOM tools for most of the aggregators like Octopart. If your part count is greater than ~500 parts then API access with an aggregator is the best path. Note the API path is also very robust for alerts when a hard to find part becomes avaivable.
The best solutions are X-Refs (dynamic, all manufacturers, all distributors) or DigiKey (only their manufacturers and stock).
Octopart.
X-Refs because it is 1) dynamic, 2) covers all manufacturers, and 3) provides real-time data from all distributors. No other tool offers all three.
Not very good. The reason is the Asian market does not have aggregators like Octopart. For example, Octopart does a great job of reporting country specific options for suppliers it is connected to, but Octopart is not connected to all franchised distributors in Asia.
Octopart. All of the aggregators have BOM tools that accomplish this nicely. Octoparts is the most recently updated and has more robust features.
Paid tools like Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), and Z2Data have various forms of counterfeit risk ratings. The industry's canonical source of counterfeit information is the ERAI.
The only tool that can show you real-time stock for substitutes at all distributers is X-Refs. DigiKey can show you substitutes with stock at DigiKey only.
The fastest will be paid providers like Silicon Expert, Accuris(IHS), and Z2Data. They are fast because their cross-references are static, so you will get a fast answer but not necessarily the most up-to-date. And they do not provide accurate price and stock data. X-Refs is dynamic and provides real-time prices and stock from all distributors, but can take up to 30 seconds (and sometimes as much as 60 seconds) if it has not seem a part before.