ULN2003 / ULN2803 EOL Cross-Reference: TI ULN2803ADWR Last-Time-Buy Survival Map for 2026

ULN2803 ULN2003 EOL P2P alternative sourcing, with the marketing stripped off: Texas Instruments has formally end-of-lifed the ULN2803ADWR — the wide-body SOIC version of the eight-channel Darlington array — with a Last-Time-Buy of June 30, 2025 per the TI ULN2803A product page. Every other ULN2803 and ULN2003 variant in TI’s catalog — ULN2803A in PDIP, ULN2003ADR in standard SOIC-16, ULN2003AN — remains active as of mid-2026. The “DWR” suffix denotes the wide-body SOIC-16 (7.5 mm body); only that package is going away. The 2026 buyer’s playbook spans four lanes: NOS broker stock for the obsoleted DWR variant, drop-in pin-compatible parts from Diodes, STMicroelectronics, and ON Semiconductor on the active footprints, and Chinese second-source from Wuxi Xingu, Changjing, and Hongmao. This guide maps the landscape — package by package, AEC-Q100 by AEC-Q100.

We see this question every few weeks. A small-batch industrial OEM — a stepper-driver board, an alarm-panel integrator, an Arduino-derivative motor shield — sends a BOM with ULN2803ADWR on it. The authorized distributor returns “0 stock, NRND, no replacement listed.” The PCB layout was done two years ago around the SOIC-W footprint. They write us asking the obvious: what now? The answer is rarely “nothing exists.” It is usually “five things exist, three will work for you, and you need a map.”

What ULN2003 and ULN2803 Actually Are

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The ULN200x family is a low-side Darlington-pair driver array with integrated freewheeling clamp diodes for inductive loads. ULN2003 carries seven channels; ULN2803 carries eight. Each channel sinks up to 500 mA (with thermal derating) against a 50 V max output rating. The integrated suppression diodes shunt the back-EMF spike from relay coils, stepper-motor windings, and small solenoids — which is why ULN200x has lived in industrial low-side switching for forty years. Common applications per the TI ULN2003A product page and STMicroelectronics ULN2003A page: unipolar stepper drivers (one ULN2003 drives a 4-phase 28BYJ-48 directly), relay-bank drivers in alarm and access-control panels, BCD/seven-segment LED display drivers, low-cost solenoid drivers, and the front-end of countless Arduino-derivative motor boards.

What Is Actually EOL — and What Is Not

The most common buyer mistake in Q3 2025 was reading “ULN2803ADWR EOL” as a headline and concluding all TI ULN2803 was dead. It is not.

Per the formal product-change notice on the TI ULN2803A product page, only the ULN2803ADWR ordering code is in last-time-buy. “D” denotes SOIC, “W” denotes the wide-body variant (7.5 mm body, distinct from the 3.9 mm standard SOIC-16), “R” denotes tape-and-reel. TI’s last-buy window closed June 30, 2025.

Active TI variants as of mid-2026: ULN2803A in PDIP-18, ULN2003AD and ULN2003ADR in standard SOIC-16, ULN2003AN in PDIP-16. The boundary is the package, not the family. Buyers on the standard SOIC-16 footprint can keep buying from TI through authorized distribution at MSRP; buyers on the wide SOIC-W footprint need a different lane.

The 2026 Cross-Reference Matrix

This is the centerpiece. Use it as a map; do not treat any row as a committed substitute without sampling and bench-validating.

Three notes on this table. AEC-Q100 — not AEC-Q200 — is the relevant qualification standard for Darlington-array ICs (AEC-Q200 covers passive components; AEC-Q100 covers ICs). The canonical AEC-Q100 path is TI’s ULQ-prefix, -Q1-suffix parts (ULQ2003A-Q1, ULQ2803A-Q1) — a separately qualified line. Standard ULN-prefix parts from TI, Diodes, and ST are not AEC-Q100 qualified per their published datasheets; if your PPAP requires automotive qualification, the realistic path is migrating to the ULQ Q1 line, not chasing a suffix on the standard ULN line. Chinese vendors’ datasheets are usually Chinese-only; Cosolvic provides English bridging on request.

Pin-Compat Rules: Package Geometry First

Settle the mechanical question before discussing electrical equivalence. ULN200x lives in four package families:

• DIP-16 / DIP-18 (PDIP through-hole) — 2.54 mm pitch, 7.62 mm body. Universal across vendors.
• SOIC-16 / SOIC-18 standard — 1.27 mm pitch, 3.90 mm body. Universal across vendors.
• SOIC-W (wide-body SOIC) — 1.27 mm pitch, 7.50 mm body. The TI “DW” suffix. Distinct PCB footprint — a standard SOIC-16 part will not solder onto a SOIC-W footprint without rework.
• TSSOP-16 / TSSOP-18 — 0.65 mm pitch, 4.40 mm body. Available from Diodes and ST.

The ULN2803ADWR EOL specifically obsoletes the wide-body SOIC variant. Buyers with a SOIC-W footprint have two realistic options: (A) source NOS reels of TI ULN2803ADWR through the broker channel, or (B) layout-rework the PCB to standard SOIC-18 and switch to Diodes / ST / ON Semi or a Chinese second-source. Option B is a one-revision PCB change — typically 4-6 weeks including re-qualification — worth doing if the product is going through any other revision concurrently.

When Pin-Compat Works Seamlessly

For DIP-16 / DIP-18 / standard SOIC-16 / SOIC-18 applications, drop-in substitution between Diodes, ST, and ON Semi is operationally clean. The 18-pin Darlington-array pinout is dictated by the original Sprague (now Allegro) ULN200x specification and is consistent across every Western vendor making the part today. Two parameters worth bench-confirming: V_CE(sat) at full collector current (typically 1.0-1.6 V at I_C = 350 mA) and clamp diode V_F under inductive-load conditions (typically 1.5-2.0 V at I_F = 350 mA). Variation rarely matters for a 5 V relay-coil driver; both can matter for a 24 V solenoid on a long wiring harness. For digital relay banks, alarm panels, BCD/seven-seg LED drivers, and stepper drivers operating below 24 V, substitution risk is operationally near zero.

When You Need to Be Careful

Three categories require specific verification before substitution.

Automotive applications requiring AEC-Q100 qualification. Standard ULN-prefix parts from TI, Diodes, and ST are not AEC-Q100 qualified per their published datasheets. The canonical automotive Darlington array is TI’s ULQ2003A-Q1 (and ULQ2803A-Q1 where eight channels are needed) — a separately qualified part with -40 to +125 °C grade-1 operation. Per the TI ULQ2003A-Q1 product page, it carries TI’s automotive Q1 qualification documentation. If your PPAP demands AEC-Q100, plan around the ULQ Q1 line at the schematic stage; chasing AEC-Q100 paperwork on standard ULN- ordering codes is the wrong tree to bark up.

Long-cable inductive loads. Solenoid valves with 30+ meters of cable, large-frame relays, and stepper windings driven at higher voltages all generate back-EMF spikes whose containment depends on clamp-diode V_F and reverse-recovery characteristics. Vendor-to-vendor variation is real. Bench-test on the actual load.

High-frequency switching. ULN200x is not a high-frequency part — Darlington structure has slow turn-off and meaningful storage time. If your application switches above ~50 kHz on inductive loads, ULN200x is the wrong part regardless of vendor; you want a discrete MOSFET driver.

The Chinese Second-Source Landscape

Three Chinese vendors produce ULN2803-equivalent Darlington arrays at competitive prices, selling primarily into domestic appliance, industrial-automation, and consumer-electronics OEMs:

• Wuxi Xingu Microelectronics — ULN2803F and related codes in DIP-18 and SOIC-18. Chinese-language datasheet; spec parity claimed against the original Sprague ULN2803.
• Changjing (CJ Microelectronics) — CJ2803 in DIP-18 and SOIC-18. Major supplier into Chinese white-goods and small-appliance OEMs.
• Hongmao — ULN2803A naming preserved; DIP-18 and SOIC-18.

These parts are not AEC-Q100 qualified and the datasheets are typically Chinese-only. The qualification path for Western buyers is: (1) sample 50-100 pieces through Cosolvic’s Shenzhen channel, 5-7 days; (2) bench-validate V_CE(sat), V_F clamp, operating-temperature behavior; (3) on a clean design-in, place a small pilot reel order to confirm lot consistency; (4) only then commit a production-volume PO. Cosolvic provides Chinese-to-English datasheet bridging on the relevant electrical-characteristics tables on request. For analogous playbooks, see our STM32 Chinese alternatives cross-reference playbook.

Pricing Reality

A widely-shared sohu.com headline in late 2025 claimed Chinese ULN2803 alternatives could deliver “70% cost reduction” versus the TI part — a number reproduced uncritically across a number of buyer-facing pages. The honest framing: 70% is the sohu-reported ceiling, not the typical case. As a Cosolvic Q2 2026 quoting sample across actual customer requests, we observe a 20-40% cost reduction in commodity volumes (1,000-10,000 piece reels) when switching from authorized-distribution pricing on TI / Diodes / ST to a Chinese second-source through our Shenzhen channel. The 70% number can appear on the largest spot-market buys against the highest authorized-distribution price points, but it is not the working assumption for a typical industrial BOM. Treat the sohu number as a directional pricing point, not Cosolvic-verified.

Cosolvic’s Role Across the Four Lanes

For ULN200x sourcing in 2026, Cosolvic operates as a Shenzhen-based independent distributor across all four lanes:

• NOS TI ULN2803ADWR through Shenzhen broker network for buyers locked into the SOIC-W footprint. Visual + electrical inspection on flagged lots, with AS6171-aligned escalation per-lot where the part value or risk profile justifies it; date-code disclosure on every reel.
• Active TI variants (ULN2003ADR, ULN2803A PDIP, ULN2003AN) — broker-channel sourced at typical 3-5 day delivery.
• Diodes / ST / ON Semi NOS for buyers on standard SOIC and DIP footprints needing a Western-brand drop-in.
• Chinese P2P samples (Xingu / Changjing / Hongmao) for design-in evaluation, 5-7 days, with Chinese-to-English datasheet bridging included.

Sample testing is the verification path we recommend; we do not promise certifications we have not performed. For the broader EOL-handling decision framework, see our NRND stockpile vs redesign vs migrate decision framework and the taxonomy of EOL versus NRND versus PCN versus LTB notices. For channel-cost comparisons across LCSC, DigiKey, and the independent-distributor tier, see our LCSC vs DigiKey production BOM comparison.

For parts headed into production, who verifies them before they ship matters as much as the part itself. How Cosolvic operates covers our inspection process, counterfeit refund policy, and why we work as an independent distributor rather than a franchise reseller.

FAQ

Is all of TI’s ULN2803 family EOL?

No. Only the ULN2803ADWR ordering code (the wide-body SOIC-16 variant) is in last-time-buy as of June 30, 2025 per the TI ULN2803A product page. The PDIP-18 ULN2803A, the standard SOIC-16 ULN2003ADR, and the PDIP-16 ULN2003AN remain active in TI’s catalog as of mid-2026. Read the ordering-code suffix carefully before assuming the whole family is gone.

Can I substitute Diodes ULN2803A for TI ULN2803ADWR?

Pin-electrically yes; mechanically only if the PCB footprint matches. Diodes’ ULN2803A is offered in PDIP-18, standard SOIC-18, and TSSOP-18 — but not in the wide-body SOIC-W footprint that TI’s DWR ordering code uses. If your PCB has a SOIC-W pad layout, a Diodes ULN2803A in standard SOIC-18 will not solder cleanly. The two realistic paths are NOS TI ULN2803ADWR through a broker, or PCB rework to a standard SOIC-18 footprint.

Are Chinese ULN2803 alternatives AEC-Q100 qualified?

In general, no. Wuxi Xingu, Changjing, and Hongmao parts are not AEC-Q100 qualified per their published documentation, and the datasheets are typically Chinese-language. For automotive applications with PPAP requirements, the realistic path is TI’s ULQ2003A-Q1 / ULQ2803A-Q1 — the separately qualified Q1 line is what carries AEC-Q100 documentation, not the standard ULN- prefix from any vendor. For consumer, industrial, and white-goods applications, Chinese second-source is operationally fine subject to standard incoming-inspection.

What is the difference between SOIC-16 and SOIC-W?

Body width. Standard SOIC-16 has a 3.90 mm body width and 1.27 mm pin pitch. SOIC-W (the “DW” suffix in TI nomenclature) has a 7.50 mm body width at the same 1.27 mm pitch — roughly twice as wide. The PCB footprints are not interchangeable. SOIC-W exists primarily for higher-power dissipation and legacy industrial-layout compatibility; standard SOIC has become the more common footprint over the past two decades.

Will firmware need to change when I substitute a different vendor’s ULN2803?

No. ULN200x parts are passive switches from the firmware’s perspective — input is a TTL/CMOS logic level, the device acts as an open-collector low-side switch with no programmable register, no I²C/SPI interface, no timing-critical handshake. A drop-in vendor swap is mechanically transparent to firmware.

How does Cosolvic handle authenticity testing for NOS TI ULN2803ADWR reels?

Standard incoming-inspection on broker-channel reels: visual top-mark verification under 10-30× magnification, package-material check against TI references, electrical sanity sweep (V_CE(sat), I_F clamp, channel-to-channel matching) on a sampled subset, and AS6171-aligned escalation as a per-lot decision where the value or risk profile justifies it. Date-code disclosure and full reel traceability included. We refund authenticity issues in full.

Last updated: 2026-06-26

Have a BOM with ULN2803ADWR (or a related Darlington-array line) flagged as zero-stock or NRND? Send your reel quantity and target footprint to request a quote. We’ll come back within four business hours across all four lanes — NOS TI broker stock, active TI/Diodes/ST/ON Semi, ULQ Q1 automotive, and Chinese P2P samples.