The nickel-based superalloys Inconel alloy 600, Udimet alloy 720, and Inconel alloy 718 were produced by electron beam melting (EBM), casting, and directional solidification (DS). The distance between dendrites and the size of the precipitates indicated the difference in solidification rates between the three processes. In this study, the solidification rate was fastest with EBM, closely followed by casting, whereas it was much slower with DS. In the directional solidified materials the <100> direction was the fastest and thus, preferred growth direction. The EBM samples show a sharp (001)[100] texture in the building direction and in the two scanning directions of the electron beam. Macrosegregation was observed in some cast and directionally solidified samples, but not in the EBM samples. The melting temperatures are in good agreement with literature and the narrow melting interval of IN600 compare to UD720 and IN718 might reduce the risk of incipient melting during EBM processing. Porosity was observed in the EBM samples and the reasons are discussed. However, EBM seems to be a feasible process route to produce nickel-based superalloys with well-defined texture, no macrosegregation and a rapidly solidified microstructure. The nickel-based superalloys Inconel alloy 600, Udimet alloy 720, and Inconel alloy 718 are produced by electron beam melting (EBM), casting, and directional solidification. Material differences due to the different processing routes are investigated. EBM seems to be a feasible way to produce superalloys with well-defined texture, no macrosegregation and a rapidly solidified microstructure. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.