Zirconia thermal barrier coatings have been produced by both thermal spray (TS) and electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD). TS (usually plasma spray) offers variations in microstructure ranging including low to high density, vertically macrocracked or segmented, and multilayered or continuously graded structures. Its disadvantages include a rough exterior surface and a relatively rough interface with its metallic undercoat. EBPVD coatings have a columnar microstructure that provides substantial resistance to thermal shock, a smooth exterior surface, and do not require a rough interface with most undercoats. Both are essentially line-of-sight deposition processes. The capital and operating costs of EBPVD coating deposition processes is typically substantially higher than that of TS. There is controversy over the relative thermal shock/thermal fatigue resistance of the two types of coating as well as their life cycle costs. This brief review will consider these and other factors in comparing the two types of coating