GLB vs USDZ
GLB and USDZ are the two formats of mobile AR. Android, the web and most 3D viewers use GLB; Apple's AR Quick Look on iPhone and iPad uses USDZ. Both hold textured PBR models in a single file. Most stores and product pages keep both: GLB for the web viewer and USDZ for iOS AR. If you can only make one, GLB covers more places, and some platforms, such as Shopify, generate the USDZ for you.
Side by side
| GLB | USDZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | binary glTF | Universal Scene Description, zipped |
| Created by | Khronos Group | Pixar's USD, packaged by Apple and Pixar |
| Introduced | 2017 (glTF 2.0) | 2018 |
| Encoding | binary, one file | uncompressed ZIP of USD files and textures |
| File size | small; textures stored compressed | medium |
| Materials | Yes | Yes |
| Textures | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | Yes |
| Colour | PBR materials and embedded textures | PBR materials and embedded textures |
| Units | metres by convention | metres in our export |
| Best for | the web, Godot, three.js, Android AR and general sharing | iPhone and iPad AR Quick Look and Apple Vision Pro |
Choose GLB when
- •The model is for a website, Android AR or a general 3D viewer.
- •You need a format that game engines and three.js load directly.
- •You want one master file to convert from.
Choose USDZ when
- •You want iPhone and iPad users to open it in AR Quick Look.
- •You're attaching a model to a link or message for Apple devices.
- •You're building with Reality Composer or other Apple tools.
Which apps open them
Of the 15 3D apps in our software guides, 9 open GLB without conversion and 4 open USDZ. Only GLB opens directly in Unity, Godot, Roblox Studio, PowerPoint, Shopify, Sketchfab. Only USDZ opens directly in Maya.
Questions
- Is GLB better than USDZ?
- Neither is better everywhere. The model is for a website, Android AR or a general 3D viewer: choose GLB. You want iPhone and iPad users to open it in AR Quick Look: choose USDZ.
- Can I convert GLB to USDZ?
- Yes. Our GLB to USDZ converter runs in your browser. The shape and supported materials carry over.
- Which file is smaller, GLB or USDZ?
- GLB: small; textures stored compressed. USDZ: medium. Actual size depends mostly on polygon count and texture resolution.
Written with AI assistance by the Renderlyst team in October 2026. Format support reflects each app's current release as we understand it, and we link the official documentation so you can confirm it for your version. Spotted something out of date? Email alishbakhalid766@gmail.com.