GlTF to PLY converter
Drop a glTF file and get a PLY back in seconds. glTF is human-readable JSON, used mostly for debugging and hand-editing scene data. PLY is stores vertex colours and point clouds, the usual choice for 3D scans, point clouds and research tools like MeshLab and CloudCompare. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your file never leaves your device.
Choose a file to see its details here. Nothing is uploaded: everything runs in your browser.
How to use the gltf to ply converter
- 1Choose your glTF fileDrag it onto the panel or click to browse. It's read locally and never uploaded.
- 2Check the previewOrbit the model and check the triangle count, size and materials before converting.
- 3Download the PLYExport a PLY with one click. Downloads are included with every plan.
What carries over
- glTF textures don't carry over: PLY supports per-vertex colour.
- Animation and rigs are dropped; PLY stores static geometry only. The model is exported in its rest pose.
- The PLY is written Z-up, which is what slicers and scan tools expect.
- Units: glTF is metres by convention and PLY is unitless. Numbers are copied 1:1, so check the size in the target app.
glTF vs PLY
| glTF | PLY | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | GL Transmission Format (JSON) | Polygon File Format |
| Appearance | PBR materials; textures embedded as data URIs in our export | per-vertex colour |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Units | metres by convention | unitless |
| Best for | debugging and hand-editing scene data | 3D scans, point clouds and research tools like MeshLab and CloudCompare |
Questions
- Is my glTF file uploaded?
- No. The glTF is parsed and the PLY is written by JavaScript in your browser tab. The file never reaches our servers.
- Will the PLY look the same as the glTF?
- The geometry is identical. PLY holds per-vertex colour, so surface appearance changes. See the notes above for this exact pair.
- Is there a file size limit?
- Files up to 150 MB open, but very large models depend on your device's memory. Desktop browsers handle big files best.