PLY to OBJ converter
Drop a PLY file and get an OBJ back in seconds. PLY is stores vertex colours and point clouds, used mostly for 3D scans, point clouds and research tools like MeshLab and CloudCompare. OBJ is plain text, read almost everywhere, the usual choice for older 3D software and CAD-adjacent tools. 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 ply to obj converter
- 1Choose your PLY 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 OBJExport a OBJ with one click. Downloads are included with every plan.
What carries over
- PLY has per-vertex colour, so the OBJ gets a neutral grey material you can restyle.
- If your PLY is a point cloud (no faces), only formats that support points can hold it. Mesh formats will come out empty.
PLY vs OBJ
| PLY | OBJ | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Polygon File Format | Wavefront OBJ |
| Appearance | per-vertex colour | basic materials in a separate .mtl file |
| Animation | No | No |
| Units | unitless | unitless |
| Best for | 3D scans, point clouds and research tools like MeshLab and CloudCompare | older 3D software and CAD-adjacent tools |
Questions
- Is my PLY file uploaded?
- No. The PLY is parsed and the OBJ is written by JavaScript in your browser tab. The file never reaches our servers.
- Will the OBJ look the same as the PLY?
- The geometry is identical. OBJ holds basic materials in a separate .mtl file, 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.