Are my STL files uploaded anywhere?

No. This conversion runs entirely inside your browser, so the file never leaves your device. You can confirm it yourself: open the network tab of your browser's developer tools and watch that nothing is sent while the file converts.

Is converting STL to PLY free?

Yes, without a limit on how many files you convert and with no watermark on the result. Files up to 100 MB are covered by the free plan.

Does converting STL to PLY lose quality?

STL and PLY describe content in fundamentally different ways, so the conversion is a reconstruction rather than a copy. The result is faithful, but not byte-for-byte equivalent. Geometry only. Materials, colours, textures and animation are not carried across, and a model placed several times comes back with each copy baked into its own position.

Do I need to install anything to open PLY files?

No installation is needed for the conversion itself — it runs in the browser you already have. Opening the PLY afterwards needs whatever software normally handles Polygon File Format on your device.

STLtoPLY

Convert STL to PLY

Up to 3 files at once, 100 with Pro. Mixed formats are fine.

You can convert STL to PLY free and without an account: drop the file above and the PLY is ready to download in a second or two. The conversion happens inside your own browser, so the file is never uploaded — it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, and keeps working with the network switched off.

What STL and PLY are for

The 3D printing standard. Triangles only — no colour, no material, no texture.

The scanner format. Carries per-point colour, which is why 3D scans arrive as PLY.

How to convert STL to PLY

Drop your STL file onto this page, or click to pick one.
Choose PLY as the target. The conversion runs inside your browser — the file is never uploaded.
Download the finished PLY file.

STL vs PLY: what changes

STL compared with PLY
	STL	PLY
Full name	Stereolithography	Polygon File Format
File extension	.stl	.ply
Media type	model/stl	model/ply

Quality: The result is a close reconstruction rather than an exact copy. Check it before relying on it.
Where it runs: This conversion runs inside your browser. Your file is never uploaded, and it works with the network disconnected.
What can be lost: Geometry only. Materials, colours, textures and animation are not carried across, and a model placed several times comes back with each copy baked into its own position.

STL to PLY: common questions

Are my STL files uploaded anywhere?: No. This conversion runs entirely inside your browser, so the file never leaves your device. You can confirm it yourself: open the network tab of your browser's developer tools and watch that nothing is sent while the file converts.
Is converting STL to PLY free?: Yes, without a limit on how many files you convert and with no watermark on the result. Files up to 100 MB are covered by the free plan.
Does converting STL to PLY lose quality?: STL and PLY describe content in fundamentally different ways, so the conversion is a reconstruction rather than a copy. The result is faithful, but not byte-for-byte equivalent. Geometry only. Materials, colours, textures and animation are not carried across, and a model placed several times comes back with each copy baked into its own position.
Do I need to install anything to open PLY files?: No installation is needed for the conversion itself — it runs in the browser you already have. Opening the PLY afterwards needs whatever software normally handles Polygon File Format on your device.