Matthew Adams
Research software required this specific input. Data was kept 100% accurate. Thank you for the precision folks.
STL to PLY Converter: Free & Online
Convert STL meshes to PLY files for detailed visualization and mesh analysis.
- Free
- No sign-up
- No install
Open .stl → Export → choose .ply
Click Open Files and pick your .stl file. Then click Export, choose .ply in the Extension list and click Save.
How to convert STL to PLY
Open your .stl file
Click Open Files in the converter above and pick the file on your computer. It opens in your browser, with no sign-up.
Export as .ply
Click Export and choose .ply in the Extension list. The list starts at .mrmesh, the native MeshInspector format.
Save the file
Click Save. The .ply file downloads to your computer.
In the desktop app
- Install and sign in. Download MeshInspector for Windows, macOS or Linux and sign in. The free Community plan is enough.
- Open the file. Click Open Files and pick the .stl file.
- Export. Select the model, click Export and choose .ply.
- Save. Pick a folder and save the .ply file.
What to know about STL → PLY
- STL stores only triangles: no colors, textures or units in the standard format.
- PLY holds a mesh or a point cloud and can store a color for every vertex.
- In MeshInspector this conversion is Open and Export, two free tools, in the web app and in the desktop app.
- STL has no units, and most slicers read the numbers as millimeters, so check the size after conversion.
- PLY exists in a text and a binary form.
Online or desktop
Online
The converter on this page runs the MeshInspector web app in your browser: no install, no sign-up. It suits single files; the web app works within your browser's memory.
Desktop
The desktop app runs on Windows, macOS (Apple silicon) and Linux. Use it for large files, many files, and the tools the web app does not have. The free Community plan covers opening and exporting; see Pricing for what the paid plans add.
FAQ
Do I need an account to convert STL to PLY?
No. The converter on this page is the MeshInspector web app running in your browser without sign-up. Click Open Files and pick your .stl file, select it in the scene list, click Export, choose .ply in the Extension list and click Save. The converted file downloads to your computer.
Is the STL to PLY converter free?
Yes. Opening a .stl file and exporting it as .ply use free tools, here, in the web app and in the desktop app on the free Community plan. Paid plans add tools such as Mesh Healer and automatic repair; the Pricing page lists what each plan includes.
Are colors and units kept?
PLY stores no units, so check the size of the model after conversion. PLY can store a color for each vertex; if the source has textures rather than vertex colors, expect the exported PLY to carry the geometry only. Check the result in your target app before you rely on it.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no fixed limit on this page, but the web app works within your browser's memory: up to about 4 GB, or 16 GB in browsers with 64-bit WebAssembly. For very large models, or many files, use the desktop app for Windows, macOS or Linux.
Free Community planWindows, macOS (Apple silicon) and Linux
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By Mesh Inspector TeamPublished: Updated:
