{"id":161966,"date":"2019-08-12T09:38:27","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T01:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/facfox.com\/?post_type=kb&p=161966"},"modified":"2019-08-12T09:38:27","modified_gmt":"2019-08-12T01:38:27","slug":"20-best-free-stl-file-viewer-tools","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/20-best-free-stl-file-viewer-tools","title":{"rendered":"20 Best Free STL File Viewer Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"

Check out the 20 best free STL viewer tools for all platforms: Online, Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.<\/p>\n

Before deciding to 3D print an STL file or when reviewing the work of a colleague, you want to view it. Luckily, there are many options available. Some of these 3D viewers are not too demanding for your computer or your wallet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A free STL viewer is an excellent way to examine a model without the need for processor-heavy CAD programs that take up huge chunks of memory on your hard drive. To make life even easier for you, there are now a handful of online services that offer viewing STL files for free, no download needed.<\/p>\n

STL (Stereolithography) is the standard file format used in 3D printing. Unlike CAD formats, STL only defines the surface geometry of three-dimensional objects, but not color or texture. Before you print a 3D file, you should check if it is printable. Some free STL viewers in our list come with this feature.<\/p>\n

Before we start, it should be noted that almost all slicers now support STL and OBJ file viewing functions, cutting out the need for an extra program.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a selection of the best free STL viewers currently available. If we\u2019ve missed any, let us know in the comments, and we\u2019ll add them in a future update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Viewer<\/th>\nFormats<\/th>\nSystem<\/th>\nComplexity<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
ViewSTL<\/a><\/td>\nOBJ, STL<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3DViewerOnline<\/a><\/td>\nSTEP, IGES, PLY, OBJ, 2D-DXF, 2D-DWG, STL<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Autodesk Viewer<\/a><\/td>\nDWG, DWF, RVT, Solidworks, STP, STL etc.<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ShareCAD<\/a><\/td>\nSTEP, STP, IGES, IGS, BREP, SAT, AutoCAD DWG, DXF, DWF, PLT, STL etc.<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Openjscad<\/a><\/td>\nAMF, X3D, JSCAD, STL<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dimension Alley<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STL Viewer for WordPress<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nWordPress<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gmsh<\/a><\/td>\nSTEP, IGES, BREP, STL<\/td>\nWindows, Linux<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLC-Player<\/a><\/td>\nOBJ, STL<\/td>\nWindows, Mac, Linux<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3D Viewer<\/a><\/td>\nSTL, FBX, OBJ, GLB, GLTF, PLY, 3MF<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3D-Tool Free Viewer<\/a><\/td>\nOBJ, CATIA, X_T, STEP, IGES, VDA, SA, SAB, STL<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MiniMagics<\/a><\/td>\nMAGICS, MGX, STL<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ADA 3D<\/a><\/td>\nOBJ, STL<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Open 3D Model Viewer<\/a><\/td>\nOBJ, 3DS, BLEND, FBX, DXF, LWO, LWS, MD5, MD3, MD2, NDO, X, IFC, DAE, STL<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EasyViewSTL<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nWindows<\/td>\n\u2605\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STLView<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nWindows, Android<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mac OS X Preview<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nMac<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pleasant3D<\/a><\/td>\nGCode, STL<\/td>\nMac<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STLView 2.0<\/a><\/td>\nSTL<\/td>\nAndroid<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MeshLab for iOS<\/a><\/td>\nPLY, OFF, OBJ, STL<\/td>\niOS<\/td>\n\u2605<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

ViewSTL<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

ViewSTL probably is the easiest and simplest way to view your 3D model online. Just visit the website, and drag your file onto the dotted field. The free STL viewer allows you to display the model in one of three views \u2014 flat shading, smooth shading or wireframe \u2014 and in different colors. This 3D viewer also supports OBJ files, and other formats are planned for the future. In case you are thinking about your 3D model file, ViewSTL allows you send the file to an online 3D printing service near you.<\/p>\n

Also, you can get a plugin called \u201cWP ViewSTL<\/a>\u201d which allows you to display 3D files on your WordPress blog or website. Admittedly, ViewSTL doesn\u2019t have any special tools. On the other hand, this makes the STL file viewer very simple to use, but still very useful for anybody who wants to have a quick look at a 3D model file.<\/p>\n

Free STL Viewer Features: ViewSTL<\/strong><\/p>\n