Free Online GLB Viewer

View GLB files in 3D with full PBR materials, textures, and animations. Place models in augmented reality on iPhone and Android. No install, no account, completely free.

What is a GLB File?

GLB is the binary container format for glTF (GL Transmission Format), the open standard created and maintained by the Khronos Group. While glTF uses a JSON file that references external binary buffers and texture images, GLB packages everything into a single binary blob. One file contains the complete 3D scene: geometry, vertex attributes, PBR material definitions, texture images, skeletal rigs, morph targets, and animation keyframes.

The glTF specification was designed from the ground up for real-time rendering. Unlike interchange formats such as FBX or COLLADA that were designed for authoring tools, glTF maps directly to GPU data structures. A glTF loader can pass vertex buffers and index buffers straight to the GPU with minimal parsing. This makes GLB the fastest-loading 3D format on the web by a significant margin.

GLB supports physically based rendering (PBR) through the metallic-roughness material model. Every GLB material can define base colour, metallic factor, roughness factor, normal maps, ambient occlusion maps, and emissive maps. Extensions like KHR_materials_transmission and KHR_materials_volume add support for glass, liquids, and subsurface scattering. The result is that GLB files can represent everything from matte plastic to polished chrome to translucent crystal.

Animations in GLB use keyframe interpolation with linear, step, or cubic spline modes. Skeletal animations drive bone hierarchies for character movement. Morph-target animations blend between shape keys for facial expressions or mechanical deformations. Multiple animations can be stored in a single file and triggered independently at runtime.

GLB has become the de facto standard for 3D on the web. Google uses it for 3D search results. Shopify uses it for product previews. Meta uses it for shared 3D objects. Apple Quick Look accepts GLB files (converted to USDZ on the fly) for AR previews on iPhone and iPad. If you work with 3D content for the web, e-commerce, or AR, GLB is the format you will use most often.

GLB vs GLTF

GLB and glTF are two delivery modes of the same specification. A .gltf file is JSON text that references separate .bin files for geometry data and separate image files (PNG, JPEG, WebP, or KTX2) for textures. A .glb file is a single binary container that embeds the JSON, the binary buffers, and all texture images into one file.

GLB is better for distribution and deployment. When you share a model on a website, upload it to a CMS, or send it to a client, one file is simpler than a folder of files. GLB also avoids path-resolution issues that can break glTF files when textures are moved or renamed.

GLTF is better for authoring and version control. Because the JSON is human-readable, you can diff changes between versions, edit material properties in a text editor, and swap textures by replacing image files without re-exporting the entire model. Development teams often work in glTF during production and convert to GLB for deployment.

The two formats are fully interchangeable. Tools like gltf-pipeline from CesiumJS, Blender, and the Khronos glTF Validator can convert between them losslessly. GeometryViewer supports both formats with identical rendering quality. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on GLTF vs GLB.

How to View GLB Files Online

Viewing a GLB file in GeometryViewer takes three steps:

• Step 1: Open your file. Drag and drop a .glb file onto the viewer above, or click the "Open .glb file" button to select a file from your device. You can also paste a URL to load a GLB file hosted online.
• Step 2: Inspect the model. Use your mouse or touch to orbit, zoom, and pan. The viewer renders the model with full PBR materials, textures, and lighting. Check geometry, verify material assignments, and confirm that the model looks correct before publishing or sharing.
• Step 3: View in AR (optional). On iPhone or iPad, tap the AR button to open the model in Apple Quick Look at real-world scale. On Android with Chrome, WebXR places the model on a physical surface with environment-matched lighting. AR preview is perfect for checking physical dimensions and visual appearance in context.

The entire process runs in your browser. Your file is never uploaded to any server. There is no file size limit imposed by GeometryViewer itself -- the practical limit depends on your device's available memory. Most smartphones handle GLB files up to 100 MB without issues, and desktop browsers can handle several hundred megabytes.

View in AR

GLB is the ideal format for augmented reality on the web. Google's <model-viewer> web component, which powers AR experiences across millions of websites, uses GLB as its native format. When you load a GLB file in GeometryViewer on a supported device, the AR button appears automatically.

On iOS devices, tapping AR opens Apple Quick Look, which renders the model at real-world scale using ARKit. You can walk around the model, move it to different surfaces, and see how it looks in your actual environment. This is valuable for furniture, decor, product design, and architectural elements where physical scale matters.

On Android, Chrome uses WebXR to place the model on detected surfaces. The system matches environment lighting so the model casts realistic shadows and reflections. Android AR works with any GLB file that GeometryViewer can render.

If you are building an AR experience for your website, GeometryViewer also provides a dedicated AR viewer with additional configuration options for scale, placement, and interaction.

Embed GLB on Your Website

GeometryViewer provides a lightweight web component that you can embed on any website to display GLB files. Add a single script tag and use the <geometry-viewer> custom element in your HTML. The component handles rendering, interaction, and AR with no additional dependencies.

The embed supports all the same features as this page: PBR materials, textures, animations, orbit controls, and AR on supported devices. You can customize the background colour, camera position, environment lighting, and interaction behaviour through HTML attributes.

This is useful for e-commerce product pages, portfolio sites, documentation, and any context where you want to show a 3D model inline. For code snippets and configuration options, visit the embed documentation.

Compatible Software

GLB is supported by virtually every modern 3D tool. Here are the major applications and libraries that import, export, or render GLB files:

• Blender -- Full GLB/glTF import and export with PBR materials, animations, shape keys, and Draco compression. Blender's glTF exporter is one of the most complete implementations available.
• Three.js -- The most popular WebGL library. Its GLTFLoader handles GLB files with full material and animation support. Most web-based 3D viewers are built on Three.js.
• Babylon.js -- Microsoft's WebGL/WebGPU engine with native GLB loading, PBR rendering, physics, and XR support.
• Unity -- Imports GLB files through the UnityGLTF package or the built-in glTF importer (Unity 2023+). Used for games, simulations, and AR applications.
• Unreal Engine -- Supports glTF/GLB import through the glTF Importer plugin. Materials are converted to Unreal's PBR pipeline automatically.
• Sketchfab -- The largest 3D model marketplace. GLB is the primary download format and the native format for Sketchfab's web viewer.
• Google model-viewer -- The official web component for displaying 3D models on the web. Uses GLB as its native format and powers AR previews across Chrome, Safari, and other browsers.
• Polycam -- 3D scanning app for iPhone and Android. Exports scanned objects and environments as GLB files with textures.

Privacy

GeometryViewer is a fully client-side application. When you open a GLB file, it is loaded directly into your browser's memory and rendered using WebGL. The file is never uploaded to any server. There is no backend processing, no cloud storage, and no analytics on file contents.

This means you can safely view proprietary models, unreleased product designs, and confidential assets without any risk of data exposure. The viewer works entirely offline after the initial page load -- you can disconnect from the internet and continue using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need 3D models to view? ModelDirectory.org has thousands of free STL, OBJ, GLTF, and 3MF files — open any of them here in one click.