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glTF vs USD
glTF is designed to deliver 3D models and scenes efficiently to applications. USD is a scene-description framework for composing assets and layers, often used in larger production and collaboration workflows.
Which format should you choose?
Consider glTF for finished assets delivered to web, apps, or real-time viewers. Consider USD when assembling large scenes across tools and teams with layers and variations.
Good fit for glTF
Web and app 3D delivery
- Delivering a textured, animated model to a compatible real-time viewer
Good fit for USD
Large 3D production pipelines
- Combining referenced assets and variants across a 3D production team
Basic information
| Field | glTF | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .gltf, .glb | .usd, .usda, .usdc, .usdz |
| MIME type | model/gltf+json, model/gltf-binary | model/vnd.usdz+zip |
| Common uses | Web and app 3D delivery | Large 3D production pipelines |
| How to open | Open with a glTF-capable viewer and inspect geometry, materials, textures, and animation. | Open in a USD-capable DCC tool or viewer and inspect layers, assets, materials, and animation. |
| Export or convert | When converting, check material appearance, texture links, animation, units, and scale. | When converting to glTF or FBX, check scene composition, variants, materials, and animation. |
Choose by use case
Delivering a textured, animated model to a compatible real-time viewer
Web and app 3D delivery
glTFCombining referenced assets and variants across a 3D production team
Large 3D production pipelines
USDKey point 1
glTF focuses on 3D asset transmission and runtime loading, with JSON-based .gltf and binary .glb forms.
More on the differencesKey point 2
USD supports scene composition, layered overrides, and variations across multiple assets.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
When converting, test how the target app handles materials, textures, lighting, animation, and extensions. Do not assume all production data in USD maps to glTF.
- The formats overlap in representing 3D content but are not designed for exactly the same workflow.
- Interoperability depends on exporters, importers, and the features each application supports.
Frequently asked questions
Can glTF replace USD in a production pipeline?
Not in every case. glTF suits runtime delivery, while USD can organize layered, composed production scenes. Choose based on the pipeline's needs.