Email, Google Drive, WeTransfer or a 3D viewer link? Compare 6 tools to send STEP, GLB or FBX files to clients, with no software on their end.
You need to send a STEP, GLB or FBX file to a client. The challenge isn't the transfer, it's making sure they can actually open it, understand it, and give you useful feedback. Email, Google Drive, WeTransfer: all transfer the file. None solve the opening problem.
Your client receives a .step or .iges file. They double-click. 'Cannot open this file type.' They call you back. You send a 2D PDF screenshot. They sign off on a flat image. A dimension is misread. The part comes back non-conformant. The solution isn't a better file transfer tool, it's a link that opens the 3D model in any browser, without installation. The stakes are real: NIST puts the cost of imperfect interoperability in the US automotive supply chain alone at more than one billion dollars per year, much of it traceable to exchanges where the recipient simply cannot open the geometry they received.
OmniView 3D converts your STEP, IGES, GLB or FBX into a shareable 3D link in under 60 seconds. Your client receives a URL, clicks it, and sees the model rotating in their browser, no software, no account, no installation on their end. They can rotate, zoom, explore exploded views and dimensions. Formats: STEP, IGES, GLB, GLTF, FBX, OBJ, STL, DAE, AMF, OFF natively; SolidWorks via a STEP export. EU-hosted, GDPR compliant. Free plan: 3 models, no credit card. See the step-by-step for sharing a STEP without SolidWorks or open the free STEP viewer.
Google Drive supports basic 3D preview for GLB and OBJ files. It does not support STEP, IGES or SolidWorks, these appear as inaccessible file blobs. Good for sharing lightweight design files (Blender, Sketchup) within a Google Workspace team, not for industrial CAD B2B sharing.
WeTransfer sends files up to 2 GB free (200 GB Pro) without requiring a recipient account. It's a mailbox, not a viewer. Your client still needs CAD software to open the file. Good for transferring large assemblies when the supplier already has the right tools.
Email is the default for most teams, but it fails for CAD: attachment limits (10-25 MB), antivirus blocking .step and .sldprt extensions, and the client needing CAD software to open the file. The result is always a screenshot and a flat PDF, which causes specification errors.
Dropbox Business supports folder sharing with links. 3D preview is limited to GLB and OBJ. No STEP support. A good companion to OmniView 3D for centralized file storage, less useful for final client delivery.
Sketchfab offers high-quality 3D embeds but does not support STEP natively (manual GLB conversion required), models are public by default, and data is US-hosted. Better for creative portfolios and public product galleries than private B2B CAD sharing.
| Tool | Native STEP | Interactive 3D viewer | No client install | EU-hosted / GDPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OmniView 3D | Yes (+ IGES; SolidWorks via STEP export) | Yes | Yes | Yes (AWS eu-west-1) |
| Google Drive | No | GLB/OBJ preview only | Yes | No (US) |
| WeTransfer | Raw transfer, all formats | No | Yes | No |
| Email attachment | Often blocked by servers | No | Yes | Varies |
| Sketchfab | No (manual GLB conversion) | Yes | Yes | No (US, public by default) |
Upload the file to OmniView 3D (free plan). Copy the generated link and send it by email, Slack or Teams. Your recipient opens it in their browser, no software, no account needed on their end. They rotate the model, zoom in on details, and give you precise feedback.
Yes, with OmniView 3D. The shareable link works without a recipient account. You create the account to upload; your client just clicks the link. Models are private by default and the link stays revocable at any time.
OmniView 3D offers a free plan with 3 models and no credit card required. It's the only free tool that combines STEP support, private-by-default links, and an interactive 3D viewer that works in any browser without installation.
To preserve precise geometry, export a STEP (ISO 10303): it's the neutral exchange format most universally read by CAD tools. For a purely visual presentation, GLB is lighter and renders instantly in the browser. OmniView 3D reads both natively and turns them into an interactive link.
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