Convert USDZ to DAE Online (Free & Secure)
iLove3DM converts USDZ files to DAE online and free: .usdz in, .dae out. USDZ is an uncompressed zip archive of USD scene data and textures, while DAE is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema; the converter bridges the two using GLB as an intermediate scene.
Select .USDZ file
or drag & drop .usdz file here
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⚡ AI Summary & Quick Answer
iLove3DM converts USDZ files to DAE online and free: .usdz in, .dae out. USDZ is an uncompressed zip archive of USD scene data and textures, while DAE is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema; the converter bridges the two using GLB as an intermediate scene.
Taking a web-ready asset into a desktop modelling format is the classic hand-off from publishing back to production. USDZ (.usdz) is an uncompressed zip archive of USD scene data and textures. It holds triangle and polygon meshes with Pixar USD scene structure and is most often opened in iOS AR Quick Look, Apple Vision Pro, and Reality Composer. DAE (.dae) is verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema, holding polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights, and is typically used in SketchUp, Blender, and Google Earth.
Because USDZ uses UsdPreviewSurface PBR materials while DAE uses COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references, the converter reads your scene, applies the mapping described below and writes a clean .dae file. Everything runs in your browser or an isolated, auto-purged instance, so models stay private.
.usdzAbout USDZ (Universal Scene Description Zip)
Apple and Pixar standard zero-compression zip archive optimized for Augmented Reality (AR Quick Look) on iOS and visionOS.
- Structure: an uncompressed zip archive of USD scene data and textures
- Materials: UsdPreviewSurface PBR materials
- Units: meters per unit, declared in the stage metadata
- Axis: Y-up
- Opens in: AR Quick Look, Reality Composer, Xcode or Blender with USD support
.daeTarget format: DAE (Collada)
ISO-standard XML schema for exchanging digital assets between graphics software applications.
- Structure: verbose XML following the Khronos COLLADA schema
- Materials: COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references
- Units: a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches)
- Axis: either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file
- Opens in: SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz
What happens to your data in USDZ → DAE conversion
Conversion route: USDZ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE).
| Aspect | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Preserved | USDZ stores triangle and polygon meshes with Pixar USD scene structure; DAE stores polygon meshes with scene graph, cameras and lights. Surfaces are retriangulated where needed and positions, normals and UV coordinates are carried across. |
| Materials | Adapted | USDZ uses UsdPreviewSurface PBR materials. DAE only supports COLLADA effects (Blinn, Phong, Lambert) with image references, so values are mapped to the closest equivalent and advanced PBR channels may be simplified. |
| Textures | Adapted | In USDZ, textures are packed inside the archive. In DAE, textures are referenced as external image files, so texture handling is reduced to what the target supports. |
| Vertex colours | Preserved | Per-vertex colours in USDZ are written to DAE as vertex colour data. |
| Animation | Preserved | USDZ provides basic skeletal and transform animation; DAE supports it as well, so clips can travel with the model. |
| Units & scale | Adapted | USDZ uses meters per unit, declared in the stage metadata; DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. |
| Orientation | Adapted | USDZ is Y-up and DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software. |
Expect the DAE file to be roughly 2.3x larger than the USDZ source, because DAE is large because of XML overhead.
Why convert USDZ to DAE?
Why leave USDZ
People most often convert from USDZ when they are opening a Reality Composer model in Blender or three.js. Other common cases include using an iPhone scan or AR asset in a web or Android pipeline and extracting textures from an AR package. In USDZ → DAE specifically, preserved: geometry, vertex colours, and animation; adapted: materials, textures, units & scale, and orientation. Expect the DAE file to be roughly 2.3x larger than the USDZ source, because DAE is large because of XML overhead.
Why choose DAE
DAE is the right target when you are archiving a scene with its hierarchy in an open XML standard. It also fits scenarios such as importing into SketchUp, Google Earth or ROS simulations and supplying assets to engines that still expect Collada. Taking a web-ready asset into a desktop modelling format is the classic hand-off from publishing back to production.
Where the result opens
After conversion you can open the .dae file in SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz.
Step-by-Step Guide: USDZ → DAE
- 1
Upload your .usdz file
Drag your USDZ model onto the converter or click to browse. Textures are packed inside the archive; no extra files are required.
- 2
Check your free quota
Free accounts can run a few conversions per day; signing in unlocks tracking of your remaining uses. No watermark is ever added.
- 3
Convert to DAE
Press the Convert to DAE button. The pipeline follows USDZ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE), which usually takes a few seconds for models under 100 MB.
- 4
Download the .dae file
Your DAE file downloads automatically. Open it in SketchUp and Blender to confirm scale and orientation.
Tips for USDZ → DAE
- Only a subset of PBR features is supported by AR Quick Look (USDZ source).
- External texture paths break when files are moved (DAE target).
- Always verify real-world size: USDZ is meters per unit, declared in the stage metadata, while DAE is a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches).
- DAE files grow quickly; compress or decimate the source with the Compress tool if size is a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert USDZ to DAE without losing quality?
Upload the .usdz file and press convert; the route is USDZ → GLB → DAE (parsed into a GLB scene, then exported as DAE). Geometry is carried over exactly; materials are mapped to the closest DAE equivalent, and textures stay linked through UV coordinates.
Does USDZ to DAE conversion keep textures?
In USDZ, textures are packed inside the archive. In DAE, textures are referenced as external image files, so texture handling is reduced to what the target supports.
Why does my DAE model look the wrong size or rotation?
USDZ uses meters per unit, declared in the stage metadata; DAE uses a unit scale declared in the asset header (often meters or inches). Check the scale in your target application, and use the Scale tool if the model looks too big or too small. USDZ is Y-up and DAE is either Y-up or Z-up, as declared in the file. The converter writes a consistent orientation, but verify the up axis in your target software.
Will the DAE file be bigger or smaller than my USDZ file?
Expect the DAE file to be roughly 2.3x larger than the USDZ source, because DAE is large because of XML overhead.
What software can open the converted DAE file?
DAE files open in SketchUp, Blender, Google Earth, Gazebo or Rviz. If you need to go back, use the DAE to USDZ converter.
Is it safe to upload my USDZ model?
Yes. Files are processed in your browser or on isolated instances and purged right after conversion. They are never used to train AI models, and no watermark is added.