A comparison between the two formats is shown below.

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A comparison table is presented below;

STL 3MF
Surface geometry based on a triangular mesh The XML format supports both mesh and full model details.
No color or texture support Completely supports color, textures and materials.
Usually smaller, depending on mesh resolution exchange data More efficient compression, smaller file sizes compared to STL for the same level of detail
Simplified surface geometry Management of complex geometries, multi-material models and more detailed properties
Mainly for 3D printing and basic CAD designs Good for modern 3D printing, especially where multi-material and color are useful.
Simple and lightweight, easy to use Structured with metadata (materials, colors, print settings)
Approximate, based on triangular facets Greater accuracy enables richer design details and metadata for accurate printing.
Applicable to 3D printing software. Usable by 3D printers and modern software thanks to its advanced features.
STL vs G-code
The STL file is intended for 3D printing. The 3D slicer software helps it communicate with the printer for printing. The G-code file format is a set of instructions that guide the printing process. It is common in cutting machines such as milling machines and lathes.


STL G-code
3D model data, triangular mesh Machine instructions, toolpath commands for 3D printers
Represents the shape and geometry of a 3D model Provides precise instructions to a 3D printer to execute
No color or texture support May include instructions for multi-material printing (if printer supports it).
May include instructions for multi-material printing (if printer supports it). Large depending on print complexity and number of layers
Simplified surface geometry Contains detailed machine-specific controls (e.g. nozzle movement, temperature settings).
Used to represent 3D models for design and visualization Used to control the printing process, specifying how to physically create the model.
Simple mesh-based data Line-by-line instructions for every move, temperature, speed and extrusion
Must be converted to G-code using slicing software. Directly readable by 3D printers as manufacturing instructions
Approximate triangles based on surface Accuracy, down to specific machine movements and print parameters