Key Takeaways

• A frameless soft top eliminates the metal bow frame utilized on factory-style tops, creating a sleeker, lower-profile silhouette that many vehicle owners prefer for its modern fastback look.
• Factory-style soft tops retain the classic squareback profile with a full bow assembly, offering proven fold-down convenience and maximum rear headroom for passengers and cargo.
• Bestop’s Trektop Ultra bridges both worlds as the only frameless soft top that folds completely flat, converts to a bikini top, and includes an integrated Sunrider front panel.
• Your ideal soft top depends on whether you prioritize a modern aesthetic and lighter weight (frameless) or full fold-down access and maximum interior space (factory-style).
• Both styles are available in premium fabrics like Black Diamond viny, Sailcloth and Premium Black Twill, and Bestop offers options for Jeep Wrangler JL, JK, TJ, Gladiator, and Ford Bronco.

If you have ever looked at two Jeep Wranglers side by side and noticed that one has a sharp, sloped roofline while the other has the familiar boxy shape, you were probably seeing the difference between a frameless soft top and a factory-style soft top. It is one of the most impactful choices you can make when outfitting your Jeep for open-air driving, and the right choice depends on how you use your vehicle, what look you want aesthetically, and how you plan to access fresh air on the road or trail.

This guide breaks down both soft top styles, compares them feature by feature, and shows you where Bestop’s engineering has pushed the soft top category forward with innovations that eliminate the traditional tradeoffs.

What Is a Frameless Soft Top?

Unlike a traditional soft top, a frameless soft top does not use a traditional metal bow frame. Instead it utilizes a tension-based design, attaching directly to the roll bar and windshield header through integrated channels and fasteners. The result is a streamlined, fastback silhouette with no exposed hardware arching over the cabin.

You may also hear frameless soft tops called “bowless” or “fastback” tops. All three terms describe the same core concept: a top that achieves its shape through fabric tension and built-in structure rather than a skeleton of metal bows. This design creates a noticeably sleeker, more aerodynamic profile compared to the classic soft top shape.

The frameless approach typically means fewer parts to manage, a lighter overall assembly, and a look that sits closer to what you might see on a sports coupe. For many owners, that modern roofline is the primary reason they choose a frameless top.

What Is a Factory-Style Soft Top?

A factory-style soft top uses a metal bow assembly (a series of folding support bars) to create the top’s shape, producing the classic squared-off roofline that has defined Jeep Wranglers for decades. This is the style that comes stock on soft-top-equipped Wranglers from the factory.

The bow frame snaps or latches into place along the roll bar and windshield header, then the fabric drapes over the bows and secures at the sides and tailgate. The bows fold in a specific sequence so the entire top can collapse behind the rear seat, giving you full open-air access.

Both Mopar OEM replacements and aftermarket options are available in this style. Bestop’s Supertop line is the most well-known aftermarket factory-style top, available in premium fabrics like Sailcloth and Black Twill with improved fit and sealing compared to OEM tops. Whether you go OEM or aftermarket, the fundamental design, the folding metal bow frame under a fabric shell, is the same.

Frameless vs Factory-Style: Key Differences at a Glance

The table below compares the two styles across the features that matter most to Jeep owners.

Both styles have earned strong reputations for weather performance in their current generations, and both are available in premium fabric options. The biggest differences come down to visual style, fold-down behavior, and how you want to transition between closed and open-air driving.

For a deeper dive into fabric options, fitment, and accessories, check out the soft top buyer’s guide.

Pros and Cons of Frameless Soft Tops

Why Jeep Owners Choose Frameless

The frameless or fastback soft top has become one of the fastest-growing categories in the Jeep accessory market, and the reasons are straightforward.

• Modern fastback look: The sloped, streamlined roofline transforms the visual identity of a Wrangler. For owners who want their Jeep to stand out from the crowd, this is often the deciding factor.
• Lighter weight: Without a full metal bow assembly, frameless tops typically weigh less than their factory-style counterparts. Less weight means marginally better fuel economy and easier handling during installation or removal.
• Built-in bikini capability: Many frameless tops include integrated bikini or safari top configurations, letting you remove the rear section while keeping the front panel in place. No separate purchase necessary.
• More affordable entry point: Entry-level frameless tops generally come in at a lower price than factory-style tops because they require less hardware.
• Zipperless windows on premium options: Select frameless models from Bestop feature windows that slide or detach without zippers, reducing noise and simplifying the open-air transition.

Where Frameless Tops Have Limitations

Understanding what tradeoffs exist can help make you feel confident in your purchase decision.

• Most cannot fold flat: The majority of frameless soft tops must be fully removed to go topless rather than folding behind the rear seat. The Trektop Ultra is a notable exception.
• Slightly reduced rear headroom: The sloped roofline means passengers in the rear seat and tall cargo items may have less vertical clearance compared to a squared-off factory-style top.

Explore the Trektop for the Wrangler JL to see how Bestop’s current frameless engineering handles these considerations.

Pros and Cons of Factory-Style Soft Tops

Why Factory-Style Remains a Popular Choice

Squareback factory-style soft tops have been the default choice for good reason, and they have been for many Jeep owners, for many years.

• Full fold-down convenience: The bow assembly folds in sequence so you can drop the entire top behind the rear seat without removing anything from the vehicle. For owners who go topless frequently and want a quick transition, this is a significant advantage.
• Maximum rear headroom: The squared-off profile provides the most interior space for rear-seat passengers and tall cargo.
• Proven weather sealing: Decades of refinement have made factory-style sealing systems highly reliable. The channel-and-bow design creates consistent contact points all around the top.
• Familiar operation: The factory-style soft top has been a cornerstone of the open-air driving experience for decades. The fold-down sequence is familiar, intuitive, and well-documented.

Factory-Style Considerations

• Heavier overall assembly: The full metal bow frame adds noticeable weight compared to a frameless design. This can make installation, removal, and storage more of a project.
• Boxy appearance: Some owners feel the squared-off roofline looks dated compared to the fastback alternatives now available.
• Higher cost: More hardware typically means a higher price tag, especially for premium aftermarket options with improved fabrics and sealing.
• Complex storage: When folded, the bow assembly and fabric create a bulky stack behind the rear seat that can limit cargo space.

The Best of Both Worlds: Bestop’s Frameless Innovation

Bestop created the frameless soft top category and continues to push it forward. The Trektop family represents a range of frameless options, each built around the same modern fastback silhouette but designed for different levels of open-air access.

Trektop NX is the entry point into frameless driving. It delivers the clean fastback look with a straightforward design and is the most affordable way to get the modern slantback silhouette. The Trektop NX must be fully removed to go topless, which makes it ideal for owners who prioritize the look and plan seasonal removal rather than daily transitions.

Trektop NX Glide adds a retractable rear panel that slides open on integrated rails, plus zipperless side and rear windows. The result is a top that gives you multiple open-air configurations without ever unbolting the entire assembly. It is the core of the Trektop lineup for owners who want versatility built into the frameless form factor.

Trektop Ultra is the flagship of the family. It is the only frameless soft top that folds completely flat, converts to a full bikini top for a “safari mode”, and includes an integrated Sunrider feature front panel for instant overhead access. The Ultra uses a Guide-Track retraction system with Lift Assist to make the fold-down effortless. For Wrangler JL 4-door owners who want the frameless look without giving up any of the open-air versatility of a factory-style top, the Ultra eliminates the compromise. Explore the Trektop Ultra.

Trektop Pro Hybrid takes a different approach as a hybrid with an industry-first hard rear glass hatch. It blurs the line between soft top and hardtop, delivering the fastback silhouette with the security and clarity of tempered glass in the rear. The Pro is available for the Wrangler JK.

Browse the Trektop Glide and the full soft top lineup to compare all options.

For owners who want open-air access but aren’t ready to part with their hardtop entirely, the Sunrider for Hardtop replaces the front freedom panels with a flip-back soft panel that opens in seconds.

For a closer look at how a frameless soft top installs and operates, watch our Trektop Glide installation walkthrough:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znAev4Arq0U

How to Choose: Frameless or Factory-Style?

Choosing between a frameless and factory-style soft top comes down to three questions: what look do you want, how do you access open air, and who rides in the back?

Choose a frameless soft top if you want:

• A modern, fastback silhouette that sets your Jeep apart
• Built-in bikini top capability without buying a separate accessory
• A lighter top that is easier to handle during installation
• A more affordable entry point into premium soft top ownership

Choose a factory-style soft top if you want:

• Full fold-down convenience for frequent topless driving
• Maximum rear headroom for passengers and cargo
• The most established weather sealing track record
• A familiar operation you already know from previous Wranglers

Choose the Trektop Ultra if you want both. It is the only frameless soft top that folds flat, converts to bikini, and includes the Sunrider flip back feature, delivering the best of the fastback look with the full open-air access of a factory-style top.

Not sure which tops fit your specific year, make, and model? Use the YMM fitment tool on bestop.com to confirm compatibility before you buy. For more on why a soft top might be the right upgrade for your driving life, read why a soft top is the ultimate upgrade.

Available for Jeep and Ford Bronco

Bestop’s frameless and factory-style soft tops are engineered for a wide range of vehicles. The Trektop family is available for the Jeep Wrangler JL (2-door and 4-door), Wrangler JK, TJ (NX model),. Factory-style Supertop options cover a similarly broad range. For Wrangler JK owners, explore the full range of JK soft tops to find your fit.

Bestop also builds the Trektop for the Ford Bronco, bringing the same frameless fastback design to Bronco owners who want a modern alternative to their stock hard top.

Whether you drive a Wrangler or Bronco, the frameless vs factory-style decision follows the same logic. The differences in look, weight, and open-air access apply across platforms.

The right soft top should make open-air driving feel effortless, not like a compromise. Whether you lean toward the modern fastback profile of a frameless top or the proven fold-down convenience of a factory-style design, Bestop builds both to the same OEM-trusted standard of fit, fabric, and engineering.

Explore the full soft top buyer’s guide or browse all soft top options to find the right match for your vehicle and your driving life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Frameless and Factory-Style Soft Tops

Choosing between frameless and factory-style soft tops raises a lot of questions. Here are the answers Jeep and Bronco owners ask most.

What Is a Frameless Soft Top?

A frameless soft top is a Jeep or Bronco soft top that attaches directly to the vehicle’s roll bar and windshield header without a separate metal bow assembly or frame. The fabric uses tension, channels, and straps to maintain its shape, resulting in a sleeker, more aerodynamic profile than traditional framed tops.

What Is the Difference Between a Frameless and Factory-Style Soft Top?

Factory-style (squareback) soft tops use a metal bow frame assembly that creates a boxy, structured shape and allows the top to fold completely flat. Frameless soft tops eliminate that frame, attaching directly to the roll bar for a lower-profile, fastback look. The trade-off is that frameless tops may offer less rear headroom but typically convert to a bikini-style configuration more easily.

Can You Fold Down a Frameless Soft Top?

Most frameless soft tops do not fold completely flat like a factory-style top. However, advanced designs like the Bestop Trektop Ultra feature a fold-down capability that lets you fully recline the top, combining the sleek frameless look with true open-air freedom. Many frameless tops also convert to a bikini configuration by simply removing the rear windows.

Do Frameless Soft Tops Leak?

Quality frameless soft tops from established manufacturers use precision-engineered seals, channels, and tension systems to prevent leaks. While early frameless designs may have had some weather-sealing limitations, modern options like Bestop’s Trektop line use premium fabrics for tight fits and factory-grade sealing to deliver reliable all-weather protection comparable to framed tops.

Are Frameless Soft Tops Good for Highway Driving?

Yes. Modern frameless soft tops are designed to reduce wind noise and buffeting at highway speeds. Their lower, more aerodynamic profile actually cuts through air more efficiently than boxy factory-style tops. Premium frameless options from Bestop use tensioned fabric and reinforced seals to minimize cabin noise.

What Is the Best Frameless Soft Top for a Jeep Wrangler?

Bestop’s Trektop line is widely regarded as the industry leader in frameless soft tops. The Trektop NX offers a clean fastback look, the Trektop Glide adds a retractable sunroof-style panel, and the Trektop Ultra combines frameless styling with a full fold-down feature. Each is available in Black Diamond and Premium Black Twill fabrics.

What Is a Bowless Soft Top?

“Bowless” is another term for a frameless soft top. It refers to the absence of the metal bows (crossbars) that form the skeleton of a traditional factory-style top. Bowless and frameless are used interchangeably across the aftermarket industry to describe tops that mount without a separate frame assembly.

Are Frameless Soft Tops Cheaper Than Factory-Style Tops?

Generally, yes. Because frameless soft tops eliminate the metal bow assembly and associated hardware, they typically cost less than a full factory-style replacement top. Basic frameless options can save you several hundred dollars, though premium frameless tops with advanced features may approach or match factory-style pricing.