Convert JSON to CSV Online
Free, private JSON to CSV converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
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Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
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How to convert JSON to CSV
Drop your JSON file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your CSV file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert JSON to CSV?
JSON and CSV serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a JSON file?
JavaScript Object Notation: JSON is the standard format for exchanging data between web applications. APIs, config files, and data storage all use it. The format is simple enough to read by eye but structured enough for machines to parse.
Created by: Douglas Crockford, popularized in the early 2000s
Used for: APIs, configuration files, data exchange, web applications, NoSQL databases
Technical details: Text-based format supporting objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null. No comments in standard JSON. Nested structures allowed.
Compatibility: Every programming language has a JSON parser. All modern web APIs use it.
What is a CSV file?
Comma-Separated Values: CSV is the simplest way to represent tabular data as plain text. Each line is a row, and commas separate the columns. Spreadsheet apps, databases, and data tools all speak CSV.
Created by: No single creator. The format has been used since the early days of computing.
Used for: Data exchange, spreadsheet import/export, database dumps, analytics data
Technical details: Plain text with comma delimiters (or semicolons/tabs in some regions). No data types, no formatting, no formulas. Just rows and columns.
Compatibility: Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and any text editor. Every programming language can read CSV.
JSON vs CSV
| Feature | JSON | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Type | JavaScript Object Notation | Comma-Separated Values |
| Best for | APIs, configuration files, data exchange, web applications, NoSQL databases | Data exchange, spreadsheet import/export, database dumps, analytics data |
| Compatibility | Every programming language has a JSON parser. All modern web APIs use it. | Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and any text editor. Every programming language can read CSV. |
| Pros | Human-readable, universal in web development, supports nested data | Simple, universal, human-readable, small file sizes |
| Cons | No comments, no date type, verbose for large datasets compared to binary formats | No data types, no formatting, inconsistent delimiter handling across regions |