Free Excel to CSV Converter

Free Online Excel to CSV & Multi-Format Spreadsheet Converter

This free tool converts any spreadsheet file — XLSX, XLS, ODS, TSV, CSV — into your choice of output format: CSV, TSV, JSON, pipe-delimited TXT, or XLSX. All processing runs entirely in your browser — no file is ever uploaded to a server, no login required. Convert as many files as you need, for free.

How to Convert Excel to CSV Online (Step by Step)

• Step 1: Drag and drop your XLS, XLSX, ODS, or TSV file into the upload zone, or click Browse Files. Multiple files are supported.
• Step 2: Select your Output Format — CSV, TSV, JSON, Pipe-Delimited TXT, or XLSX.
• Step 3: Configure options (delimiter, sheet selection, skip empty rows, quote all fields).
• Step 4: Click Convert to process all files instantly in-browser.
• Step 5: Preview your data in the live table, then click Download per file. Multiple files? Click Download All.

5 Output Formats Supported

Excel to CSV (Comma-Separated Values)

CSV is the universal data exchange format. Every database, CRM, analytics platform, and programming language reads CSV natively. Converting your Excel data to CSV makes it immediately importable into MySQL, PostgreSQL, Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, pandas, R, and Google Sheets. You can also customize the delimiter (comma, semicolon, or pipe) for regional compatibility.

Excel to TSV (Tab-Separated Values)

TSV is often preferred over CSV when your data contains commas within cells — tab characters are far less likely to appear in data, eliminating quoting issues. TSV is the default export format for many database tools including MySQL Workbench, pgAdmin, and Tableau.

Excel to JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

Convert any Excel spreadsheet directly to a JSON array of objects. The first row of your sheet becomes the object keys. The output is a clean, indented JSON file ready to use in web applications, REST APIs, Node.js scripts, or any language that consumes JSON. This is the fastest way to turn an Excel data export into a format usable by a developer.

Excel to XLSX (Re-export / Clean)

Use this to clean up or standardize an existing spreadsheet. The tool re-reads your file through SheetJS and re-exports it as a fresh XLSX workbook, stripping any unsupported formatting artifacts from older or corrupted files.

Pipe-Delimited TXT

Pipe-delimited files (| as separator) are commonly used in legacy enterprise systems, EDI integrations, insurance data pipelines, and some government data formats. This output option generates a plain .txt file using the pipe character as the column delimiter.

Why Convert Excel to CSV?

While Excel's XLSX format is feature-rich, it creates software lock-in. A CSV file is readable by any tool — from a basic text editor to the most advanced data platform. Here are the most common reasons teams convert Excel to CSV:

• CRM imports: Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Zoho CRM all require CSV for contact and lead uploads.
• Email marketing: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, and Constant Contact use CSV for subscriber list imports. LeadNexus lets you upload your converted CSV directly into automated B2B email outreach campaigns.
• Data analysis: Python (pandas.read_csv()), R (read.csv()), and Julia all load CSV natively without additional libraries.
• Database loading: MySQL's LOAD DATA INFILE, PostgreSQL's \COPY, and SQLite's .import all accept CSV.
• API integrations: Many data pipeline tools (Zapier, Make, Airbyte) use CSV as the intermediate format between data sources.
• Google Sheets / Airtable: Import CSV to instantly populate a new sheet or base.

Supported Input Formats

• XLSX — Modern Microsoft Excel (Office 2007+). The most common format for business data, reports, and exported data from SaaS tools.
• XLS — Legacy Microsoft Excel 97-2003 binary format. Still widely used in older enterprise systems and government databases.
• ODS — OpenDocument Spreadsheet used by LibreOffice Calc. Also the export format from Google Sheets when selecting "ODS" format.
• TSV — Tab-Separated Values. Common output from MySQL, PostgreSQL, and many analytics tools.
• CSV — Re-format or re-delimiter an existing CSV. Change from comma to semicolon, add quoting, or strip empty rows.
• TXT — Plain text files with any delimiter. Useful for legacy system exports.

XLS vs XLSX vs CSV vs JSON — What Format Should You Use?

XLS is the older binary Excel format (Office 97–2003) — avoid it for new projects. XLSX is the modern XML-based format with full feature support. CSV is a plain text format with no formatting or formulas — the most portable and universally compatible format for data. JSON is the format of choice when the data needs to be consumed by a web application, API, or JavaScript code.

What Is an ODS File and How Do I Convert It?

ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) is the open-standard format used by LibreOffice Calc and exported by Google Sheets. Many enterprise tools and government systems generate ODS files. To convert ODS to CSV, simply drop the file into this tool, select CSV as the output format, and click Convert. The download will be ready in seconds.

Who Uses This Tool?

• Sales & marketing teams — Converting exported CRM or lead lists from Excel to CSV for import into outreach tools. LeadNexus makes the next step easy: import your converted CSV and launch automated email sequences instantly.
• Data analysts & data scientists — Converting business Excel reports to CSV or JSON for use in Python, R, SQL, or Jupyter notebooks.
• Developers & backend engineers — Converting Excel exports from non-technical teams into JSON for API consumption or database seeding.
• HR & operations teams — Converting payroll or employee data spreadsheets to CSV for import into HRIS systems.
• E-commerce teams — Converting product catalogs from XLSX to CSV for Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon Seller Central uploads.
• Finance teams — Converting financial reports from accounting software exports (often XLSX) to CSV for reconciliation tools.
• Researchers & academics — Converting survey data from Excel into CSV for statistical analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions