Excel to CSV Converter
Convert Excel XLSX and XLS spreadsheets to CSV online for free. Plain-text format compatible with any database, programming language, or data tool. No software needed. Up to 100 MB.
Drop your Excel file hereTap to choose your Excel file
or
Supports XLSX and XLS formats • Max 100 MB
How to Convert Excel to CSV
Upload
Drag and drop your Excel file into the converter above, or click Choose Excel File to browse your device. Both XLSX and XLS formats are accepted.
Convert
Click Convert to CSV. Our server extracts your spreadsheet data and formats it as plain-text CSV. Takes a few seconds depending on file size.
Download
Click Download CSV to save the converted file. That's it — no registration, no email required.
What is Excel (XLSX)?
XLSX is the default file format for Microsoft Excel, introduced with Office 2007. It is based on the Office Open XML (OOXML) standard — essentially a ZIP archive containing XML files that describe the workbook structure, cell data, formatting, formulas, charts, pivot tables, and macros.
Excel spreadsheets support rich formatting (fonts, colors, conditional formatting, cell borders), complex formulas and functions (VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, pivot tables), embedded charts and images, multiple worksheets in a single file, and data validation rules. This makes XLSX the standard format for business reports, financial models, and data analysis in corporate environments.
The older XLS format (Excel 97–2003) uses a binary structure called BIFF. While largely replaced by XLSX, many legacy systems and archived files still use XLS. Both formats store the same types of data, but XLSX files are typically 30–50% smaller due to ZIP compression.
What is CSV?
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is the simplest tabular data format — a plain-text file where each line represents a row and values are separated by commas. No formatting, no formulas, no macros — just raw data. This simplicity is precisely what makes CSV the most universally supported data exchange format in computing.
Every database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MongoDB), programming language (Python, R, JavaScript, Java), data analysis tool (pandas, Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau), and operating system can read and write CSV files without any special libraries or drivers. CSV is the lingua franca of data.
CSV files are human-readable — you can open them in any text editor and understand the content immediately. They are also significantly smaller than Excel files because they contain no formatting metadata, embedded objects, or XML overhead. A 5 MB Excel file might produce a 500 KB CSV.
Why Convert Excel to CSV?
Database import
CSV is the standard import format for virtually every database system. MySQL's LOAD DATA INFILE, PostgreSQL's COPY command, SQLite's .import, and cloud databases like BigQuery and Snowflake all accept CSV natively. Converting your Excel data to CSV is the fastest path from a spreadsheet to a database table.
Programming & data science
Python's pandas library (pd.read_csv()), R's built-in read.csv(), and JavaScript's D3.js all work with CSV as their primary data input format. While libraries exist for reading Excel files, CSV is simpler, faster to parse, and requires no additional dependencies. Data scientists and developers overwhelmingly prefer CSV for data pipelines and ETL workflows.
Universal compatibility
Not everyone has Microsoft Excel. CSV files open in Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, Apple Numbers, any text editor, and thousands of other tools — on every operating system. When you need to share tabular data with someone and you're not sure what software they use, CSV is the safest choice. It simply works everywhere.
Smaller file size & version control
CSV files are dramatically smaller than their Excel counterparts because they contain only raw data — no formatting, styles, charts, or XML metadata. This makes them ideal for email attachments, cloud storage, and APIs. And because CSV is plain text, it works beautifully with version control systems like Git — you can diff, merge, and track changes to your data over time.
Excel vs CSV: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Excel (XLSX) | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Format type | Binary/XML (ZIP archive) | Plain text |
| Cell formatting | Full (fonts, colors, borders, conditional) | None |
| Formulas | Full support (500+ functions) | Not supported (values only) |
| Multiple sheets | Yes (unlimited worksheets) | No (single table) |
| Charts & images | Embedded | Not supported |
| File size (same data) | Larger (XML + formatting overhead) | Much smaller (raw text only) |
| Human-readable | No (requires Excel or compatible app) | Yes (any text editor) |
| Database import | Requires special drivers/libraries | Native support in all databases |
| Programming support | Needs libraries (openpyxl, poi, etc.) | Built-in in every language |
| Version control (Git) | Binary diffs (not useful) | Clean text diffs |
| Data types | Rich (dates, currency, percentages) | Text and numbers only |
| Best for | Business reports, financial models, presentations | Data exchange, databases, programming, APIs |
Convert Excel to CSV on Any Device
On Windows
While Microsoft Excel on Windows can export to CSV via "Save As," this requires Excel to be installed and only exports the active sheet. Our online converter works directly in your browser — Chrome, Edge, or Firefox — with no software installation. Simply drag your XLSX or XLS file, convert, and download the CSV. Ideal for machines without Excel or when you need a quick conversion without opening the full application.
On Mac
macOS users can use Numbers or Excel for Mac to open spreadsheets, but exporting to CSV with proper encoding and delimiters can be tricky. Our converter handles UTF-8 encoding automatically, ensuring special characters and international text are preserved correctly. Works in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on any Mac — no app installation needed.
On Linux
LibreOffice Calc on Linux can open Excel files, but the conversion process requires multiple clicks and manual encoding selection. Our web-based converter provides a faster workflow — drag, convert, download — directly in your browser. Particularly useful on headless Linux servers or minimal desktop environments where LibreOffice may not be installed.
On Mobile (iOS & Android)
Converting Excel to CSV on a phone or tablet is difficult with native apps — the mobile versions of Excel and Google Sheets have limited export options. Our converter is fully responsive and works in any mobile browser. Tap to select your Excel file from your device or cloud storage, convert, and save the CSV directly to your phone. No app download required.
Frequently Asked Questions
=SUM(A1:A10) that displays 500 will appear as 500 in the CSV output. The formula itself is discarded. This is standard behavior because CSV is a data-only format with no concept of formulas or cell references.